F
rom a TW (Tom Watson) who's
leading the Red, White and Blue
to a TW (Tiger Woods) who's
among the missing, there are count-
less storylines revolving around the
2014 Ryder Cup.
Amid the backdrop of the Gramp-
ian Mountains at the pleasure palace
called Gleneagles, the U.S. team arrives
scarred and sore, losers of five of the
last six matches, but talking the talk.
Europe sports the big guns – McIlroy,
Kaymer and Stenson – yet the U.S. has
surprising depth. Unquestionably, we'll
witness heroic hole-outs, epic melt-
downs and chanting and flag-waving
from the face-painted patrons.
Beyond that are many questions.
We ask and answer five of them:
WILL TIGER'S ABSENCE HURT?
Given that Gleneagles' PGA Cente-
nary course is such a bombers paradise,
the U.S. will miss slugger Dustin John-
son every bit as much as Woods.
Granted, Woods' intimidation factor
has long been the strongest in golf, and
even a weakened Tiger (in 2014) would
carry significant swagger via his match
play experience and competitive fire.
Yet, the truth is that Woods has never
really thrived in team matches during
the Ryder Cup, where he is 4-8-1 life-
time in foursomes and 5-8 in fourballs.
Given his inconsistent driving and less-
than-stellar putting results in 2014, his
absence may actually help. Recall the
most recent U.S. Ryder Cup win in 2008
at Valhalla – a team with excellent
chemistry, and a team without Woods.
Still, a healthy Tiger would have been
a slam-dunk for the U.S. team.
fi
l
THE RYDER CUP
OB SPORTS GOLF & LEISURE
x
FALL 2014
x
obsports.com
5 burning
questions as
the Americans
search for
redemption in
the Scottish
Highlands
BY joE passov
QUEST FOR
THE CUP
Can Captain Tom Watson lead his underdog U.S. team to victory?
PHOTO
BY
MONTANA
PRITCHAR
/THE
PGA
OF
AMERICA
