General / Tareq Quiroz / 13 October 2009 / Leave a Comment

Whilst Ross McGowan was tearing the place up in the Madrid Masters last week most golfing eyes were on events in the Presidents Cup. We had great players, a top course and a terrific format. So, why was the whole thing such a damp squib? asks Tareq Quiroz.

I really wanted to get excited about the Presidents Cup but it never got out of first gear.

The US team always had a grip on the match, although their lead never really got too out of control. I am not blaming a mis-match for the disappointing spectacle. No, I am laying the blame squarely at the feet of the PGA Tour schedule. On the whole the players looked tired and bereft of enthusiasm.

We had all four current major champions in the field and they all looked like shadows of the players they were just a few months ago. Most of the players had come off playing six out of eight weeks through the FedEx Cup and one week off at the end of that simply wasn't enough. There was fire from some of the younger competitors but not enough to mask what was a lacklustre event.

The 2010 PGA Tour schedule has yet to be announced as talks are still ongoing as to how best to schedule around the Ryder Cup. The general consensus is that they will stick with the same schedule as 2009 but let's not forget that the Ryder Cup happens a week earlier than the Presidents Cup. So, we are faced with the prospect of the Tour Championship being followed directly by the Ryder Cup. With just two Europeans playing the Tour Championship this year you would have to imagine it is already advantage Europe.

Some have suggested that the US victory over the ROW team was emphatic and a sign of a gelling team. Sure it was pretty decisive but I hardly think that it will give the Europeans sleepless nights. It was more a case of the US taking advantage of a ROW side giving the minimum of effort.

Far from this triumph being a sign of things to come for the US team I feel that it is the first part of an excuse for defeat in Wales in a year's time. The US team have had Michael Jordan pumping them up this week but, after such a tough schedule next year, Corey Pavin might need him to play in the Sunday singles!

I sincerely hope that we don't have a tired Ryder Cup 2010. This long established event deserves more respect than to be squeezed in around the money spinning FedEx Cup. It might not be the greatest spectacle next year but Europe looks a cracking bet at odds of [2.1].

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