Ollie On Not Conceding Tiger's Putt: "Rules are the rules"

Apparently in Captain Jose Maria Olazabal's eyes, the rules forbid a player from conceding a putt!

At today's London press conference, Ollie said that he will not captain in 2014, that he's received congratulatory messages from the likes of Rafael Nadal and the King of Spain and that three of his four cart drivers are in line for Captaincies (The Mechanic was not mentioned after McGinley, Clarke and Bjorn!).

But most curious of all was Olazabal's rationale for insisting Francesco Molinari finish the final match even after (A) the Cup had been retained (B) the chaotic setting was not conducive to proper golf and (C) young Molinari had the class to recognize this:

"I said to Francesco 'you have to half this match'. There's a huge difference between tying and winning the cup. I know some people might think Francesco should have given Tiger that short putt, but at the end of the day the rules are the rules. It was important to finish the match."

Yes, the rules say you have to finish all of the matches, but that does not preclude a player from conceding a putt. Or maybe those famous concessions from the past violated Captain Ollie's Merely Retaining The Cup Is For Losers.

Imagine an American captain saying "rules are rules" in an identical situation? 

Fleet Street couldn't file those "Ugly American" columns fast enough!

Comments

[Author]

Bill, Stewart lay 3 and Montgomerie 2 about the same distance from the hole. Stewart felt Montgomerie had been unfairly abused. Was Tiger abused by the crowd all day? It was a nice gesture by Stewart but we'll never know if we would have conceded a tie of the whole Cup if the US defended. We'll disagree. My feeling is if Tiger wanted to quit, he should offer to halve the match. Simple as that.

[gian]

Stand up and be gracious in defeat...as someone else has previously written.

[Sean Tracey]

Losing hurts doesn't it?

[Del the Funk]

To diggers, point.....I don't remember Jack consulting with whoever the captain was then -- as a man in full, he made a decision and went with it. Molinari had the same option but was unable to exercise it for whatever reason...quite likely lacks the confidence that a guy like Jack possesses (present tense, think Mitt).

Having said that, I'm a believer that you gotta putt 'em all if your opponent says so. I know some guys that get really bent over the non-concession of what they consider to be gimme's and the welling anger will generally lead them to miss a few. Personally I don't let it get me worked up and am prepared to putt 'em all, but I still miss a few!!

OK, off to the Old Man's stomping grounds in the morning, ya'll have a great day!

[Del the Funk]

TGM makes a very good point....Tiger was outside Molinari and had not yet conceded the Molinari putt....

....the only time I can remember a player conceding a longer putt and then putting his was Mickelson showboating in the US Am or whatever it was!

[Del the Funk]

While I doubt anyone is looking at this thread anymore, one last comment...

...I could give a flying f-bomb is the entire US squad was mad/irritated/pissed/whatever about the lack of a concession from Molinari -- those choking dogs had this coming to them after that all-time miserable performance!!!