Ryder Cup pay is a turn-off
Great article (“Bradley subtracts intrigue from equation,” Sept. 1, GGP). While I am excited about the upcoming Ryder Cup, I am frustrated that our team is being paid to play.
I remember Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele led the outcry to be paid. Since that news became public, I haven’t pulled for them in any tournaments, because much like the Europeans, I believe it’s a huge honor to be selected to represent our country.
Certainly, all expenses should be paid for the players, their families and team, but nothing beyond that. If that isn’t enough for them, select another player. Every single one of my golf buddies feels the same way. I don’t believe most Americans know that they are being paid to play.
George Hargrove
Charlotte, North Carolina
Bradley made the right call
When Keegan Bradley was originally chosen as the U.S. Ryder Cup captain, I was skeptical of the decision. I have gone from skeptic to enthusiast and hopeful. He seems to be making all the correct calls.
Not picking himself was definitely the right decision (“Captain Bradley won’t play in the Ryder Cup,” Aug. 27, GGP+). The captaincy is too difficult not to devote all his time and energy to the task he was chosen for.
His captain’s choices were solid, with the most concerning being Collin Morikawa.
Hopefully he stops blaming his caddies or the press for his failings. If he wants to cure his putting woes he should watch film of his putting when he won two majors. It would probably help his attitude, too.
I know the PGA sold out the tickets quickly. The question is to whom they were sold. My bet would be mostly to corporations or the well-heeled and not to average players that normally play Bethpage Black.
This quintessential muni is golf at its best. Local fans included.
Charlie Miller
Westport, Connecticut
Another ‘Masters’ tradition
Whilst I accept that there is only one tournament called the Masters, many other tournaments have a long history of using the word “Masters” in their names (“Divot: Universe of Masters,” Aug. 25, GGP). Take the British Masters as an example – it started out in 1946 as the Dunlop Masters, only seven years after the Augusta National Invitation Tournament was renamed the Masters Tournament.
For you to suggest that only one tournament is worthy of having the word “Masters” in its name would be to deny a history of nearly 80 years to the British Masters and similarly to many other worldwide events.
The extension to this would be that only the Open Championship (aka the British Open) should be able to have the word Open in its name. Therefore the U.S. Open (35 years the junior) should be called something else?
The English language has a limited number of suitable words to have every golf event known as something entirely unique. Surely it is sufficient that if someone says “the Masters” or “the Open” we know exactly which tournament is being talked about.
Philip Whitehead
Chester, England
Masters-worthy moment
Just as a gentle P.S. (“Divot: Universe of Masters,” Aug. 25, GGP) … the Dunlop Masters was actually one of the oldest tournaments in British professional golf. Tony Jacklin famously won it at Sandwich in 1967, recording the first live hole-in-one on British television at the 16th hole.
And there have been numerous other Masters down the years, even if there is only one that really matters. In the same way there is only one Open Championship.
Richard Fisher
Cambridge, England
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