barry beck's ryder cup preview...

The US Ryder Cup team has not won a match since 1999 when Justin Leonard's 45 foot putt on the 17th green in Brookline caped an improbable comeback and sent Andre the Giant and Barry Beck into jubilant celebration. Andre and Barry stormed the the 18th green with the over served crowd on a beautiful day in Beantown after Payne Stewart, as the true sportsman he was, conceded his insignificant match to Monty (or as the Brookline Crowd referred to him as Tuna for his close appearance to Bill Parcels). When Andre and Barry got to the green they were showered with champagne sprayed by some of the US players, caddies and Captain Crenshaw. Big Ben Crenshaw left the grounds of The Country Club the previous night saying, "I'm a big believer in Fate and I have a feeling that we will win this thing." Sure enough the US team orchestrated quite possibly the best comeback in sports history. Perhaps it was the overzealous celebration that afternoon in Brookline that has motivated Team Euro to improbable wins at the Belfry in 2002 and Oakland Hills at the last matches in 2004. Both times David slayed Goliath as a bunch of Euros beat teams led by Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson and celebrated with the same enthusiasm that came over the Andre the Giant, Barry Beck, and the rest of the US team in 1999.

The US arrived in Ireland this week with a renewed perspective on the competition having learned from a litany of their mistakes in the previous two matches. With four Ryder Cup rookies and a core of experienced veterans including Tiger Woods who appears more comfortable as a team leader for these matches the US team is considered the underdog. The K-Club golf venue they are playing should favor the Americans as it is an Arnoald Palmer designed track in the mold of a traditional North Amercian woodland course. This should help the Yanks who will not be forced to play the traditional Irish links course on European soil.

If the Americans did not have enough motivation at the K-Club from all the naysayers and their recent poor performances in the matches they need not look further than the Irish tabloids this week. The Dubliner Magazine this week went on to post a story about the American WABs (Wives and Brides) in saying, "Most American golfers are married to women who cannot keep their clothes on in public," the story stated. "Is it too much to ask that they leave them at home for the Ryder Cup?" They posted a topless picture they claimed to be the beautiful Elin Nordegren, Tiger's wife next to the story. Further, the story described Amy Lepard, wife of U.S. Ryder Cup player Chad Campbell, as a "large-chested singer." It said David Toms' wife, Sonya, wears a bikini around the house because it's "liberating." And it said Jim Furyk's wife, Tabitha, wasn't interested in him until he became a multimillionaire. These comments clearly incited the underdogs and should help motivate the US Squad.

Unfortunately, Andre and Barry will not be at the K-Club the help support the underdog Americans in this year's Ryder Cup. Nonetheless, they will follow the telecast of the broadcast and should the US win, jubilation rivaling 1999 in Brookline will follow.