Golf-Presidents Cup must adopt Ryder points: Price

Golf-Presidents Cup must adopt Ryder points: Price

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July 31, 2013


By Mark Lamport-Stokes

AKRON, Ohio, July 31 (Reuters) - For the biennialPresidents Cup to survive, it requires an overhaul of itspoints system to make it more closely contested and should adopt the structure used by the Ryder Cup, saysInternational captain Nick Price.

A total of 34 points is on offer at the Presidents Cup, which pits a 12-man team from the United States against a line-up of international players from outside Europe, while 28 points are available at the Ryder Cup, where the U.S. take on Europe.

In Price's opinion, fewer points give the stronger team less of an advantage as the weakest players do not compete as often, and he believes this would help the Internationals improve a dismal record of just one win against the U.S. in nine editions.

"In order for the Presidents Cup to really go to the next level, it's got to become more consistently competitive," Zimbabwean Price told Reuters at Firestone Country Club ahead of this week's WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.

"That is what's lacking. Until such time as that happens, I don't want to say it's going to flounder but it's not going to get to the next level. And everything needs to get to the next level to survive."

Price, a veteran of five Presidents Cup as a player, has long felt that the Ryder Cup format of four fourball matches and four foursomes encounters on each of the first two days before the concluding 12 singles is more desirable.

"When you've only got four pairings and you've got 12 guys to choose from, that's a lot easier because you take your best players," said the 56-year-old, a three-times major winner.

"American players have always been a little bit anti at the Ryder Cup, saying, 'Oh, the Europeans are sitting out those players because they are not playing very well.' Well this is the glass half-full, half-empty syndrome.

"The Europeans, they put out the eight best players they can against the strongest golfing country in the world. It would be really interesting to see if the Ryder Cup was played under the Presidents Cup points system what the outcome would be."

RYDER MODEL


Price and South African Ernie Els, who is poised to play on his eighth Presidents Cup team in October, tried to persuade PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem to consider switching the points system to the Ryder Cup model.

"Initially he (Finchem) was (receptive) and then he phoned me back three weeks later and said he wasn't prepared to change," said Price. "He didn't think it needed a change. Ernie and I were really disappointed with the outcome.

"The International teams that I played on, we were never revered like the European Ryder Cup teams because we keep getting beaten. And they (critics) say, 'Oh well, the Europeans are more motivated and they are a closer unit.'

"Please don't tell me for one minute that a Spaniard and a Swede playing together are more motivated to beat an American team than an Australian and a South African."

For Price, the Presidents Cup format of six foursomes matches on the first day, six fourball encounters on the second day and a mix of five foursomes and five fourballs on day three "plays into the hands of the stronger team".

"We've got our work cut out," he added. "It's hard because our bottom four players play more than the bottom four players in the Ryder Cup. It's a different format, but it's all about momentum.

"When we won in Australia, it was a huge momentum change for us on that second day, and we just parlayed that into the weekend. That's what basically won it for us down there."

The U.S. have established a virtual stranglehold at the Presidents Cup, winning the trophy at Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Australia in 2011 for the seventh time in nine editions.

The only success for the Internationals came in 1998 when the event was first staged in Melbourne. In 2003, the teams battled to a 17-17 draw in South Africa.

"We are all competitors and the Presidents Cup has got to be more closely contested," said Price. "Play it like the Ryder Cup, then you can compare on an apples-to-apples basis.

"Four-four matches the first two days, then do 12 on Sunday. That would be a really wonderful way to go." (Editing by Greg Stutchbury)

Presidents Cup must adopt Ryder points: Price

Presidents Cup must adopt Ryder points: Price

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Mark Lamport-Stokes July 31, 2013


By Mark Lamport-Stokes

AKRON, Ohio (Reuters) - For the biennial Presidents Cup to survive, it requires an overhaul of its points system to make it more closely contested and should adopt the structure used by the Ryder Cup, says International captain Nick Price.

A total of 34 points is on offer at the Presidents Cup, which pits a 12-man team from the United States against a line-up of international players from outside Europe, while 28 points are available at the Ryder Cup, where the U.S. take on Europe.

In Price's opinion, fewer points give the stronger team less of an advantage as the weakest players do not compete as often, and he believes this would help the Internationals improve a dismal record of just one win against the U.S. in nine editions.

"In order for the Presidents Cup to really go to the next level, it's got to become more consistently competitive," Zimbabwean Price told Reuters at Firestone Country Club ahead of this week's WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.

"That is what's lacking. Until such time as that happens, I don't want to say it's going to flounder but it's not going to get to the next level. And everything needs to get to the next level to survive."

Price, a veteran of five Presidents Cup as a player, has long felt that the Ryder Cup format of four fourball matches and four foursomes encounters on each of the first two days before the concluding 12 singles is more desirable.

"When you've only got four pairings and you've got 12 guys to choose from, that's a lot easier because you take your best players," said the 56-year-old, a three-times major winner.

