The Europe-USA war is not played out only on the stock exchange, on monetary or oil speculation, but also on golf courses where the United States, after thirty years of domination, has lost its supremacy. The battlefield these days is the Open Championship, the most important golf tournament in the world, which takes place (July 14-17) at the Royal St. George's in Sandwich, Kent and which also sees the Italian hat-trick on the field formed by Francesco Molinari, Edoardo Molinari and Matteo Manassero (18 years old).
The British Open is the only golf major that is based in Europe, with the other three, the Masters, the US Open and the PGA Championship, being played overseas. The American Tiger Woods is missing from the appointment, the greatest player of all time, the richest sportsman in the world, overwhelmed in 2009 by a red light scandal and literally crippled at the age of 36 by a series of problems with his left knee, in addition than from the collapse of his private life.
The decline of the American empire in golf coincides with the crisis of Tiger, a star who drags television audiences and fans from all over the world, without whom revenues collapse by 50% together with television shares. Tiger is not in England and in any case he hasn't won for two years, given that in the world rankings, where he has dominated for 15 years, he has dropped to nineteenth place. Today the ranking is driven by four Europeans: the English Luke Donald, 34 years old, number one in the world for a couple of months; Lee Westood, English, 38 years old; Martin Kaymer, German, 28 years old; Rory McIlroy, Northern Irish, 22 years old (Italians: Francesco Molinari is 22nd, Manassero 29th, Edoardo Molinari, 35th). Only in fifth place do we find the American Steve Stricker, 44 years old and in fifth place the more famous compatriot Phil Mickelson, the Lefty (plays left-handed despite being right-handed), 41 years old. In short, the United States is trudging along and showing off middle-aged champions in what is a sport practiced by 25 million American citizens and in which they dream of winning a medal at the Olympic Games. It is hoped that Tiger's setback is temporary, but in the meantime old Europe and above all Great Britain, the original homeland of golf, has regained the upper hand, while the Asians, ça va sans dire, are on the rise.
At the Open, the Europeans are also favored because they know better the fearsome links (such as the Royal St. George's), fields without a tree, with very deep bunkers (sand holes) and an implacable climate. Donald and Westood however, despite being champions, despite dominating the rankings, despite playing at home, have a handicap: they have never won a Major. So the bookmakers prefer the Irishman McIlroy, the boy with the face of Peter the Plague, who defeated the competition by dominating the US Open a few weeks ago. McIlroy seemed plunged into the abyss at the beginning of the season when, after leading the Master for 54 holes, he got confused on the last day by a trivial mistake, like any amateur. Golf is like this: a relentless game with those who are afraid to win. This is why the Majors are so fascinating, because they put the player in front of the ghosts of him. McIloroy from the Augusta lesson could come out with broken bones and be paralyzed by that memory for a long time, instead he reacted with the grit of a great champion and won the next Major, the US Open, scoring a record 16 shots under par.
McIlroy at the Open Championship is the favorite and at the box office he is paid least of all, followed by Donald, Westood, Kaymer and, surprisingly, not the American Stricker, as it should be based on the ranking, but the Spaniard Sergio Garcia, el Niño, 31, failed promise of Spanish golf. Garcia is a star player, of course, but he has never managed to win a Major despite being one step away from this result. He let his most important opportunity slip away at the 2007 Open Championship, where he lost in the last lap, leaving room for the Irishman Padraig Harrington. The weak point of Garcia is the putt (the stroke with which you roll the ball into the hole) and without a putt you cannot win. Tiger Woods has brought home 14 Majors despite missing many drives (the long shot at the start), but has always been relentless on the greens (the green area with the flag). Always…until two years ago. In recent appearances even the regal Tiger seemed uncertain just when he was one to one and a half meters away from the hole, in that putt which is the real boundary between the winner and the loser. By making small putts and not great drives wrong, champions of the caliber of Nick Faldo disappeared and the victories of the Fijian Vijai Singh became less frequent. Even Francesco Molinari, perfect like few others in the long game, has his weakness in the putt.
Today golf, at its most important tournament, wants to be intrigued by a new star and a good challenge. We hope for McIlroy, we dream of a redemption of Garcia, and for the future we bet on the return of Tiger. The bookmakers, when the champion communicated not to participate in the Open, were ready to return the bets, yet many preferred to divert them to a new gamble: his forthcoming return to the field. He promised it and everyone wants to believe it, starting with Jack Nicklaus (the Golden Bear), his compatriot and predecessor, with an unbeaten record of 18 Majors won in his career. For Nicklaus, the young McIlroy has yet to eat porridge, before being able to say that he has replaced Tiger, in heart and on paper. Rightly so. It is worth hoping, aiming for. Because the decline of the American empire, even in golf, is a bit like the decline of the whole system and since we've had a lot of fun up to now, we'd like to continue. Also in view of the Ryder Cup, the official challenge between Europe and the USA on golf courses. Europe won last time, but the match is all the better the more formidable the opponent is.
The first issue of Golf People
