What the Ryder Cup needs is something like the atmosphere at The Tommy Bahama Challenge played yesterday in Scottsdale at Grayhawk for viewing on New Year's Day. Imagine Gary McCord as the Team USA Captain and David Feherty as the Team Euro Captain. Here is the story and the results:
Tommy Bahama Challenge
MATCH 1: David Howell, England, (66) tied Chad Campbell, U.S., (66).
MATCH 2: Kevin Na, South Korea, (70) tied Zach Johnson, U.S., (70).
MATCH 3: Chris Riley, U.S., (70) def. Paul Casey, England, (72).
MATCH 4: Ian Poulter, England, (68) def. Hank Kuehne, U.S., (70).
U.S. won team title in one-hole playoff.
Campbell won individual title in par-3 shootout.
U.S. gets a slice of revenge
Bahama victory eases Ryder loss
John Davis
The Arizona Republic
Nov. 10, 2004 12:00 AM
Gary McCord got bragging rights. David Feherty got a pie in the face. A U.S. team finally got a trophy. And Chad Campbell got a measure of revenge and a new Mercedes.
There were lots of laughs and plenty of good golf shots as the Americans defeated the International team in a one-hole playoff Tuesday in the first Tommy Bahama Challenge at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale.
Each team won two of the four stroke-play matches. The Americans prevailed in an alternate-shot playoff on the 18th hole after Kevin Na of the International squad hit his approach shot into a water hazard. advertisement
McCord, who captained the U.S. squad, "celebrated" by smashing a cream pie into the face of International captain Feherty, his fellow CBS golf commentator.
"This is a fitting conclusion," McCord said. "You have no idea how good this feels."
Although they put the emphasis on "fun," it also felt good to the U.S. players after the Europeans rallied to tie them. Through five holes, the Americans led all four matches. When they made the turn at 9, the U.S. was leading in two, with two tied.
As they headed into the homestretch, things got a little more serious.
"Absolutely," Campbell said. "Even though it's a fun event, you still don't want to lose, and everybody feels the same way. It's fun for a while, but when it comes right down to it, you need to play some golf."
Na's approach shot on the playoff hole left the Internationals facing a double bogey, while the Americans were looking at a par putt, and the International team conceded the match. Members of the winning team received $100,000 each and the losers got $75,000 apiece.
Paul Casey of England, a three-time All-American at Arizona State and a Scottsdale resident, said the pressure started building when the matches tightened up.
"We were all miked, but there wasn't as much banter going on as people might expect," said Casey, who lost to Chris Riley in a match between two Ryder Cup players. "It got very quiet on those last three holes."
The medalist honors were shared by Campbell and England's David Howell at 4-under 66. Howell had trailed Campbell by 2 shots but rallied with five birdies in the last 10 holes.
That created another playoff of sorts, with the individual winner receiving a new Mercedes and $20,000. It was decided in a shootout on a makeshift hole of 81 yards over water to a pin cut near the water hazard. Each player got two attempts, and Campbell won on the last one, hitting his shot 18 inches from the hole.
Campbell didn't even know if he would play in the event until two days ago. His father was hospitalized with heart problems last week, causing him to withdraw Friday from the Tour Championship, where he was the defending champion. Campbell said his father was due to be released from the hospital in the next two days.
What made it all the more gratifying is that Campbell and Jim Furyk had lost to Howell and Casey in a close Ryder Cup match in September.
"We pushed," Campbell said. "At least I won the playoff and got the car."
Casey said he would much rather hold the Ryder Cup.
"No matter what McCord says, winning the Ryder Cup feels better," Casey said. "This event is just about winning money, and it was probably worth it to lose just to see Feherty get a pie in the face."