Honor And Glory

arnold palm er ' s gui de to t h e ry d e r c up

woods garcia —

back at medinah after thirteen years

captains interviews — they talk and we listen

medinah revealed — golfing shrine in the windy city

Team USa H Team eUrope H ryder HiSTory H palmer inTerview

YOU DON’T GET A TIN WATCH WHEN YOU RETIRE.

*Source: Over the 10-year period ending June 30, 2011, gold’s correlation with the S&P 500® has been -0.01 with 0 being uncorrelated and 1 being perfectly correlated (StyleADVISOR, June 2011).

Important Information Relating to SPDR Gold Trust: The SPDR Gold Trust (“GLD”) has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for the offering to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in that registration statement and other documents GLD has filed with the SEC for more complete information about GLD and this offering. You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov or by visiting www.spdrgoldshares.com. Alternatively, the Trust or any authorized participant will arrange to send you the prospectus if you request it by calling 1-866-320-4053.

IBG-4542

Everyone knows the best way to thank someone for a lifetime of service is with a gift made of gold.

Now it’s more accessible than ever, thanks to SPDR® Gold Shares. When you invest in GLD, you get a precise way to add gold to your portfolio. And you get an asset that offers diversification potential because it’s generally not tied to the ups and downs of broad US equities.* A gold watch may be in your future. But a gold ETF is something you can have right now. Scan the QR code with your smartphone to visit spdrs.com/GLD for details.

ETF’s trade like stocks, are subject to investment risk, fluctuate in market value and may trade at prices above or below the ETF’s net asset value. Brokerage commissions and GLD expenses will reduce returns.

Diversification does not assure a profit and may not protect against investment loss.

Investing in commodities entails significant risk and is not appropriate for all investors.

“SPDR” is a registered trademark of Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC (“S&P”) and has been licensed for use by State Street Corporation. No financial product offered by State Street Corporation or its affiliates is sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by S&P or its affiliates, and S&P and its affiliates make no representation, warranty or condition regarding the advisability of buying, selling or holding units/shares in such products. Further limitations that could affect investors’ rights may be found in GLD’s prospectus.

For more information: State Street Global Markets, LLC, One Lincoln Street, Boston, MA, 02111 • 866.320.4053 • www.spdrgoldshares.com.

Not FDIC Insured – No Bank Guarantee – May Lose Value

Please Drink Responsibly. Glenmorangie Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 43% Alc./Vol., ©2012 Moët Hennessy USA, Inc., New York, New York

Why is it so important that we only use our casks twice?

Taste our whisky and the question becomes rhetorical. www.glenmorangie.com

Unnecessarily Well Made

TM Trademark/The TM Trademark/The ®Registered ®Registered trademark/trademark/ shape of the shape stand of mixer the stand is a registered mixer is a registered trademarktrademark of KitchenAid, of KitchenAid, U.S.A. ©2012.

U.S.A. All©2012. rights reserved.

All rights reserved.

KP120018 KP120018

Dominate every course.

Dominate every course.

From stand mixers to side-by-side refrigerators, ovens to ice cream scoops, KitchenAid® appliances are crafted to improve your performance. Before you know it, you’ll be a seasoned pro at breakfast, lunch and dinner. Visit us at KitchenAid.com.

From stand mixers to side-by-side refrigerators, ovens to ice cream scoops, KitchenAid® appliances are crafted to improve your performance. Before you know it, you’ll be a seasoned pro at breakfast, lunch and dinner. Visit us at KitchenAid.com.

Contents

32

13 15 16 18 38

20 26 32 38

20

44

arnolD Palmer ForeworD

Arnold Palmer anticipates an exciting and memorable Ryder Cup at Medinah

Governor oF illinoiS ForeworD

Pat Quinn welcomes the 39th Ryder Cup to the state of Illinois

PreSiDent Clinton ForeworD

The 42nd President of the United States passes on a message to fellow golfers

DiD you Know?

50

who will win?

Palmer interview

54

aSSiStant CaPtainS

ryDer CuP SCeneSetter

60

love interview

64

olazabal interview

68

miCKelSon & weStwooD

78

Impress your friends by memorizing these nuggets of Ryder Cup trivia

The King talks about what the Ryder Cup means to him and reminisces about being both player and captain

Can Davis Love III lead the U.S. team to a famous victory and regain the Ryder Cup?

