TERRE HAUTE —
The recent Ryder Cup matches are over, but not done with! At the time the final match had concluded the “talking heads” had already gone to work assessing blame to those who didn’t live up to their preconceived expectations.
So it was with Team USA, on paper it looked like a walk in the park for the Americans who appeared stronger on a man-to-man basis than the Europeans.
Baldy Tim Rosaforte could quote statistics on top of statistics that would demonstrate how Team USA would be victorious. There was a huge problem with that type of thinking. The Ryder Cup was not to be won on paper, but on performance.
One look at the European squad’s gear would have given most an excellent idea of what awaited the U.S.A. team and that was the mystical presence of Seve Ballesteros, a hero of numerous Ryder Cup battles in years gone by.
Ballasteros died about a year ago after being diagnosed with a brain tumor. Seve’s likeness was emblazoned on shirts, jackets, and head covers. Anyone could see that the Americans would be playing against not only a 12 man European contingent, but also the spirit of their fallen hero. In addition, the captain of the European squad was Jose Maria Olazabal, a protégé of Seve.
Despite these factors, Team USA went out and grabbed a 10-6 advantage going into Sunday’s singles matches, an advantage that few would expect to be in danger when man-to-man play began on the final day. In fact, the lead would have stretched to 10-4 without the heroics of Ian Poulter who birdied his last No. 5 holes.
Then it began to happen. Putts for the Americans began to slide by the cup, and the Europeans began to find the range. It would appear that the Europeans, all at once found the putting prowess they had missed earlier, or perhaps Seve Ballasteros was guiding their putts toward the hole. Soon putts were falling like snowflakes on Christmas Day.
Conversely, Team USA was having all sorts of problems on the greens. Of Davis Love’s four captain picks, only Keegan Bradley was living up to expectations. Add to those problems, holes 17 and 18 were turning into bug-a-boos for the American men.
More heroics from Justin Rose who drilled 3 crucial putts, two of which were from long range and additional help from the world’s number 1 ranked player, Rory McIlroy, the tide turned in favor of the Europeans.
Luke Donald rounded into form for Europe and the match became a stalemate with each team gaining 12 points.
With a handful of matches remaining, the Ryder Cup all at once was a white-knuckle affair that would present a win or lose proposition, which depended on which team would falter first.
Sadly for the Red, White and Blue, there would be no celebration. That was apparent the moment Martin Kaymer rolled home a six- foot putt on the 17th hole, and the Ryder Cup belonged to the Europeans.
The American team had hoped that the final singles match would extend to the 18th hole where Tiger Woods might secure the Cup, but that was not to be. Tiger would fail to win a single match, and finish with one-half of a point.
The Europeans came close to losing on a technicality when McIlroy failed to understand a time difference. He made it to Medina Country Club with 5 minutes to spare. Had he not had the help of a state policeman, the cup could have traveled in another direction.
The Ryder Cup began as a friendly get-together for professional golfers from England and the United States.
After some time it appeared that the competition was “one-sided” as the Yankees consistently cleaned up on the Brits.
Since Europe was added to team up against the American side, the pendulum has swung around to the point the U. S. has been having a most difficult time “holding its own.”
Now the popularity of the Ryder Cup is apparent with 40,000 rabid fans lining the fairways and circling the greens of Medina’s lush acreage.
The event has certainly morphed into one of sport’s outstanding spectacles.
Back in years mostly forgotten, the Rea Park golfers would make a pilgrimage to Indianapolis to play the Speedway team. The match would be held on alternate years with as many as 30 to 35 players on each team taking part.
Each team alternately furnished a great meal and a traveling trophy went to the winning team.
Those were great times.
• Tip of the week — Don’t put those clubs away yet. There is still plenty of good golf weather remaining. A bit of cool air never hurt at all when you remember the hot, humid days we experienced last summer.
Keep your head down and your shoestrings tied. We’ll be back.
Sports
RUB OF THE GREEN: Ryder Cub drama a great part of American sports scene
- Sports
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On the scoreboard: Terre Haute South's Justin Jenkins (6) celebrates the Braves' first run with teammate Jacob Johnson during the Braves' sectional game against North on Wednesday at South.
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North baseball pulls away from South in sectional opener
In high school baseball little things mean a lot, and the crack in the door doesn’t have to be open very wide.
Terre Haute North burst through that crack in the bottom of the second inning Wednesday evening at Terre Haute South, scoring seven two-out runs and going on to a surprisingly easy 12-2 victory over the host Braves. -
Blank, Mundy named McMillan Award winners
Posing side-by-side for photos following Terre Haute North High School’s Senior Awards ceremony, seniors Calvin Blank and Chanli Mundy couldn’t look more different.
