Captain's Blog: A throwback U.S. Open and Ryder Cup planning

Captain's Blog: A throwback U.S. Open and Ryder Cup planning










PGA.COM July 3, 2013 1:27 PM

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U.S. Ryder Cup Captain Tom Watson says that the pressure of trying to win a U.S. Open is similar to …


By Tom Watson 2014 U.S. Ryder Cup Captain

The U.S. Open at Merion was fantastic this year. It was far different than what we've seen in recent years. The rough was a lot deeper and we didn't see the "graduated" rough the USGA has used the last several years.

As a result, there were complaints from players. That's how it was when I played in all those USGA events years ago and it's the way USGA events are supposed to be. The rough is a lot deeper and it magnifies errors. A major or minor error is penalized more than in a regular tournament.

The rough at Merion was so tough that even the strongest players weren't able to advance it to the greens. All the talk leading into the U.S. Open was about how short Merion is, playing at just less than 7,000 yards. However, that quickly became a non-issue. One over won the tournament and that's precisely how the USGA wants its courses set up. Par -- in the eyes of the USGA -- is the ultimate final score. If you shoot par, you win.

It was a unique course if you look at it. There were a lot of short holes, but also some extremely long holes -- like a couple of the par 3s. They messed up with the 274-yard, par-3 third on Sunday. They just had the wrong wind direction for the hole to be playing at that length and Phil Mickelson let them know about it.

I was at Merion on Tuesday and stood at the par-3, 17th tee for about four hours. They played to a 258-yard hole location that day and it was slightly downhill and into the wind. I was amazed at the length they hit the ball. Players were hitting irons over 240 yards over the false front and onto the green. I couldn't even think of hitting an iron from back there! It was impressive.

U.S. Opens are just so difficult. Everything from the narrowness of the fairways to the length of the rough to the speed and firmness of the greens. Of course, I don't think the firmness of the greens was much of a factor last week just because of the rain, but the design of the greens and the speed still made it difficult for the players.

I'll say it again - that's the U.S. Open. Those are the things you think about when you think of a U.S. Open. I was lucky enough to win one and my forte certainly wasn't hitting fairways. The USGA forces you to be more focused than ever and hitting fairways is a must.


There were six Americans (Phil Mickelson T2; Jason Dufner T4; Billy Horschel T4; Hunter Mahan T4; Steve Stricker T8; and Rickie Fowler T10) that finished in the top 10 at the U.S. Open and that was nice to see. Billy Horschel was impressive. He went through Q-School to make it on Tour this season and has played great, picking up a win recently. I welcome people like Horschel on the Ryder Cup team. I want new blood. I think it's important. Having new players every two years on the team is crucial to gain experience. Rickie Fowler and Hunter Mahan are great examples of that. They're still young, but they've already had a taste of a Ryder Cup too. And, at a U.S. Open, the pressure there rivals Ryder Cup pressure. That's why I'm always interested in watching the majors.

On the Ryder Cup front, we do have some things going on right now. We'll have some news on July 3 at the Greenbrier, where we'll talk a little about the players who have jumped into the Ryder Cup standings after the U.S. Open and I'll also touch on what I've been doing for the start of the process of the Ryder Cup and much of that is logistical work.

During that gap between the Open Championship and the Senior British Open, I'll head over to see the hotel at Gleneagles and also the Centenary Course. I played golf in the early 80s at Gleneagles, but that was on the King's and Queen's Courses. This will be my first look at the PGA Centenary Course that Jack Nicklaus designed, the one we'll be playing the Ryder Cup on. Basically I'll get to see the course and the hotel and start talking logistics.

As for my own game, aside from the Masters, I've played five events on the Champions Tour this season, but I'm about to embark on a stretch where I'll play six of the next seven weeks and three of those will be with the kids on the PGA Tour (the Greenbrier Classic, the Open Championship and the PGA Championship).

I look forward to playing with the younger guys the next couple of years in at least four tournaments -- the Masters, Greenbrier, Open Championship and PGA Championship. I'll be around them and I want to get up close and personal. I want to see how they react under pressure and how they play in bad conditions.

As I keep saying: What kind of heart do they have?

That's what's most important to me.

Follow 2014 U.S. Ryder Cup Captain Tom Watson on Twitter, @TomWatsonPGA.

Tom Watson picks Andy North as vice-captain

Tom Watson picks Andy North as vice-captain










PGA.COM July 3, 2013 2:57 PM

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Team USA Captain Tom Watson and close friend Andy North hope to carry their success in the Legends of …


PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. - U.S. Team Captain Tom Watson has named Andy North to serve as a vice captain for the 2014 United States Ryder Cup Team. North was announced Wednesday at a news conference in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va., prior to The Greenbrier Classic.

North will serve as a vice captain when the United States and Europe meet in the 40th Ryder Cup at Gleneagles, in Perthshire, Scotland, Sept. 23-28, 2014.