Captain America talks about the honor he feels has been bestowed on him as the son of a PGA professional

Europe’s captain remembers his old ally Seve Ballesteros and hopes for a clean and fair contest at Medinah

The two senior professionals on the U.S. and European teams will be renewing their Ryder Cup rivalry

Leading writers from the U.S. and Europe outline their theories as to why their teams will win

Once upon a time there weren’t any at all. Now there are eight—four on each side. What do they all do?

Fowler & mCilroy

The future of golf is in good hands with such exciting players likely to appear in many Ryder Cup matches

hiStory oF meDinah

How an immigrant Scottish course designer came to lay out three lots of 18 holes for the Shriners

hole-by-hole ProFileS

A detailed analysis with stunning photographs of the challenge that awaits players on Medinah No.3

wooDS & GarCia

It’s 13 years since a Spanish teenager hit a miracle shot from tree roots while chasing Tiger at Medinah

Honor & Glory

9

Contents

EDITOR Paul Trow PUBLISHER Matthew Squire

Team USa

130

95

Team eUrope

136

104

Who WaS SamUel ryder?

108

Thumbnail sketches and career details of the 12 players who will represent the U.S. at Medinah

Thumbnail sketches and career details of the 12 players who will represent Europe at Medinah

The mighty sporting oak that is the modern Ryder Cup began life as an English seed merchant’s pipedream

140

1963 ryder CUp

146

ryder CUp in piCTUreS

150

120

ConCeding pUTTS

156

126

Champagne momenTS

162

112

Arnold Palmer was the last man to captain and play in the same Ryder Cup side, nearly 50 years ago

Moments and images preserved for immortality from the origins of the Ryder Cup to the present day

Perhaps the most awkward decision a Ryder Cup golfer faces is whether or not to concede a putt

The history of France’s most famous Champagne, Moët et Chandon, predates the Napoleonic wars

150

2010 ryder CUp revieW

It was extremely wet at Celtic Manor but the Ryder Cup in south Wales was anything but a damp squib

Seve balleSTeroS

One of the Ryder Cup’s greatest competitors, the mercurial Spaniard was also a mentor and father figure

ryder CUp CaddieS

Leading caddies from both sides of the Atlantic talk about the magic of the Ryder Cup and their roles in it

The Solheim CUp

After 12 contests, the biennial match between the U.S. and Europe can claim to be the women’s Ryder Cup

fUTUre venUeS

The Ryder Cup will soon be heading for Gleneagles, Hazeltine, Paris National and Whistling Straits

ryder CUp reCordS

The results of all 38 Ryder Cup matches to have been played since 1927 plus a plethora of other facts

Silver pUTTer & ballS

A symbolic putter adorned with 24 silver golf balls will be on display in the Medinah clubhouse

ART DIRECTOR Leon Harris SENIOR DESIGNER Matthew Halnan JUNIOR DESIGNER Kieron Deen Halnan VP OPERATIONS Joe Velotta CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Reade Tilley EXECUTIVE ASSISTANTS Carla Richards Lola Aina ADVERTISING SALES EXECUTIVES Jon Edwards Andy Fletcher Jason Lyon CONTRIBUTORS Clive Agran, Robin Barwick, Nick Bayly, Ross Biddiscombe, Colin Callander, Iain Carter, Tony Dear, Patrick Drickey / stonehousegolf.com, Bill Elliott, Andy Farrell, Getty Images, Bob Harig, Leon Harris, Adam Hathaway, Brian Henry, Steve Killick, Paul Mahoney, Lewine Mair, Ivan Morris, oldgolfimages.com, Chris Rodell, Jack Ross, Evan Schiller / golfshots.com, Dave Shedloski, Art Spander, Martin Vousden SPECIAL THANKS Cori Britt, President Clinton, Danza Duffner, Doc Giffin, Governor Quinn, Michael J. Scully ENqUIRIES Editorial: jh@tmcusallc.com Advertising: ms@tmcusallc.com © TMC USA LLC 2012 The articles appearing within this publication reflect the opinions and attitudes of their respective authors and not necessarily those of the publishers. No responsibility is taken for unsolicited photographic or other materials.

tmcusallc.com

10

Honor & Glory

Patrick Drickey /stonehousegolf.com

83

FOUNDING CONTRIBUTOR Arnold Palmer

Proud SuPPorter of the 2012 ryder cuP

Moët & Chandon ® Champagne, © 2012 Imported by Moët Hennessy USA, Inc., New York, NY.

for passing down a lifetime of knowledge.