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Indiana State baseball now one win from MVC Championship
Indiana State’s Wednesday morning wish list probably read something like this: a dominant complete game effort from starting pitcher Devin Moore, near-immaculate defense to support him, and a steady diet of clutch situational hitting from lineup spots one to nine.
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West Vigo baseball advances with 10-0 win behind Stewart's two-hitter
West Vigo got off to a good start in Class 3A high school sectional baseball action Wednesday evening at Dick Ballinger Field.
The Vikings scored four runs in the first inning of the first sectional game and went on to defeat Brown County 10-0 in five innings with Kevin Stewart hurling a two-hitter. -
Terre Haute South tennis claims regional crown
It was a lot tougher than some thought it would be, but the Terre Haute South girls tennis team won the Greencastle regional for the second year in a row Wednesday evening at DePauw University Tennis and Track Center.
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METRO ROUNDUP: Rose-Hulman's Evans honored as Great Lakes' top athlete
Rose-Hulman senior Liz Evans earned her fifth career NCAA Division III Great Lakes Region Field Athlete of the Year honor, according to results released Wednesday by the U.S. Cross Country and Track and Field Coaches Association.
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Terre Haute's Mascari running 10,000 meters for chance to get to Hayward Field
Indiana State freshman and Terre Haute North graduate John Mascari is among the enormous group of Sycamores competing this weekend at the NCAA East Preliminary. The top 48 NCAA track and field competitors in each event on this half of the United States are narrowed down to 12 who will compete at the NCAA meet at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.
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Big group of Wabash Valley boys head to Evansville looking for state berths
The top four finishers in each event from last week’s Terre Haute North, Evansville Central, Jasper and Princeton boys high school track and field sectionals will converge on Evansville Central today for regional competition.
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West Vigo comes up short against 19-9 Brown County softball
West Vigo got off to a good start but Brown County finished better in Class 3A high school softball sectional semifinal action Tuesday night at Edgewood.
The Eagles bested the Vikings 7-5 and will meet South Vermillion, a 12-7 winner over Owen Valley, for the sectional championship on Thursday starting at 6 p.m.
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Valley baseball teams have been keeping busy heading into sectionals
When high school baseball sectionals begin around the Wabash Valley today, one complaint that’s not expected to be heard from any coach is that his team has had too much time off.
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North baseball pulls away from South in sectional opener
- Local Interest
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METRO ROUNDUP: Rose-Hulman's Evans honored as Great Lakes' top athlete
Rose-Hulman senior Liz Evans earned her fifth career NCAA Division III Great Lakes Region Field Athlete of the Year honor, according to results released Wednesday by the U.S. Cross Country and Track and Field Coaches Association.
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Terry enjoys strong year with Wildcats, and still enjoying suiting up to play
South Vermillion’s Tim Terry is the longest tenured coach in Wabash Valley high school baseball as his Wildcats are set to begin sectional play Thursday against Owen Valley.
But on the Yankees, a 35-and-over team in the Terre Haute Men’s Senior Baseball League, Terry is “just a youngster” if you ask Larry Roesch, his 68-year-old teammate on the Volkers Group Yankees. -
Softball sectionals up for grabs
All three Vigo County high schools and Northview appear to have a realistic chance of winning sectional championships in softball this week.
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Indiana State baseball series canceled
Heavy rain from Thursday through Saturday has forced Indiana State and Tennessee Martin to cancel their three-game weekend baseball series in northwest Tennessee.
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METRO ROUNDUP: Rose-Hulman baseball to play DePauw on Thursday after Tuesday's rain
The Rose-Hulman baseball team has rescheduled its non-conference game with DePauw to Thursday night.
The start time remains 7 p.m. for the single nine-inning game that was originally scheduled for today. Tuesday’s scheduled Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference game at Anderson was moved to Sunday because of rain.
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METRO ROUNDUP: Rose-Hulman's Evans honored as Great Lakes' top athlete
- High School
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North baseball pulls away from South in sectional opener
In high school baseball little things mean a lot, and the crack in the door doesn’t have to be open very wide.
Terre Haute North burst through that crack in the bottom of the second inning Wednesday evening at Terre Haute South, scoring seven two-out runs and going on to a surprisingly easy 12-2 victory over the host Braves. - Blank, Mundy named McMillan Award winners
- West Vigo baseball advances with 10-0 win behind Stewart's two-hitter
- Terre Haute South tennis claims regional crown
- Big group of Wabash Valley boys head to Evansville looking for state berths
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- College
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Indiana State baseball now one win from MVC Championship
Indiana State’s Wednesday morning wish list probably read something like this: a dominant complete game effort from starting pitcher Devin Moore, near-immaculate defense to support him, and a steady diet of clutch situational hitting from lineup spots one to nine.
