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Ryder Cup Rookies

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Posted: Wednesday September 22, 1999 12:50 PM

How will the Ryder Cup rookies react to the cauldron, which is the Ryder Cup? The outcome of the 33rd staging of this Trans-Atlantic battle will be decided by the answer Europe's seven newcomers give to that question when they take to the course for the three-day confrontation, starting on Friday.

The crowds are already pouring into Brookline to see the cream of the European and American Tours swing away in readiness for the contest ahead -- and already the galleries are tangibly excited and blatantly excitable. If they are so boisterous and noisy on Tuesday, what can of Friday frenzy can we expect?

And will the new guys on the side of the defending champions be able to handle it? It will be like nothing they have ever experienced before.

Swede Jesper Parnevik played his first Ryder Cup two years ago in Spain and said he went into the super-charged competition not knowing quite what to expect.

After his first hole he knew and it was reinforced on each hole of each round he played.

Parnevik said every hole was like playing the 18th of a major, with a putt to win the tournament. The pressure was that immense.

It didn't unduly hurt Parnevik. He coped with the situation admirably and played an important role in Europe's second successive victory. But, then, he was playing in front of a partisan home crowd. This time the rookies will face a seething mass of golf fanatics who'll be rooting every shot of the way against them.

Sergio Garcia, at 19 the youngest of the new boys, showed with his final round display at the PGA Championship -- where he made life uncomfortable for Tiger Woods before settling for second -- that he is made for the big time. He could illuminate this European team.

Scotland's Paul Lawrie won the British Open this year; displaying steely nerves to fire a final round 67 and then win the play off with a fearless approach. He can call on that experience when he enters the Ryder Cup fray for the first time.

But there are many other less tried players who will have to be trusted to perform this week. Ireland's Padraig Harrington, France's Jean Van de Velde, Sweden's Jarmo Sandelin, Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez and Scotland's Andrew Coltart are quality players, but mysterious rookies one and all.

The hugely talented United States team has just one rookie in its line up ... and that happens to be World No.2 David Duval.

How European team captain Mark James coaxes the best out of his seven freshmen, how they listen and learn from experienced colleagues Colin Montgomerie and Jose Maria Olazabal and how they cope with the intimidating atmosphere will hold the key to a successful European defense.

And for those who say they the rookies can go out with a carefree attitude because "they have nothing to lose", that's wrong. They have the Ryder Cup to lose.

 

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