The PNC Father/Son Challenge. December 13–16, 2012. At PNC Bank, we recognize the power of relationships. But then, fostering strong personal connections is how we approach business every day. It’s why we’re so proud to bring back the PNC Father/Son Challenge Golf Tournament. For generations, PNC Bank has been guiding clients through life’s opportunities and challenges. And we’re committed to helping them achieve great things well into the future.

GEN-8874 ©2012 The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. All rights reserved. PNC Bank, National Association. Member FDIC

Foreword

Arnold PAlmer Foreword Welcome to Honor & Glory, my guide to the 39th Ryder Cup matches that will take place at Medinah Country Club in Illinois, from September 28-30, 2012.

It is now more than half a century since I first played in the Ryder Cup, over the links of Royal Lytham & St Annes in northwest England, yet my recollections of that far-off occasion are still much cherished and crystal clear.

To this day, despite all the changes that have happened during the intervening years, I firmly believe the spirit of fair play and sportsmanship that prompted Samuel Ryder to create this transatlantic challenge in the first place remain as valid as they were back in the 1920s. Certainly, the six Ryder Cups in which I played were equally enjoyable for the quality of the golf and the courtesy and consideration displayed by all the players both off the course and in the heat of battle.

B:11.12”

S:9.37”

T:10.87”

Long may this attitude continue, not least because the Ryder Cup is perhaps the greatest showcase that we have in the game of golf. Today, these matches have a higher global profile than when I played in them—from the reach of today’s media coverage to all the organizational detail that has to be attended to. And yet, the players continue to give their services for free, something that I hope will always be the case, even though it is gratifying that charities are now benefiting extensively from some of the revenues.

Turning to the events that will shortly unfold on the outskirts of Chicago, on a golf course that is likely to be mighty long, we have in prospect a match of classic proportions. The American team, under the captaincy of Davis Love III, will be trying to regain the trophy from the Europeans who won it back at Celtic Manor in Wales two years ago. Three of the current major champions will be at Medinah, including Webb Simpson, a graduate of my alma mater Wake Forest, who showed such nerve and poise to win this year’s U.S. Open at the Olympic Club and Masters Champion Bubba Watson.

The European team, captained by Jose Maria Olazabal and spearheaded by Rory McIlroy, our new PGA champion, and Team USA look to be well matched on paper and the games between them should be enthralling, spectacular and, above all, entertaining.

Whoever wins in the end, though, it is to be hoped that the greatest winner is the game of golf itself.

Arnold Palmer

Honor & Glory

13

Foreword

STATE OF ILLINOIS

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS 62706

Pat Quinn

GOVERNOR

September 25-30, 2012

Greetings!

As Governor of the State of Illinois, I am proud that the Land of Lincoln, with its long history of excellent sporting traditions, has been selected to host The Ryder Cup Matches.

This prestigious event will draw participants and spectators from across the globe to The Medinah Country Club, which boasts world-class facilities and has hosted many national events.

C

M

Y

CM

Athletic achievement in the international community fosters a sense of inspiration and pride within our towns, states and country. As a joint competition between PGA of America and the PGA European Tour, the Ryder Cup provides an opportunity for worldclass athletes to showcase sportsmanship and international cooperation through competition on a global stage. I wish the very best of luck to both of the teams competing during this tournament.

MY

CY

CMY

K

I would also like to offer a special welcome to those traveling from outside of Illinois for this event. During your stay, I encourage you to explore and discover the many sites and attractions that this great state has to offer. From historic landmarks and world-renowned museums, to first-class dining and theater experiences, to the scenic beauty of our small towns and prairies, there is truly a wide array of interests represented across Illinois.

On behalf of the people of Illinois, I offer my best wishes for an enjoyable and memorable occasion.

Sincerely, Pat Quinn Governor

Honor & Glory

15

NOW AVAILABLE ON FOUNTAIN! FOR MORE INFORMATION EMAIL SALES@DRINKARIZONA.COM

WWW.DRINKARIZONA.COM

© 2012 ARIZONA BEVERAGES USA LLC.

THE ORIGINAL IGINA NALL.

“We’re excited about the potential that uc360 represents.

You just sit doWn, log into Your netWork, and collaborate. it becomes second nature.

