Golf-Watson names North as vice-captain for 2014 Ryder Cup

Golf-Watson names North as vice-captain for 2014 Ryder Cup










July 3, 2013 3:27 PM


July 3 (Reuters) - United States captain Tom Watson has appointed twice former U.S. Open champion Andy North as a vice-captain for next year's Ryder Cup against holders Europe at Gleneagles in Scotland.

Watson made the announcement during a news conference ahead of this week's PGA Tour event, the Greenbrier Classic in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, where he is in the field.

"Andy knows what it takes to close the deal and that's what we need on the Ryder Cup team," said Watson. "We need players who can close the deal.

"We've been discussing the players already back and forth and the types of young players who might make the team, the types of players that actually I hope make the team.

"I'm certainly happy to have Andy on my side and in my ear helping me make the decisions that will bring this Cup back home from Europe this time. It's been way too long."


The Americans will be bidding to end a run of seven losses against Europe in the last nine editions of the biennial competition.

Their most recent defeat came in Chicago last year when the U.S. threw away a commanding four-point lead heading into the final day in what became known as the 'Meltdown at Medinah.'

North, who won his only two major titles at the U.S. Open in in 1978 and 1985, represented his country in the 1985 Ryder Cup at The Belfry in England where he lost all three of his matches.

"I was giddy, absolutely giddy over the opportunity to not only hopefully have a role to get the Cup back, but also to be able to help a dear friend," said the 63-year-old North, who has known Watson since 1967. "I'm looking forward to it.

"There's a lot of excitement to the Ryder Cup, and it means an awful lot to me. I've been lucky enough to cover it for ESPN, and I get emotional covering it.

"It's going to be a great experience, and the bottom line is we get a 'W' at the end of the week."

North, a three-times winner on the PGA Tour, has worked as a golf analyst for ESPN since 1993.

The 40th Ryder Cup will be played at Gleneagles from Sept 26-28 next year. (Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Simon Evans)

Is Anchoring Your Putter Really Cheating?

Is Anchoring Your Putter Really Cheating?










Adam Fonseca July 3, 2013 3:29 PM


COMMENTARY | One of the more annoying questions circulating around golf - other than "Is Tiger Back?" - is whether or not anchoring your putter is "cheating". For the sake of this holiday weekend, let me do my best to lay this argument to rest once and for all.





No; anchoring your putter is not cheating. For now.

When the USGA and R&A proposed a ban to the anchored stroke earlier in the year, professional and amateur golfers alike were thrown one hell of a curve ball. While a very small percentage of amateur golfers use a long- or belly-putter on the weekend (I've personally only known one person to do so in 20 years of playing golf), some very notable names on the PGA Tour were reaping the benefits of the anchored stroke.

There is no data that I - or anyone else - can find to prove that an anchored putting stroke is more beneficial to the player compared to a traditional stroke. Neither the USGA nor R&A had any data either, but that's never stopped them from making a decision before. Whatever.


The PGA Tour initially decided to stand by its players and opposed the anchored stroke ban, which really didn't do anything more than give golf fans something to debate for a few weeks. Ultimately, as everyone assumed would happen, Commissioner Tim Finchem and the PGA Tour changed their minds and will now accept the proposed ban. Somewhere Adam Scott is crying in a green jacket.

During this whole process, however, PGA Tour players like Scott, Keegan Bradley, Tim Clark, Webb Simpson, Carl Pettersson and Ernie Els continued on their merry ways while using an anchored putting stroke. The players undoubtedly heard their fair share of criticism at every tournament, often being accused of "cheating" or breaking the rules despite the fact that the ban would not be enforced until 2016.

So where does that leave the rest of us Average Joe weekend duffers? Recreational golfers can use the anchored stroke until 2024, although I suspect we will be seeing putter handles jammed into beer guts for much longer. No one should be surprised by that. While I'm not suggesting that weekend warriors are dishonest on the golf course, there is definitely a disconnect between what Rules of Golf are followed and which are not.

Not convinced? When was the last time you discovered your ball was out-of-bounds and walked back to the tee box to re-hit? Chances are you just took a drop, a penalty shot and moved on. Technically, that's cheating. However, no one in your foursome will say anything since that "stretching of the rules" has become second nature in recreational golf.



Adam Fonseca has covered professional golf since 2005. His work can also be found on the Back9Network. Follow Adam on Twitter at @chicagoduffer.

Watson names North as vice-captain for 2014 Ryder Cup

Watson names North as vice-captain for 2014 Ryder Cup










July 3, 2013 3:29 PM


(Reuters) - United States captain Tom Watson has appointed twice former U.S. Open champion Andy North as a vice-captain for next year's Ryder Cup against holders Europe at Gleneagles in Scotland.

Watson made the announcement during a news conference ahead of this week's PGA Tour event, the Greenbrier Classic in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, where he is in the field.

"Andy knows what it takes to close the deal and that's what we need on the Ryder Cup team," said Watson. "We need players who can close the deal.

"We've been discussing the players already back and forth and the types of young players who might make the team, the types of players that actually I hope make the team.

"I'm certainly happy to have Andy on my side and in my ear helping me make the decisions that will bring this Cup back home from Europe this time. It's been way too long."


The Americans will be bidding to end a run of seven losses against Europe in the last nine editions of the biennial competition.

Their most recent defeat came in Chicago last year when the U.S. threw away a commanding four-point lead heading into the final day in what became known as the 'Meltdown at Medinah.'

North, who won his only two major titles at the U.S. Open in 1978 and 1985, represented his country in the 1985 Ryder Cup at The Belfry in England where he lost all three of his matches.

"I was giddy, absolutely giddy over the opportunity to not only hopefully have a role to get the Cup back, but also to be able to help a dear friend," said the 63-year-old North, who has known Watson since 1967. "I'm looking forward to it.

"There's a lot of excitement to the Ryder Cup, and it means an awful lot to me. I've been lucky enough to cover it for ESPN, and I get emotional covering it.

"It's going to be a great experience, and the bottom line is we get a 'W' at the end of the week."

North, a three-times winner on the PGA Tour, has worked as a golf analyst for ESPN since 1993.

The 40th Ryder Cup will be played at Gleneagles from Sept 26-28 next year.

(Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Simon Evans)