Nick Faldo Eyes The Ryder Cup 2008

The 37th Ryder Cup gets under way at Valhalla GC in Kentucky this coming Friday and golf betting fans the world over will be digging in for three days of fiercely intense competition yielding a level of excitement on a par with the FIFA World Cup. In charge of the European team is Nick Faldo, a player of exceptional talent but a person many believe would not be a good team leader. Over the years, golf fans have been aware of his unpopularity among players, his odd, very personal, sense of humour and his capacity to utter remarks about others that are usually ill-judged and often unkind.

A friend of mine, a member at Ashridge GC, where Faldo was a junior member and Alex Hay the Pro, would take me out on the course and recall that members would arrive at 7.30 in the morning for an all day tournament and see Faldo on the practice range hitting a three iron. Coming in for lunch there would be Faldo, still hitting the three iron. Later, trudging in at dusk after 36 holes, there he still was, three iron in hand.

Faldo and the Old Pals Network

This kind of robotic approach to the game seems to be reflected in Faldo’s demeanour – some refer to him as the ‘Iceman’. As a player this would work for him for golf is a solitary game played between the golfer, the course and himself. As a pal or team mate it might be a different story. There’s many a tale out there of an unpleasant brush with Faldo and his selection of the Ryder Cup team reflects his past relationships with some of his fellow golfers. Choosing Ian Poulter over the experienced Colin Montgomery and Paul Casey instead of the on-form Darren Clarke has already alienated some players who are wondering if Faldo is revealing himself to be a man more concerned about promoting himself than building a strong, cohesive team..

The big question remains; can Faldo maintain a positive relationship with his team for the three crucial days? After all, if the captain has any purpose at all in the Ryder Cup it’s to promote team spirit and inspire passion and determination in the players when the chips are down. Lingering doubts or resentment in the hearts of team members have no place in such a scenario and Faldo must dispel any such negative thoughts. There are those who think this to be a task beyond the powers of this man of many contradictions.