You’re not reaching for a different device. it’s just there.” jason spainhour director of information sYstems skillpath seminars

mITel UC360 CollaboraTIon PoInT ®

™

bUIlT-In HD aUDIo anD VIDeo ConFerenCInG WITH CloUD-reaDY DoCUmenT SHarInG CollaboraTIon IS noW aS eaSY aS makInG a PHone Call

learn more mITel.Com/UC360PoInT

16

Honor & Glory

Forewords History

Feature

ryd er c u p

DiD you Know?

O

ver the past few decades, the Ryder Cup has been the embodiment of a guessing game: Which team’s going to win this time round? Who’s going to be paired with who? Who isn’t going to be paired with anyone? Who’s going to win the decisive point? What will the players’ wives wear at the opening ceremony? Will the captains remember the names of all their players? What excuse will the losing captain come up with? How gracious will the winning captain be? Will the players’ rainwear keep them dry? What role will the crowd play in the outcome?

What would Samuel Ryder make of it all?

The Ryder Cup is now 85 years old, so now is the time for another guessing game. How much do we all really know about this biennial transatlantic contest? More headlines are written and column inches filled during the week of the Ryder Cup than any comparable week in golf, with the possible exception of the Masters.

As historians never tire of telling us, knowledge is power. So if you want your fellow golf fans to look up to you as a fount of great knowledge, what greater power could you have than a superior knowledge of the Ryder Cup? Here is a sample of facts you might want to memorize—the sort of trivia that all wannabe well-informed Ryder Cup connoisseurs should have poised at their fingertips when clubhouse and bar-stool chat turns to the most captivating event in golf...

18

HonoR & GloRy

100% Record The golfer on top of the lid of the famous gold trophy is not Samuel Ryder himself, but Abe Mitchell, the English professional who taught Ryder to play golf.

Mitchell was due to play in the inaugural contest in 1927, but withdrew with appendicitis.

However, he did play in the next three matches.

Jimmy Demaret, with six wins from six matches in three appearances between 1947 and 1951, has the best 100 percent record in the Ryder Cup, only because Jackie Burke (1951-57) and Gardner Dickinson (1967 and 1971) lost their very last singles matches. Those results left Burke with a 7-1-0 record and Dickinson with 9-1-0.

First captains 50 Years The captains for the very first Ryder Cup at Worcester Country Club in Massachusetts were Walter Hagen (U.S.) and Ted Ray (GB&I)

Between 1935 and 1985, the American team was only beaten once, in 1957, although it should be noted that no matches were played for 10 years due to World War II

Noble Lanny

Barnes Double

Sam Torrance was forced to miss the singles round in the 1993 Ryder Cup at The Belfry after sleepwalking into a plant pot. Lanny Wadkins, one of the more experienced U.S. players, volunteered to sit out the singles rather than see any of his teammates disappointed.

Unfancied Anglo-Scot Brian Barnes beat Jack Nicklaus, then at the peak of his powers, twice in the singles on the final day of the 1975 Ryder Cup at Laurel Valley, Pennsylvania.

Last Player–Captain

Arnold Palmer, in 1963 at East Lake Country Club, is the last person to act as a player-captain for either side in a Ryder Cup match.

$1.8m bonus More than $1.8 million was raised for a total of 54 separate charities from the 2010 Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor

Most Successful Line-up The most successful Ryder Cup line-up ever in terms of major victories was the 1981 U.S. team at Walton Heath. Eleven of the 12 team members won majors and the 12th, Bruce Lietzke, went on to win a Champions Tour ‘major’, the 2003 U.S. Senior Open.

$5,000 Shirt Steve Pate sold the maroon shirt adorned with photographs of past U.S. teams that he wore on the final day of the 1999 Ryder Cup for $5,000 at a charity auction.

With a distinct lack of deference to captain Ben Crenshaw, who dreamt up the design with business partner Jeff Rose, Pate said: “It was either that or use the shirt to dry my car.”

Oldest Survivors

The two oldest surviving U.S. Ryder Cup players—Doug Ford, 90, and Jackie Burke Jr., 89—can pull seniority on the two most senior Europeans—Christy O’Connor, Sr. and John Jacobs, who are both only 87.

