Gallacher On Overton Gamesmanship: "Typical Americans"

I just saw this Daily Mail item and from what I can tell, Jeff Overton was well within his rights. Though Lord knows, the Europeans have never stooped so low as to question a ruling! That didn't stop former Ryder Cup captain Bernard Gallacher from accusing the U.S.A. rookie of gamesmanship.

Overton’s opponent Ross Fisher asked match referee David Williams for a ruling on the eighth hole when his ball landed among the battered rough. The ruling was duly given by Williams, an official on the European Tour, but when Overton questioned it.

Gallacher, working for BBC Radio 5 Live, questioned the rookie’s motives. Gallacher then muttered: ‘Typical Americans,’ a remark to which Overton objected.

The debutant’s father, Ron, exchanged angry words with Gallacher in front of shocked fans.

Debutant? Very nice. Here's guessing dad was listening to the on-course radio?

If the incident did not help Fisher, two up at the time, it certainly fired Overton, 27, into a stirring comeback. He won the hole and eventually the match 3&2 as Englishman Fisher fell apart.

Gallacher, captain in 1991, 1993 and 1995 - winning the latter - remained unrepentant.

The Scot said: ‘It was just typical American gamesmanship to try and put Fisher off his game. I told Overton he should respect the referee’s decision. He wasn’t too happy.’

Comments

[Boom Baby!]

Fisher better learn to buck up. If a little thing like that throws him off he's got a tough road ahead.

[d.b.cooper]

Gallacher is just another small-timer with a chip on his shoulder towards America.

What did they give him, three tries as a captain before he finally managed a fluke win?

[Papa Bing]

Shame on Gallacher to throw gas on the fire. Typical Brit.

[Used to be Former S&T convert]

The amazing thing about this controversy is that it happened on the 8th hole. I was certain that the Overton / Fisher match would not get to the second tee. Both of them were so slow on the greens that I was concerned about pixel burn-in on my plasma TV.

[dbh]

I did see Overton doing a little close standing in a match earlier, so some gamesmanship wouldn't be beyond him.
Why Gallacher thought it was his place to insert himself into the situation is a mystery.
Regardless, Fisher was bound and determined to lose that match one way or another. He was in full panic mode on the back 9, walking all herky jerky like a penguin. His putting was appalling.

[jimbob]

i still can't believe we lost

[Johnv]

Geoff, Overton was within his rights to ask for a second opinion. The Referee's decision is final, but the player can still ask and the referee can then decide to allow the second opinion. A referee would have to be very sure of himself to deny that request.

I doubt he was gaming Fisher, just trying to get a better lie. Where was Gallacher when Garcia attempted some strange stuff against Anthony Kim at Valhalla?

[jjshaka]

I know we're suppose to cut Seve some slack given his condition but he was a past master at cheap gamesmanship- likely when Bernie was captain at least one time.

[fatgoalie]

Seems that Fowler (and Pavin) were asking for relief on 18 from rain/foot traffic damage, and no relief was given. As a player, if you think it's questionable, you challenge!
Bernard is still trying to crawl out from Jacko's shadow, and is a bitter man

[mrobert]

jjshaka

you don't get it,

when Seve pulled this stuff, or when British hecklers stick the needle in on the first tee, or when Sergio goes Bolshoi ballet over half an acre of real estate, its "spirited competition"

when Lehman gets a little excited at a sunk putt, or someone gives Monty a dig, or -- heavens - someone questions a ruling, its "loutish sportsmanship"
o
please consult the "British Guide to Double Standard Ryder Cup Commentary" available at fine bookstores everywhere

[Taylor Anderson]

mrobert for the win!

[Scott]

Well said mrobert.

The British have no honor because they're failures in sport. Just look at the Commonwealth Games where they currently have fewer then half the gold medals won by...India. Yes India. That's why the Brits get all Fatal Attraction with the Ryder Cup, because it's their last shred of sporting dignity. And the only reason they have it is because the real gruntwork was done by Italians and Spaniards and Swedes and Irishmen. And yet Brits act like it's their show and always will be.

[Jeremy]

After Fisher practically rubbed his foreskin off with glee at making a putt on the first green, all criticisms of boorish behavior in that match should be rendered moot.