-
Terre Haute's Mascari running 10,000 meters for chance to get to Hayward Field
Indiana State freshman and Terre Haute North graduate John Mascari is among the enormous group of Sycamores competing this weekend at the NCAA East Preliminary. The top 48 NCAA track and field competitors in each event on this half of the United States are narrowed down to 12 who will compete at the NCAA meet at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.
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Manaea's shoulder causing him latest pain
Indiana State pitcher Sean Manaea has battled through so many aches and pains during the 2013 season that it can be hard to discern the serious pain from the pain he pitches through.
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ISU's Negele answers call in big way in wake of Manaea injury
When Indiana State starting pitcher Sean Manaea slumped on the mound in obvious pain after he took his warm-up pitches, red flags raised for ISU’s Missouri Valley Conference tournament hopes.
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ISU baseball hoping Manaea can get its MVC Tournament moving in right direction
Indiana State’s baseball team has been waiting all season for its stars to align.
But this is the 2013 Sycamores, after all, and after a season in which seemingly little has gone right, it appears its stars will remain crossed at the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament.
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Indiana State baseball now one win from MVC Championship
- Sports Columns
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TRACKSIDE: Local drivers, owners looking to have strong night at Tony Hulman Classic
In its rich 43-year history, the Tony Hulman Sprint Car Classic has long carried on a strong local racing tradition.
From its early beginnings starting in 1971, the U.S. Auto Club-sanctioned event has been the annual centerpiece of the racing calendar at the Terre Haute Action Track as well as a key stop on the USAC sprint schedule and one of the most sought after wins in big league sprint-car racing. - Shooters compete to fight cancer
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- TODD GOLDEN: Don't give up on ISU baseball just yet
- TRACKSIDE: Terre Haute's Carmichael enjoying strong spring in modifieds, stocks
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TRACKSIDE: Local drivers, owners looking to have strong night at Tony Hulman Classic
- Pro Sports
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Colts hoping for more high marks on draft picks
A year ago, the Indianapolis Colts received high marks for the impact players the team added through the NFL draft.
Of the 10 players selected, five ended up either starting or seeing extensive playing time (quarterback Andrew Luck, tight ends Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen, wide receiver T.Y. Hilton and running back Vick Ballard) during the Colts’ 11-5 season.
While this year’s class may not rival that group in terms of name recognition and flash, it may produce just as many major contributors once the 2013 season gets underway. - Colts in wait-and-see mode for tonight’s NFL draft
- Colts sign Matt Hasselbeck to back up Luck
- Colts introduce free-agent signees
- Indianapolis franchises punter McAfee
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Colts hoping for more high marks on draft picks
- Terre Haute Rex
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Consultation: Rex manager Brian Dorsett talks with his pitcher and players during a time-out Sunday, July 15, at Sycamore Field. (Tribune-Star file/Bob Poynter)
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2012 an up, down season for Rex
The Terre Haute Rex went through plenty of trials and tribulations during the summer of 2012.
The team got off to a sluggish start to settle for third place during the first half of the Prospect League race, but manager Brian Dorsett rallied the troops to a second-half title. - Metro Roundup: Dorsett, Rex players honored in Prospect League postseason awards
- Rex out of playoffs
- Rex mix, match their way to win
- Rex turn eye to Prospect playoffs
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2012 an up, down season for Rex
- Colts
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Colts' coordinators enjoying getting rookies acclimated
While the Indianapolis Colts put their rookies and a handful of second-year players through workouts this weekend at the team’s Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center, a pair of first-year coordinators are getting a chance to do some valuable on-field work as well.
- Werner, 36 others open Colts’ mini camp
- Colts hoping for more high marks on draft picks
- Werner at top of game
- Colts select pass rusher Werner in first round
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Colts' coordinators enjoying getting rookies acclimated
- Auto Racing
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TRACKSIDE: Local drivers, owners looking to have strong night at Tony Hulman Classic
In its rich 43-year history, the Tony Hulman Sprint Car Classic has long carried on a strong local racing tradition.
From its early beginnings starting in 1971, the U.S. Auto Club-sanctioned event has been the annual centerpiece of the racing calendar at the Terre Haute Action Track as well as a key stop on the USAC sprint schedule and one of the most sought after wins in big league sprint-car racing. - Carpenter arrives as Indy 500 threat
- Carpenter wins Indy 500 pole
- TRACKSIDE: Rain still a pain for Wabash Valley racing organizers
- TRACKSIDE: Tough to rise from sprint-car racing, especially in challenging financial times
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TRACKSIDE: Local drivers, owners looking to have strong night at Tony Hulman Classic
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