Monty Winning The Captain's Battle For Hearts And Minds Of UK Press

Paul Mahoney on Monty out-quoting Pavin, and therefore, likely also proving a more inspiring leader in the team room than his counterpart.

So who'll be the goat and who'll be the hero? At the start of Ryder Cup week, Pavin said: "The players win the Ryder Cup but the captain loses it. That's the way it is. Which is fine." His dull and introverted performance at Celtic Manor now sounds like he was preparing for failure. He has even been dubbed Borey Pavin – and that's by the American media.

He has looked so devoid of energy that it is doubtful, in his present mood, that he could inspire lemmings to jump off a cliff. "My team doesn't need motivating," he said on Sunday night. Maybe this is all part of a secret plan. Maybe in the American team room, Pavin has been whoopin' and hollerin' and chucking teapots against the wall. Maybe he's sport's greatest poker player. By teatime today, history will hail one captain and ridicule the other.

Comments

[digsouth]

Ben Stein could sound more upbeat than CP has managed. Bueller. Bueller. Tiger, Phil.

I don't think anyone wants a Robin Williams level of enthusiasm, but CP's drone, is like a chant, and his repetitive speech is a mantra, and a manta iszzzzzzz.......sleeeep...........

Seriously, good luck to all involved, Lots of great shots, lots of putts not hit hard enough.

Johnny Miller says putts are left short from pressure, TW even succumbed to it at the 2009
PGA...... JM is THERE..... Corey could have invited HIM in to point out that it don't go in if it don't reach the hole

[Gutty Lil' Bruin]

Pavin makes Tom Kite look colorful.

[digsouth]

In other news, it was rumored that Monty promised Paddy H, that if he won, Monty would take him to NYNY for the ball drop.

[Nubi]

Perhaps his testosterone level is too low.

[Used to be Former S&T Convert]

Tough to blame Pavin for the fact that his players only scored 1/2 point in session 3.

Do you think the media will be kind to Monty if the US makes a comeback this morning?

[Hawkeye]

Forget about Pavin, what about American media who seem to unanimously agree that it's all over already? It's only a three point deficit, for chrissakes! The U.S. have got at least 7½ points in the singles in five of the last eleven cups, so where does this defeatist attitude comes from? It's rather "un-American"... right, Scott?

[Mulligan]

Can't blame the players. Those guys are good, right?

[bs]

I think Montgomerie talks too much - having just about kept his emotions under check, at the end of almost everything he's quoted on he says something suitable to be pinned up on the US dressing room wall and the players to say "right, let's stuff those words where the sun doesn't shine".

Apart from slow play the Golf and the atmopshere surrounding the play at the RC is second to none; the pompous guff that surrounds it with 'captains', 'vice-captains', 'VIP's' and other hangers-on shooting their mouths off when there's not much going on (all too frequently) is insufferable.

[Styles]

Monty is making a good run at joining legend status of Ryder Cup Captains alongside Woosie and Langer.

[Scott]

I agree Hawkeye, our media are defeatist. Heck, Jimmy Roberts can't even bring himself to smile and congratulate U.S. players after winning matches. The British media would tongue bathe each victorious European if they could.