HONOR & GLORy

19

Feature

RydeR Cup RefleCtions photo: Brian f Henry

20

Honor & Glory

Fresh from watching one compelling international sports event—the 2012 Summer Olympics—Arnold Palmer sat down in his office in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, to talk with Chris Rodell about another: The 39th Ryder Cup. He recalls his experiences as a captain and player, sticks his neck out about who might win at Medinah, and looks forward to celebrating a U.S. victory with a customary glass of vodka

Question: You didn’t make your Ryder Cup debut until 1961, by which time you had already won three Major championships. Why the delay?

Ap: In those days, the PGA was still requiring what you might call a probationary period before a tournament player could become a PGA member and be eligible to compete for a spot on the Ryder Cup team. I didn’t get my membership until it was too late to compile enough points to make the 1959 team, even though I had won five times [during that qualifying period], including the Masters. So, in effect, the PGA said [that] I was not qualified to make the team, that I didn’t belong. The funny thing was that they gave me a spot in the 1958 PGA Championship because I had won the Masters that year.

Q: Still a little bitter?

Ap: It was a sore point for me for a long time. I had to sit at home and watch my friends play while I couldn’t. I was pretty hot about having to sit out the Ryder Cup until 1961.

Q: Who was your most difficult opponent in the Ryder Cup? Ap: Peter Alliss always gave me a real dog fight. Like a lot of Europeans, he played a nice, controlled fade, shaping his shots from left to right. I had to work my tail off just to halve him. He was very tenacious and I enjoyed playing against Peter. He is a nice man.

Q: Which ‘team’ format did you prefer—foursomes or four-balls—and why?

Ap: I didn’t really have a preference. I enjoyed them both.

Q: What was your attitude towards conceding putts to your opponent?

Ap: I think I was generous in conceding my opponent’s putts and I think that was in the spirit of the Ryder Cup. Its original intent was to bring players from both sides of the Atlantic together for friendly matches.

The competition was always fierce, but there were never any real antagonisms. That was the way it was with conceded putts, too. Sure, there’d be some gamesmanship—giving away all the easy ones until one counted—but that’s just part of the game. In general, both sides did a lot of friendly conceding.

Q: The 2010 Ryder Cup was badly disrupted by the weather and had to finish on a Monday for the first time. Do you think the event is being played too late in the year, especially as diminishing daylight is also a potential issue?

Ap: Moving the event to earlier in the year is something they may want to consider. Nobody wants to see a Monday finish and the length of matches and the shortness of the days they’re played on can lead to that unwanted result.

Q: Do you think the authorities should be stricter with players who play slowly in Ryder cup match play? If so, what potential penalties would you put in their power?

Ap: Slow play’s a real problem in golf at all levels. With the professionals, it’s a problem because how do you punish the slow players? They’re all making so much money that fines don’t deter. That leaves stroke penalties for chronic slow play. But that’s going to take a lot of spine.

Q: Have you kept all your bags and equipment from the six Ryder Cups in which you played?

Ap: Yes, I still have them all. Seeing them brings back so many great memories.

Honor & Glory

21

Belvedere is a quality choice. Drinking responsibly is too. Belvedere Vodka 40% ALC./VOL. (80 PROOF) 100% neutral spirits distilled from rye grain. ©2012 Imported by Moët Hennessy USA, Inc., New York, NY.

THE CAPTAIN’S PICK BELVEDERE LEMON TEA ICED TEA LEMONADE

MIX IN EQUAL PARTS. ADD ICE AND STIR.

Trim

Safety

dave Marr and Arnold palmer measure putts to establish the order of play at Royal Birkdale in 1965.

Above: three of palmer’s Ryder Cup bags

Q: What are your fondest playing memories from the Ryder Cup and who was your favorite partner?

Ap: Just having the opportunity to represent my country on those occasions is my fondest memory.

Thinking about it still gives me a lump in the throat. As for playing partners, Dave Marr was always a good buddy of mine and a great partner. He always kept me loose and laughing. Billy Casper and I were very competitive, too, but we made for great Ryder Cup teammates. Jack Nicklaus was a great partner. We had a great individual rivalry, but we had a lot of success as a team, not just in the Ryder Cup but in other team events like the World Cup. Q: You didn’t play in the 1969 Ryder Cup at Royal Birkdale. What was the reason for that?

Ap: Simple. I didn’t have the points and back then there were no captain’s picks.

Q: How did you cope with being the U.S. captain as well as a player back in 1963, only your second playing appearance in the Ryder Cup, at East Lake?

