Norman suggested after the loss in 2011 he would like to see four picks, instead of two, for the Internationals and a change in format where foursomes isn’t the lead-off match. Do you have a view on that and have there been discussions with the Tour around the format for next time?
Foursomes are a tough way to start, particularly for the International Team. It’s one of the things I’ve spoken to Commissioner Finchem about – changing the opening Foursomes to Fourballs for the opening match. Finchem said that they are looking at different scenarios but I’m not sure when they would make an announcement on that.
Foursomes is the hardest game by far to get started and settled and it’s where, again, the Americans have a distinct advantage because of the Ryder Cup being held 12 months before. They’ll put out pretty much the same team and I’ll have maybe one or two pairings that might be the same from Melbourne, but it’s highly unlikely.
About having four picks, I’ve had a great opportunity over the last four months to look at my qualification criteria. I’ve run about three or four different scenarios and the team really doesn’t change that much. Going from two to four picks, I don’t think that would help much. If I had 20 guys all playing on the PGA Tour, maybe four picks would help. However, because they’re spread all around the world, you don’t really know the depth and quality of fields to compare their form with others.
One thing I will do, however, is pay a lot of attention to the guys who are winning. It doesn’t matter if you win in Australia or Asia or South Africa or Europe, winning is important.
In 2011, there was much discussion about ‘local knowledge’ at Royal Melbourne, but that was quickly put to bed by the play of the Americans. What’s your take on Muirfield Village as I would have thought it’s almost a neutral venue, with most players familiar with it from the Memorial Tournament each year?
There are a lot of players who might not be in the top 15 or 16 come selection time but who play Muirfield Village very well. I’m going to have to take that into account when the time comes too. I’m a big believer in ‘horses for courses’.
I spoke to Ian Poulter recently after the Ryder Cup and asked about playing under a contrived European flag against the Americans playing for their country. The Europeans seem to have it down pat, igniting a united passion in players from a disparate group of countries.
[Laughing] Did anyone ever think to give him an Aussie or South African passport?
Whatever the Europeans did on that Saturday night, and I think Olazábal must have done a phenomenal job with this, it was pretty evident when they got on that first tee on Sunday that they weren’t going to lie down. The two or three momentum swings back and forth were the most exciting things, but then it was all Europe in the end.
The Europeans made more putts on Sunday but the question is ‘Why did they make more putts?’ I think deep down inside, I think they were more motivated on Sunday. Team golf is such a fickle thing sometimes. You can have the strongest team in the world get beaten by a more eclectic bunch that happen to click better as a ‘team’.
I’ve done a lot more reading and spoken to people involved in team sports about it, although you don’t want to be too analytical about it because there is so much heart and soul involved. I’m hopeful of running into Olazábal at some stage soon. I might go up to The Masters and have a few words with him because he may be able to help me with a few ideas.
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