By Mark Soltau
Illustration By John Ueland
September 2008
Fred Couples has said that he'd like to have comedian Robin Williams around to loosen up the U.S. team when he's the captain for the Presidents Cup next year. Would Robin Williams help the U.S. Ryder Cup team?
a) No: 65%
b) Yes: 35%
Comment: "We're looser than people think. Behind those closed doors, we're not all twiddling our thumbs, trying to wait until the next day. We're playing Ping-Pong, we're playing pool, we're having a few beers, we're having a good time. The bottom line is this: When you win, you look like you're having fun."
Which word best describes Sergio Garcia during the Ryder Cup? (Click here for the story)
a) Insufferable: 40%
b) Unbeatable: 25%
c) Both of the above: 35%
Comments: "He's like a gnat that just swarms around your head. Irritating." . . . "The other guys, from what I've heard, don't really like Sergio that much -- but they love him during the Ryder Cup." . . . "He acts like a 6-year-old."
The U.S. has lost only three home matches in Ryder Cup history (1987, Muirfield Village; 1995, Oak Hill; 2004, Oakland Hills). How important is the home-country advantage?
a) Huge: 50%
b) Makes some difference: 50%
c) Not that big a deal: 0%
Comment: "Sam Torrance [2002 European captain] had the greens at The Belfry running at about 6 [on the Stimpmeter]. They got slower every day. Every putt we hit was short -- every one. Then when you do hit it hard enough, you have to whack it so damn hard you can't hit it straight. It was genius on his part."
How does the fact that U.S. captain Paul Azinger gets to fill out the 12-man team with four captain's picks instead of two affect the Americans' chances of winning?
a) Should help some: 55%
b) That's the difference-maker: 35%
c) Can't hurt: 10%
When you haven't been part of the Ryder Cup competition, have you watched the matches on TV?
a) I don't miss a minute: 50%
b) I watch some of it: 50%
c) Gone fishin': 0%
What's your reaction to Seve Ballesteros, long the leader of European teams, saying he wants the United States to win this year because European victories have become "boring"?
a) Typical Seve gamesmanship: 80%
b) Typical Seve sportsmanship: 20%
Comment: "It got his name in the paper again. Maybe he's right."
How tired do you get while competing in the Ryder Cup?
a) More tired than from a regular tour event: 90%
b) Utterly exhausted: 5%
c) About the same as a tour event: 5%
d) Are you kidding? I could play 54 holes a day: 0%
Comment: "It's the only time, including majors, when you're nervous when you tee off, and you're nervous on the next shot, and the next shot and the next shot. It doesn't go away."
The Ryder Cup hangs in the balance, and you're not sure if you've seen a tiny rules infraction -- a ball might have moved on the final green after your opponent grounded his putter. He says nothing. What do you do?
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