The Pepper Mill
DOTTIE PEPPER
October 16, 2006
NO MO AT THE
CUP
I've been home from Ireland for two weeks, and I believe now as I did at the
time that the U.S. lost the Ryder Cup on the first four holes in every session.
In the 28 matches played, after four holes the U.S. led only seven and was all
square in only five others. Momentum is never more important than when playing
an "away game," especially for an underdog. One of the best bits of
match-play advice I ever received came from JoAnne Carner, the 1994 U.S.
Solheim Cup captain. Her simple words: "Just go win that first hole." I
found that mind-set was a key to winning. At the K Club the Europeans
definitely outplayed the U.S., but when they did it was crucial--early! That's
where the momentum of each day and each match was decided. A good start by the
U.S. would have brought relative silence to the European crowds, and believe
me, as a player you can't help but be swept up by the noise (or lack thereof).
When you're on foreign soil, silence is golden.
NO MO AT THE
CUP
I've been home from Ireland for two weeks, and I believe now as I did at the
time that the U.S. lost the Ryder Cup on the first four holes in every session.
In the 28 matches played, after four holes the U.S. led only seven and was all
square in only five others. Momentum is never more important than when playing
an "away game," especially for an underdog. One of the best bits of
match-play advice I ever received came from JoAnne Carner, the 1994 U.S.
Solheim Cup captain. Her simple words: "Just go win that first hole." I
found that mind-set was a key to winning. At the K Club the Europeans
definitely outplayed the U.S., but when they did it was crucial--early! That's
where the momentum of each day and each match was decided. A good start by the
U.S. would have brought relative silence to the European crowds, and believe
me, as a player you can't help but be swept up by the noise (or lack thereof).
When you're on foreign soil, silence is golden.
ENDANGERED
LIST
What do Paul Azinger, Mark Brooks, John Daly (right), David Duval, Steve
Elkington, Lee Janzen, Bernhard Langer, Nick Price and Bob Tway have in common?
All are major champions in danger of losing their PGA Tour status. At season's
end the top 125 on the money list retain full exempt status, while Nos. 126 to
150 get partial status. Azinger (124) is in the best shape, followed by Langer
(148), Janzen (168), Duval (171), Tway (176), Elkington (183), Price (188),
Brooks (189) and Daly (190). Duval, Price and Tway can use their one-time top
50 career money-list exemption in '07 (Azinger and Janzen already have), but
the plight of these players gives you a real perspective on the depth of talent
on Tour, the value of a card and how hard it is to keep one.
Dottie Pepper, a
17-year veteran of the LPGA tour and an analyst for NBC and the Golf Channel,
welcomes questions at dottie@siletters.com.
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