Ap: Cope? It was all a lot of fun. I enjoyed all the aspects of playing and captaining at once. I had a really great team and enjoyed working with all the players. And getting to play, too, made it even more special.

Q: Did you feel at the time that it was a dual role unlikely ever to be repeated, or did it seem quite normal?

Ap: It never occurred to me it was anything unusual. I was happy to take it all in and have fun with it.

Q: How difficult was it for you to decide which of your players to leave out and which to pair together? What criteria did you apply to both decisions?

Ap: That’s probably the most difficult aspect about being captain. And those are the kinds of decisions that make or break Ryder Cup teams. As captain, I looked at all the factors: the personalities, the strengths, the weaknesses and, most importantly, just who I thought could help our team to win.

Q: Most golf fans assume that all match-ups in the Ryder Cup are randomly selected by a draw.

Was that the case in your day or has there always been some manipulation of the draw to produce some box-office contests?

Ap: Getting marquee match-ups was part of it. But the Ryder Cup is always going to be a compelling match no matter who’s playing.

Safety

“the ryder cup’s supposed to be about sporting competition”

Q: What other memories do you hold from 1975 when you were the non-playing captain over a course, Laurel Valley, with which you have a close association?

Ap: That was very special to me because it was my last direct involvement with the Ryder Cup team and I was flattered to be selected captain. We had a sort of Dream Team that year with Nicklaus, Gene Littler, Lee Trevino, Ray Floyd, Billy Casper—I think it was the strongest team the U.S. ever fielded.

Nicklaus was at the top of his game then, too. That’s why it was so surprising when Brian Barnes beat him in the morning singles. When we had the team meeting at lunchtime, the players urged me to give Jack another shot at Barnes. I did and Barnes beat him again in the afternoon. Jack took a lot of good-natured razzing about that afterward, even though we won the Ryder Cup rather easily.

Honor & Glory

23

Q: Are you happy with the current playing format of the Ryder Cup or would you like to see it emulate the Presidents Cup and enable every player to play in every round of matches?

Ap: I don’t think I’d change a thing. The format works as well as it’s ever going to and I think the great competition proves that.

Q: How much time did you spend, both as a captain and as a player, fraternising with the opposition? In the case of your opposite number as captain, did you spend as much time together before the match as they seem to today?

Ap: We spent a lot of time together and it was always very enjoyable. We competed against them a lot and were on friendly terms already. That’s what it’s all about. The Ryder Cup’s supposed to be about sporting competition. There are times when it gets pretty heated—and there’s nothing wrong with that—as long as the players and the fans remember to honor the spirit of the game. Me, I loved the Ryder Cup. It’s about playing for something more than money. It’s about playing for your country. That meant the world to me.

Q: Which was the most exciting Ryder Cup you’ve ever seen or participated in, and why?

Ap: There have been so many great ones but for sheer drama, it’ll be difficult to top the 1991 event at Kiawah Island when it came down to Bernhard Langer’s final putt with everything on the line —and he missed.

Q: How do you assess the qualities of the two captains, Davis Love and Jose Maria Olazabal, and what do you think each will bring to their teams?

Ap: Well, they’re just two great guys and veterans who can be counted on to motivate their teams and get the best out of them.

Q: Medinah is one of America’s outstanding courses and the scene of two of Tiger Woods’ PGA Championship victories. Do you think he will have an advantage over his opponents playing on a course of which he undoubtedly has positive memories?

Ap: That should give him an advantage. Clearly, he’s very comfortable playing and winning there. He’s done it before and will rely on those positive recollections. On the other hand, his opponents will know of his success there and may be a little intimidated. I expect him to do well at Medinah.

Q: How would you assess Medinah as a Ryder Cup venue—the course, facilities and also the crowd?

Ap: It’s a great course, a great club and Chicago’s one of America’s great golf towns. They know how to run major events. The course is tough, but fair and I expect Chicago to really support the matches and the U.S. team.

Q: Why do you think a panel of vice-captains has become so important to both teams in the Ryder Cup? What would be your ideal number?

Ap: I wonder if it’s becoming excessive. I understand the captain needing an assistant, but all these vice-captains seem unnecessary.

Q: How important do you feel a caddie is at a Ryder Cup? In an ordinary tournament the relationship is essential, especially when pressure kicks in, but does the caddie have an equally important role to play in a team match-play context, or a diminished role?