"American players have always been a little bit anti at the Ryder Cup, saying, 'Oh, the Europeans are sitting out those players because they are not playing very well.' Well this is the glass half-full, half-empty syndrome.

"The Europeans, they put out the eight best players they can against the strongest golfing country in the world. It would be really interesting to see if the Ryder Cup was played under the Presidents Cup points system what the outcome would be."

RYDER MODEL


Price and South African Ernie Els, who is poised to play on his eighth Presidents Cup team in October, tried to persuade PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem to consider switching the points system to the Ryder Cup model.

"Initially he (Finchem) was (receptive) and then he phoned me back three weeks later and said he wasn't prepared to change," said Price. "He didn't think it needed a change. Ernie and I were really disappointed with the outcome.

"The International teams that I played on, we were never revered like the European Ryder Cup teams because we keep getting beaten. And they (critics) say, 'Oh well, the Europeans are more motivated and they are a closer unit.'

"Please don't tell me for one minute that a Spaniard and a Swede playing together are more motivated to beat an American team than an Australian and a South African."

For Price, the Presidents Cup format of six foursomes matches on the first day, six fourball encounters on the second day and a mix of five foursomes and five fourballs on day three "plays into the hands of the stronger team".

"We've got our work cut out," he added. "It's hard because our bottom four players play more than the bottom four players in the Ryder Cup. It's a different format, but it's all about momentum.

"When we won in Australia, it was a huge momentum change for us on that second day, and we just parlayed that into the weekend. That's what basically won it for us down there."

The U.S. have established a virtual stranglehold at the Presidents Cup, winning the trophy at Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Australia in 2011 for the seventh time in nine editions.

The only success for the Internationals came in 1998 when the event was first staged in Melbourne. In 2003, the teams battled to a 17-17 draw in South Africa.

"We are all competitors and the Presidents Cup has got to be more closely contested," said Price. "Play it like the Ryder Cup, then you can compare on an apples-to-apples basis.

"Four-four matches the first two days, then do 12 on Sunday. That would be a really wonderful way to go."

(Editing by Greg Stutchbury)

Golf-McIlroy once again looks to regain form at Firestone

Golf-McIlroy once again looks to regain form at Firestone

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July 31, 2013


By Mark Lamport-Stokes

AKRON, Ohio, July 31 (Reuters) - Dispirited and frustrated after missing the cut at the British Open 12 days ago, Rory McIlroy was in a much more upbeat mood on Wednesday as he prepared for this week's WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.

Twelve months ago, the Northern Irishman played well at this event to end a poor run of form and went on to win his second major title in record-breaking style at the PGA Championship the following week.

McIlroy is aiming to replicate that turnaround on a Firestone Country Club layout he has always enjoyed playing, and believes his game is in better shape than it was this time a year ago.

"I always love coming back here," the world number three told reporters on a wet, overcast day where he has posted top-10 finishes in his last three appearances.

"It's a golf course I feel like I can do well on, and if something similar could happen like it did last year, get a good finish here or get into contention, obviously that would set me up for the last major of the season.

"I was sitting up here this time last year probably not feeling as if my game was in great shape, and I'm sitting up here this year a lot more positive, so that's a great sign."

McIlroy arrived at Firestone last year after missing the cut at the U.S. Open and tying for 60th at the British Open in his previous two starts, but he swiftly put that behind him as he finished in a tie for fifth at the Bridgestone Invitational.

One week later, he clinched the PGA Championship by a record eight shots at Kiawah Island and went on to win twice more on the 2012 PGA Tour as he stormed to the top of the world rankings and claimed the order of merit on both sides of the Atlantic.


ROLLER-COASTER RIDE

However, this year has been a roller-coaster ride for the 24-year-old, both on and off the course.

He has mainly struggled for form since switching his club brand at the start of the season to Nike in a lucrative deal reported to be worth as much as $250 million over 10 years, recording just four top-10s in 11 starts on the PGA Tour.

McIlroy has also been criticised for the amount of time he spends with his girlfriend, former world number one tennis player Caroline Wozniacki, with golfing great Gary Playersuggesting last week he needed to find "the right wife".

Asked to comment on what Player had said during an interview with Britain's Talksport radio, McIlroy replied: "I haven't heard. I don't know what you're talking about.

"I have the utmost respect for Gary Player. He is an incredible man. Obviously the success he's had on the golf course, and also the way he's lived his life and how healthy he is. He's an inspiration for everyone."

McIlroy readily admits the past 12 months have been "up and down" for him, with a tendency of late to become "a little bit too emotionally involved" with his game.

"I've let it either get me excited or get me down, where I should really just not get too high or too low about it at all," the 24-year-old said.

After missing the cut at the British Open for the first time in his career, McIlroy spent four days in Monaco with Wozniacki before returning to Northern Ireland where he regained his love for golf while playing a few social rounds with his friends.

"I was seven under for the last seven (holes) when we played Holywood," McIlroy smiled. "It makes you realise why you play the game. It makes you realise why you started, because you love the game of golf." (Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes; Editing by Julian Linden)