The Weather has had more than a passing influence on the Ryder Cup in the past and the forecast this weekend suggests that heavy rain will play a role in the opening four-ball’s on Friday morning at The Celtic Manor. Similarly to the K Club in 2006 when Ian Woosnam’s side were only minutes away from seeing play suspended when the rain gradually eased.
At Valhalla high winds from Hurricane Ike caused damage around the course during the practice days but did not delay the start as the trees were cleared in time for the Friday start. Bizarrely the same also happened at the K Club when Hurricane Gordon roared through Straffan on the Wednesday night delaying access to the course on Thursday’s last practice day.
In 1995 there were no such weather problems as conditions were the typical pleasant autumn conditions of the northeast coast of the United States. Our problem was dealing with the burden of winning in the United States which at the time was a rarity.
The strength of the US Tour was such that winning our share of singles matches - away from homes - was a hard task especially faced with a list of their major winners; Curtis Strange, Fred Couples, Corey Pavin, Ben Crenshaw and Davis Love III.
In my pairing with Jay Haas I knew the American had finished third at The Masters, fourth at the US Open and eighth at the USPGA Championship that season alone. Although he may not have been one of the big guns on paper his record was impressive enough for me to be the underdog.
There were reasons to be concerned as the Americans were tough and none more so than the current US Ryder Cup captain, Corey Pavin, who made surprisingly easy work of Bernhard Langer that Sunday. Having won the US Open that summer Pavin was at the peak of his powers.
In the middle order Ben Crenshaw, winner of The Masters that April, as well as in 1984, was drawn with Colin Montgomerie and lost; Per-Ulrik Johansson was against Phil Mickelson - only three years a professional – and lost; Mark James beat Jeff Maggert; Constantino Rocca was beaten by Davis Love III, who finished second at The Masters that year with David Gilford winning his match against US Rookie, Brad Faxon.
Up front the opening battle between Ballesteros and Tom Lehman gave USA their first point but was matched by Howard Clark's somewhat unexpected win over Peter Jacobsen. The other major contest between Fed Couples and Ian Woosnam went the distance with both failing to birdie the eighteenth for a win so halved the match. An exact repeat of their other epic in 1993 at The Belfry.
With Faldo turning the match against the 1988 and '89 US Open winner, Curtis Strange, the door was opened further for Europe when Sam Torrance took the point against Loren Roberts.
As my match play record as both amateur and professional was good I walked on to the first tee box anxious to get started. When I shook hands with Jay Haas and looked at his ashen face I know he didn’t really fancy it and set about my business. By the time we reached the fourth tee I was three holes up.
This weekend the forecast rain favours the European players as the US players may not really get their rhythm going in the cold and wet October conditions in Wales. Although it should work in our favour the US Captain Pavin is one tough cookie and as long as the course remains playable he will push the US team all the way. Let’s not forget he was a ring leader in the US victory at Kiawah Island on 1991 which was named the “War on the Shore”.
It would be a pity if the weather affects the quality of the golf or worse still, changes the running order as happened in Valderrama in 1997. But with over 15 mm of rain Tuesday night with casual water visible on some greens on Wednesday and cloudbursts due on Friday things do not bode well.
Or should I say, do not bode well for the US team anyway.
Philip Walton ©
in association with Evening Herald
