It's Go Time in Wales

Gentlemen start your engines...for it all starts this Friday morning in Wales, namely, the 38th running of the biennial Ryder Cup. Pitting Europe's best against America's best professional golfers. And those two smiling chicklets above, although not hitting a shot, will be instrumental in who wins and who loses.

For the team captains, Corey Pavin of the USA (the skinny one above) and Colin Montgomerie of the Euros (the portly one above), the chess match between the two captains has already begun with the final selections of the team and for the first day pairings to be announced on Thursday. By Sunday afternoon, in my humble opinion, the "underdog" USA team will be retaining the venerable Ryder Cup. USA's collective team talent guided by the steady hand and head of their guileful and cerebral Captain Pavin will prevail. Assisting in USA's victory will be none other than Euro Captain Monty, the stroppy Scot, who will end up pipping his own petard.

Pavin is the archetype for all of us little guys in a big man's world. He succeeded at every level of golf with a swing that resembles Giovanni da Bologna's twisting and contorting sculpture Rape of the Sabines. Coupled with his successful unorthodox swing, is Pavin's clear quiet judgement in recognizing the importance of persistence and desistence. And, more iimportantly, when to apply the right amount of each.

Monty, on the other hand, should be playing instead of captaining. He is 29-7 in Ryder Cup matches, a record for the Euros. He is a great player in that team format...which is good. As a Captain, he is a abundant talker...which is bad. As Padraig Harrington, a Ryder Cupper, stated recently, "If Monty puts his bucket of balls beside me on the range, I'll move. Otherwise, I'll get nothing done. Monty's idea of warming up is like 45 minutes of talking and hitting 10 balls." Imagine what Ben Hogan would do with Monty on the range tee?

So, balls fly early Friday morning from Wales. The tea kettle pressure begins to build and finally boils over on Sunday. Which team wilts under this enormous worldwide hot lamp? Which team prospers?

Again, my gut tells me the Americans will prevail. Captain Corey, because he listens, observes, thinks and then acts purposefully, will guide his 12 to the champagne podium on Sunday. While Captain Monty because he talks, and talks and talks then talks some more will irritate his players so much that he will lose them and they the cup.

Sometimes in sports the better talent doesn't win. Will this be one of those times?

Enjoy the show.