"The Presidents Cup is fun. Jack just makes it fun."

A few weeks ago reader John warned me that if I was planning to tie my record for power flipping through Golf Magazine (4 minutes, 33 seconds cover-to-cover), the August issue would give me fits. I've heard this before. Oh you'll see, it's a good issue, only to paper cut myself up working through mindless instruction and even more pathetic Maxim-wannabe items geared to frat houses that wouldn't even use the mag to balance a keg, much less be caught subscribing to Golf.

But John was right, the issue was outstanding and hopefully the first sign that an SI influence has taken hold at Golf. Not only is there a nice opening photo spread ripping off a cornerstone of the SI franchise, but excellent content throughout highlighted by two Alan Bastable pieces.

The first is his interview with Hunter Mahan who proves to be sort of a modern day David Duval, only with a sense of humor, enough humility to be likable and no painful speeches about the trials and tribulations of fatherhood. The Ryder Cup remarks were of most interest:

The Presidents Cup sounds like fun. Has the Ryder Cup become a chore?

Phil Mickelson and Tiger — their time is worth money. And for the PGA of America, the Ryder Cup is a moneymaker like no other. They don't have to pay anything. I think when [Mark] O'Meara said players should get paid for it or some of the money given to their charities, I think [he said that] because the PGA takes so much out of the event that the players don't really get anything. Is it an honor to play? Yes, it is. But their time is valuable. This is a business.

So there's resentment?

I just feel like the players don't have much control over it, and I don't think they like that. I wouldn't like that.

How do you explain the U.S. team's recent woes?

I think Europe really, really takes it seriously. I think the U.S. does, too, but not like Europe. For one, every place they hold a Ryder Cup in Europe is a place on the European Tour schedule. That's really smart because right away they have an advantage. The PGA of America could care less about winning it, honestly. They pick a site where they're going to have the Senior PGA, the PGA and the Ryder Cup, which means less money they have to pay out to get more money. And from what I've heard the whole week is extremely long. You've got dinners every night — not little dinners, but huge, massive dinners. I know, as players, that's the last thing we want to do. We want to prepare ourselves. That's part of the whole thing: you're just a slave that week. At some point the players might say, "You know what — we're not doing this anymore, because this is ridiculous."

Guys might actually refuse to play?

Don't be surprised if it happens. It's just not a fun week like it should be. The Presidents Cup is fun. Jack just makes it fun. We had a great time, we really enjoyed each other's company. From what I've heard, the Ryder Cup just isn't fun. The fun is sucked right out of it. That's the word I hear a lot.

The other story you must read is Bastable's compelling profile of Arjun Atwal that clears the Nationwide player's name and fleshes out the bizarre events surrounding the fatal accident he was involved in.

Comments

[jason]

How does that clear his name? Seems to me pretty clear that was an impromptu race, regardless of the 'balking' DA's.

[phil]

somehow, me thinks that if the USA were WINNING a Ryder Cup or two, it would be more fun.

Getting beat down by a lesser talented team (on paper) never feels good. BOHICA USA.

[Satch]

I still find it amazing that American golfers feel they should get paid to play in the Ryder Cup.

No wonder everyone loves to see them lose.

Absolutely pathetic behaviour from multi-millionnaires.

[Ronald Montesano]

I have to agree with Jason. Driving 85 MPH plus on any road is near the height of irresponsibility. Add to that a second car and the testosterone has to pulse down or bad things happen. No one could claim any level of maturity for Atwal before the accident, as evidenced by his involvement and decisions. How easily the roles could have reversed, with Park alive and Atwal dead. The lure of speed, fire, height, whatever... always claims its victims.

[Curmudgeon]

What a bunch of self-righteous crap. Everyone here who has never done anyhing they got away with where they might have seriously hurt themselves or another raise his hand.

Who hasn't sped on a highway? Who wouldn't have a BMW M or an M-B AMG if he could affford it?

Atwal needs no criticism, he has his own demons now.

Pay the Ryder Cuppers? They already get their sponsor's special endorsements for making the Ryder Cup. Think they're not in the contracts? They already make a bundle for making the team, if not they need new agents. Jesus ...

How naïve are you guys?

[thusgone]

curmudgeon: your point about all of us having made stupid mistakes is a good one. i don't think that disqualifies us from casting a jaundiced eye on the gd/the tour's attempted whitewash of atwal's mistake. in fairness, the guy who was killed was just as stupid, but he paid a much higher price for his stupidity than atwal.

the difference between regular guys and professional athletes when it comes to boneheaded moves is that regular guys don't have a massive branding/pr machine plugged into the media waiting in the wings to clean up after us.

[Curmudgeon]

Agreed, but he'll never go a day without re-living that few moments, often at 3 a.m.

PR hacks or no PR (and I'm as critical of that set of tools as anyone).

[Linus]

I thought the article on Atwal was excellent, and I'd hardly call it a "whitewash". It's clear what happened, it's pretty clear what he was thinking at the time, and it's pretty clear that trying to throwing him in jail for it was a bad idea.It doesn't "clear his name" it just removes the sword from over his head. The cloud will remain.

[jason]

Curmudegon, there's a difference between speeding and racing someone at around 90-100 mph. Get real, no?

I've never raced someone at 85 mph or over in a vehicle down a public road. You go at that speed and you're inviting exactly what happened. Or worse. What if that guy had kids in the car? Atwal will and should have to live with the guilt of basically having caused another's premature death for the rest of his life. That's something I have yet to feel, and I sincerely doubt I ever will.