North, 63, won the U.S. Open in 1978 and 1985. He represented the U.S. in the '85 Ryder Cup, losing all three of his matches at The Belfry in Sutton Coldfield, England.

"Andy knows what it takes to close the deal and that's what we need on the Ryder Cup Team. We need players who can close the deal," Watson said. "We've been discussing the players already back and forth and the types of young players who might make the team, the types of players that actually I hope make the team.

"I'm certainly happy to have Andy on my side and in my ear helping me make the decisions that will bring this Cup back home from Europe this time. It's been way too long."

A native of Wisconsin, North played collegiate golf at the University of Florida, and was an All-American in 1970, '71 and '72. He has been inducted into both the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame and the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame.

Since 1993, North has served as a golf analyst for ESPN.

"I was giddy, absolutely giddy over the opportunity to not only hopefully have a role to get the Cup back, but also to be able to help a dear friend," said North, who has known Watson since 1967. "I'm looking forward to it. There's a lot of excitement to the Ryder Cup, and it means an awful lot to me. I've been lucky enough to cover it for ESPN, and I get emotional covering it. It's going to be a great experience, and the bottom line is we get a W at the end of the week."


Nine members of the 40th U.S. Ryder Cup Team will be determined following the 96th PGA Championship, Aug. 7-10, 2014, at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky. Watson will announce three Captain's selections to complete the Team in September 2014.

The Ryder Cup is one of the most spirited, exciting and compelling events in sport-spanning more than 85 years, involving the greatest players in the world and producing some of the greatest moments in the game.

In September 2014, the U.S. will attempt to win back the Ryder Cup, which Europe has held since 2010. The U.S. last won a Ryder Cup in Europe in 1993, when Watson captained the Team to victory at The Belfry.

Paul McGinley of Ireland is the 2014 European Ryder Cup Team Captain.

The qualification system for Europe will begin at the ISPS Handa Wales Open at The Celtic Manor Resort in Wales, Sept. 5-8, 2013. Like Watson, McGinley will have three Captain's selections.

About the Ryder Cup

The Ryder Cup began in 1927 when enterprising English seed merchant Samuel Ryder commissioned the casting of a gold chalice that bears his name. The U.S. Team defeated Great Britain, 91/2 to 21/2, in the inaugural matches in Worcester, Mass. Since then, except for a span (1939-45) during World War II and following the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks upon America, the Ryder Cup has been held biennially with the U.S. and Europe alternating as host. Since 1985, Europe owns a 9-4-1 advantage in golf's pre-eminent event.

About The PGA of America

Since its founding in 1916, The PGA of America has maintained a twofold mission: to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf. By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, The PGA enables its professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in the multi-billion dollar golf industry. By creating and delivering world-class championships and innovative programs, The PGA of America elevates the public's interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere. As The PGA nears its centennial, the PGA brand represents the very best in golf.

Golf-Watson names North as vice-captain for 2014 Ryder Cup

Golf-Watson names North as vice-captain for 2014 Ryder Cup










July 3, 2013 3:27 PM


July 3 (Reuters) - United States captain Tom Watson has appointed twice former U.S. Open champion Andy North as a vice-captain for next year's Ryder Cup against holders Europe at Gleneagles in Scotland.

Watson made the announcement during a news conference ahead of this week's PGA Tour event, the Greenbrier Classic in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, where he is in the field.

"Andy knows what it takes to close the deal and that's what we need on the Ryder Cup team," said Watson. "We need players who can close the deal.

"We've been discussing the players already back and forth and the types of young players who might make the team, the types of players that actually I hope make the team.

"I'm certainly happy to have Andy on my side and in my ear helping me make the decisions that will bring this Cup back home from Europe this time. It's been way too long."


The Americans will be bidding to end a run of seven losses against Europe in the last nine editions of the biennial competition.

Their most recent defeat came in Chicago last year when the U.S. threw away a commanding four-point lead heading into the final day in what became known as the 'Meltdown at Medinah.'

North, who won his only two major titles at the U.S. Open in in 1978 and 1985, represented his country in the 1985 Ryder Cup at The Belfry in England where he lost all three of his matches.

"I was giddy, absolutely giddy over the opportunity to not only hopefully have a role to get the Cup back, but also to be able to help a dear friend," said the 63-year-old North, who has known Watson since 1967. "I'm looking forward to it.

"There's a lot of excitement to the Ryder Cup, and it means an awful lot to me. I've been lucky enough to cover it for ESPN, and I get emotional covering it.

"It's going to be a great experience, and the bottom line is we get a 'W' at the end of the week."

North, a three-times winner on the PGA Tour, has worked as a golf analyst for ESPN since 1993.

The 40th Ryder Cup will be played at Gleneagles from Sept 26-28 next year. (Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Simon Evans)