Ap: The caddie certainly plays his part with reading putts and encouraging his player, but it is somewhat diminished in team play when a playing partner is there to share strategy.

top: langer misses the decisive putt at Kiawah island in 1991. Below: Woods celebrates his second pGA Championship victory at Medinah in 2006

Q: Sticking your neck out, which team do you fancy to win at Medinah and why?

Ap: It could be one of the most exciting ever. I’m expecting it to be very dramatic. I think the U.S. will win with the help of the home turf advantage, but the Euros have some players who are doing very well right now, too. I’ll tell you this much, I’ll be watching.

Q: Finally, London recently got done hosting an even more international event, the 2012 summer Olympics. Did you watch much?

Ap: I certainly did. I enjoyed a lot of the swimming competitions and was amazed at the agility of the gymnasts. I love the Olympics and look forward to 2016 when golf will be part of the program.

Q: Thank you, as always, Mr. Palmer for such lively and engaging conversation.

Ap: And thank you. It’s my pleasure. H

24

Honor & Glory

“i expect chicago to really support the matches and the u.s. team”

What Inspires You?

At Insperity, we are inspired by the entrepreneurs, the decision makers, the motivators – our clients.

These business owners have the drive to accomplish their dreams, day in and day out – never backing down, never standing idle, never playing it safe.

It’s that kind of commitment that changes things.

That’s why Insperity is committed to helping these leaders achieve success. For more than 26 years, Insperity has helped business owners capitalize on those opportunities with our powerful HR and business performance solutions.

After all, when businesses succeed, communities prosper. And that’s inspiring.

To learn more, visit Insperity.com

Feature

13th man!

26

Honor & Glory

The final weekend in September is set to witness yet another classic encounter in a Ryder Cup series that has been littered with them over the past three decades. For what it’s worth, the bookies give a shade of odds to a U.S. team bidding to recapture the cherished gold trophy so painfully surrendered to Europe two years ago in Wales. The battle lines are drawn, Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods are fully squared up, and Paul Trow sets the scene

T

he 39th Ryder Cup, over the fabled No.3 course at Medinah on the outskirts of Chicago, is a potentially explosive contest between two teams of 12 players, representing the cream of American and European golfing talent.

Both sides have a talisman with the ability to achieve almost anything with a golf club in their hands—Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy.

But perhaps even more significantly, both sides have a 13th man they can call on, a 13th man whose influence may well prove to be decisive in determining where those oh-so crucial pieces of luck, and opportunism, are destined to fall.

Like prize fighters shaping up to go the full distance, Davis Love III and his dozen heroes

from the United States stand in the red (white and blue) corner while in the blue (and yellow) corner we find Jose Maria Olazabal and his ‘twelve men good and true’ from the continent of Europe. The jury is out as to which collection of players has a better chance of holding its nerve as the heat of battle intensifies in the later rounds. However, with the cauldron already simmering it would seem the form-book slightly favors a home team desperate to redress the balance following an agonizing, one-point defeat at Celtic Manor in 2010.

Back in rain-sodden south Wales, the outcome boiled down to a tense singles clash between Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell, reigning U.S. Open champion at the time, and

the abundantly talented Hunter Mahan. In the end, Mahan chunked a chip and McDowell thus breasted the tape as a volcano of partisan roars erupted from the galvanized crowd that thronged the 17th green.

But that was then and this, two years later, is now. The packed galleries lining every fairway and green at Medinah will, largely, be cheering on Team USA. And given that many of them are likely to be natives of the Windy City, their support will be vociferous and spicy.

Strong though the line-up of American aces already is, if at any stage they find themselves up against it and in need of a trump card, a 13th man if you will, this is where their fortitude will regenerate.

Both captains, two of nature’s gentlemen, have appealed for fairness and respect towards all the players, and they are optimistic their requests will be understood and adhered to.

Olazabal, two of whose seven Ryder Cups as a player were in the ‘War on the Shore’ at Kiawah Island in 1991 and in another pressurecooker atmosphere at The Country Club just outside Boston eight years later, believes his men will be accorded the common courtesies every combatant is entitled to in order to compete on a level playing field.

Davis Love III has enjoyed a fruitful relationship with the Ryder Cup since making his debut at The Belfry in 1993 and holing the winning putt

Honor & Glory

27