Trawling though the detritus of the 2008 European season revealed some interesting oddities, a few astonishing statistics and some bizarre happenings.
Now that we are immersed in the ’09 season – yes folks, we don’t waste time in Europe or care much for calendars – I thought it would be a good time to review the oddest things you may not have known about the European Tour in 2008.
• Faldo’s folly: I can reveal now why Nick Faldo’s excruciatingly embarrassing speech at the Ryder Cup opening ceremony was so, well, excruciating. A reliable source tells me Faldo was still working on his speech two hours before the opening ceremony. For a man who prided himself on preparation during his playing career, this is way out of character. As my source said, surely the Ryder Cup captain would write his speech a year in advance and practice it at least once a week so that there would be no embarrassing stumbles?
• Monty’s misery: The Montmeister goes winless on the Euro Tour for the first time since 2003, only his fifth winless European season since his rookie season in 1988. He missed six cuts as he did in ’03, but his stroke average was much worse. He averaged 72.73, his worst in a decade.
• Pablo’s problem: The misery continued for former Oklahoma State star and college No. 1 Pablo Martin. The Spaniard made just six cuts all year in the 24 events he played. (Note: he played all four rounds in the HSBC Champions, but it was a no-cut event.) Martin’s worst stretch was a run of nine MCs from the Irish Open to the Johnnie Walker Championship. His best finishes were T-15 in the Portuguese and Spanish Opens. He only broke 70 six times in 61 rounds, and had a stroke average of 74.45. That isn’t going to fly on any tour, anywhere. Maybe winning the 2007 Portuguese Open as an amateur was more poisoned chalice than cup of good cheer. I’m pulling for the affable Spaniard to find form in ’09.
• First timers: There were 14 first-time winners on the ’08 Euro Tour. Some should give inspiration to anyone with professional aspirations. If Ireland’s Damien McGrane can win on the European Tour then anything is possible. I don’t mean to disrespect McGrane, just the opposite. I admire him. Not too long ago, he was giving lessons to hackers at Wexford Golf Club, yet he never gave up on his European Tour dream. It took five trips to Euro Tour Q-School, but his perseverance paid off when he won the Volvo China Open. It just shows that if you want something badly enough, you can get it.
• The future in their hands: Two young players did enough in ’08 to live up to their billing as the future of the European Tour. Rory McIlroy and Oliver Fisher came within playoffs of winning tournaments this past season. (McIlroy has already been involved in another playoff this current season.) It won’t be long before both win their first tournaments, the first of many. They are the future of European golf.
• Story of the year: Greg Norman contending for the Open Championship gets my vote as story of the year. It would have been the fairy tale to end all golfing fairy tales had he pulled off victory. Even so, just to contend for three days on that golf course in those conditions was a saga in itself.
• Shot of the year: Harrington’s 5-wood to four feet at the par-5 17th during the final round of the Open Championship is hands down the stroke of the year. Others would have laid up with an iron, but such is the Irishman’s confidence that he had no hesitation in pulling the shot off. The stroke of genius was crowned off when he holed the eagle putt and went on to win his second consecutive Open.
• The real order of merit winner: Kudos to Robert Karlsson for becoming the first Swede to win the order of merit. Like most recent money list winners the likeable Swede won by default. The real money list winner? Tiger Woods. Karlsson won 2,732,748 euros in 23 events compared to Padraig Harrington’s 2,459,109 euros in 14 in the race to be European No. 1. Woods topped both with 2,761,511 euros from the five events he played that count on the Euro money list. Problem is, Woods needed to play in six more tournaments to qualify for membership.
• Snail of the year: Trevor Immelman may have entered elite company with his Masters win, but it took him five hours to play the final round – as a twosome! The fact he wasn’t penalized for slow play just proves the powers that be have no spine when it comes to pace of play.
• A fine line: England’s Richard Finch was one of the aforementioned first-time winners. His New Zealand Open victory came just weeks after he managed to hang onto his European Tour card. He then won the Irish Open to prove there really is a fine line between failure and success.
• A finer line: Talk of a fine line brings me to Paraguay’s Marco Ruiz. He finished 21st on the Challenge Tour order of merit, missing one of the 20 prized cards on offer by just 260 euros.
Posted: 11/25/2008
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