[Al]

isn't free speech an american ideal?

no-one did anything wrong as far as i can tell in this exchange

nothing wrong with a bit of gamesmanship or banter in ryder cup -- from either side -- it's to be expected and you have to deal with it

don't think overton needed to do it to fisher though -- as soon as harrington stopped reading his putts on sunday - he went to pieces

[d.b.cooper]

Way to say it, mrobert and Scott.

[Al]

stewart cink eating a sandwich before some of his shots was another good example (imagine someone doing that in your fourball?)

but fair play to him -- he made that big putt afterwards on 17 -- and probably gave mcillroy some uneeded time to dwell on his 6-footer

[Al]

btw - england (there is no britain in commonwealth games) and india both have 2 gold medals -- but don't let facts get in the way of a good argument :)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/commonwealth_games/delhi_2010/medals_table/default.stm

[peter kostis (back from the dead)]

Al..... an announcer is there to report on the matches and not to insert themselves into it. Whatever gamesmanship there was between the competitors is for the competitors to handle. There always has been gamesmanship of varying degrees in the RC, but that in no way gives Gallagher the right to become involved. When he did, he forgot that he was an announcer and thought he was still a captain. Not right and completely unprofessional .

[Tighthead]

England can dine out on their 2003 World Cup victory for quite some time in my book. I loved the forward pack.

[Mark]

Gallacher as a member of the media had no business telling Overton anything during the match.

[Davo from Sydney]

Gallacher = yesterday's battler = today's joke.
What he did was wrong. No doubt, and BBC should castigate him.

[digsouth]

Davo from Sydney

If they did that, he would sound like Paddie!

PK(.......)

Curious as to your take on Azinger, as a tweeter, and then as a commentator. Do you think he was within bounds?

I felt like his twitting was petty and some sort of "look at me" dig at CP, but I did think he kept it between the lines on the TV , at least what I saw. If you don't feel comfortable with a critique, I understand , but please acknowlede as such.

thanx.

I guess I'm a bit of a prude on all the gamesmanship. Just my take. Not saying I'm right about it all, but there is winning, there is losing, there is cheating, and then there is gamesmanship, sort a sports term equivilant of lieing by omission. Sort of a Wall Street 'legal' but morality and ethics are sidestepped.

Seve. Cink. What would their wins be without 'gamesmanship? the same or? I don't know.

[Lord Leamington]

Gamesmanship helps liven things. That we should be grateful for.

Neither did "Twenty Ten" mud disappoint. Back to Wales for the Ryder Cup. Jolly good viewing.

[d.b.cooper]

"Back to Wales for the Ryder Cup"

Lord Lemmy,

Hope you are kind of a youngish guy.

[digsouth]

LL

The spur of the moment comment or gesture is one thing: the preplanned correct change in the pocket, for jingling purposes is another.

Where do you draw the line? Is mirrored accesories, so as to reflect the sun in your opponents eyes ok?

These thin skinned boys of Cuppers cannot even take a bit of tweaking from the paying crowd like baseball outfielders get every game , be DLIII tossing a fan, or the famed 'Noonan' comment POing a putty boy at the raunchy 16th in the desert.

Independant contractors they are. That's what Furyk called TW when all the pants were on the ground; not a golfer ....an independent contractor. I wonder what a restain of my deck would run? On second thought, I don't think a stain job from TW is a good idea.


And so is it about the money or the game? I maintain that the RC shows companionship, like soldiers in a foxhole. "To hell with the POTUS, I want to save my buddies ass", might be the thinking. Gamesmanship does add spice, can be amusing or can be, chickenshit , too. Like cheating the fans with what was on the on course big screens, like icing by peanut butter.

I don't know I'm not a prude but if my thoughts seem inconsistant, then so do the actions and reactions of 'these guys are good' guys.

[Old Tom of the Golfing Gods]

Well that's Bernard for you.

Full of self importance after a moderate career as player and Ryder Cup captain. His "typical American" comment is exactly (or typically) what you'd expect for him.

[Jay Townsend]

Having been there walking the fairways for World Feed TV, I can tell saw gamesmanship from both sides (fine by me) and some very shaky things too from a few players (NOT fine by me)

[Styles]

Haha, the losing yankees are complaining every petty incident.

Get over it losers!

[Al]

Peter....i thought Gallagher had said it in his role as a radio announcer and was overheard -- but if he said directly to Overton then i agree was wrong

[Press Agent]

Styles + 1