 Curtis STRANGE: We got a European
"butt-whipping"
Depending on the side of the Atlantic Ocean they were written, the titles were a bit
different, but none hided the largest European victory over the American team in the
history of the Ryder Cup at The De Vere Belfry'event on September 29, 2002. 
Delayed for one year by the terrorist attack
of September 11 against the Twins in New-York, this competition turned to be different
than all other Ryder competitions. Not only due to the delay but also to the fact that it
has been decided in the same time that the team selected for the 2001 competition would
remain the same for 2002 in the same uniforms. Even if the ranking were different one year
later which was the case for Price, or the silhouette for Cink who lost 25 pounds and had
to send pants and shirts for alterations.
On the American side, USA Today said simply that
"Europeans take Back Ryder Cup" and Jerry Potter told strictly the facts and
says related to "an amazing 15 ½ - 12 ½ victory over United States"…
"Colin Montgomerie (the best golfer Europe has produced in a decade) set the tone
defeating Scott Hoch 5 and 4 in the first single matches while Philip Price (buried at 118
in the World Golf Ranking) held it nearly to the end, when he upset N°2 ranked Phil
Mickelson 3 and 2." In the International Herald Tribune, Christopher Clarey under
"Europeans outgolf Americans" told the story in a different spirit
:"Europeans stole a page from the American playbook to dominate the singles and win
15 ½ to 12 ½ ." … "By Ryder Cup standards, this was a rout…"
In the British papers, titles were far more enthusiastic
: The Daily Telegraph said that "Team spirit carries Europe to Ryder win" while
The TIMES was ironically modest telling that the "Golf minnows leap for joy" and
the Daily Mirror plaid with the letters EU to celebrate the "E United states"
victory by a triumphant last page "EUREKA", EUR being printed in blue.
"The golfers of the United States, overwhelming overdogs, were shockingly beaten by
the underdogs of Europe in the Ryder Cup" wrote Simon Barnes in the first page of The
TIMES. It was effectively patent that the Europeans were not favorite and the Americans
very
confident, probably too much, in their superiority. It
made the confrontation more exciting and the victory more commendable.
In the past confrontations, American golfers had always
been stronger than Europeans in the singles and that's why the bet were so high after the
end of the second day when the two teams finished in a 8S to 8 tie. Many Europeans were at
that time very pessimistic. And that's the reason why they were so enthusiastic to the
large victories of Montgomerie and Price, but also Paraig Harrington 5 and 4 over Mark
Calcavecchia, the senior Bernhard Langer of Germany playing his 10th Ryder Cup beating 4
to 3 Hal Sutton, the Danish Thomas Björn 2 up over Steward Cink while Darren Clarke,
Niclas Fasth, Paul McGinley , Pierre Fulke and Jasper Parnevik halved with respectively
David Duval Paul Azinger, Jim Furik, Davis Love III and Tiger Woods. The two American
points came from David Toms who defeated Sergio Garcia 2 up and Scott Verplank 2 and 1 to
Lee Westwood.
"We got a European butt-whipping" said Curtiss Strange, Captain of the American
Team while his counterpart Sam Torrance, happy European Captain, was Champagne shampooed
by his team. "
Ryder Cup 2002 : Singles Score Board
As golf writers reported, the Sunday's
board of singles scores was blue..
Sunday Singles Matches : Europe 7 ½ USA 4
½
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Sam Torrance got help from Manchester Utd boss
When Paul McGinley sank the victory birdie
for Europeans in the 17th hole on Sunday 29 September 2002 at The Belfry, it was an
explosion all around.
Just one man stood on his haunches and shed
tears of joy after three days of tension: Sam Torrance, wonder captain of European team.
From start to end Sam has been cook and washer but he stood very modest in the victory:
"It is the players who won, I just led them to the water and they drank
copiously".
"I was impressed with the way Sam led
the team" declared Sir Alex Ferguson, manager of the winning football team of
Manchester United, after the victory. Was it false modesty? In fact Sam Torrance revealed
how phone calls to Manchester Utd managing team helped to defeat the United States. He
asked how to help mould a team from a number of highly paid professionals and described
the input as "magnificent". "Alex was perfect," Torrance said.
"He manages the same situation daily and throughout the year I've gleaned advice from
him. Always on the phone when I needed him." he told The Sun newspaper.
Anyway it does'nt diminish his own merit. Nick Faldo, favorite to lead the team in 2004,
insisted Torrance should continue : "Sam has done such a fantastic work. I'd like to
do it but Sam deserves to defend it."
Monty : in 6 birdies, 14 holes, less than 3
hours
Colin Montgomerie, 39, led Europe to one of the most
famous victory in the Ryder Cup history. He has no Major to his name but he proved once
and for all that he is a major man in major occasions.
In less than 3 hours, 14 holes and 6 birdies (and one missed on the lips of the 7th), his
play had been so brilliant, so precise and efficient, that he had dismantled Scott Hoch
giving Europe the best possible start in singles.
This was a man with a mission and Torrance knew the importance of getting the first point
on board : "There are people in life you can bet houses even your life on. Monty is
one of those special people. I asked, he delivered."
Monty has carved his name in Ryder Cup legend.
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