Minnesota Golfer - Summer 2016 - 25

For the Europeans, their recent 8-2 record
speaks for itself, and there won't be
any let up, as the much-beloved Darren
Clarke is the team captain. The points
race for the Euros is a little closer at the
top than for the Americans, but earlyseason
leader Rory McIlroy (who played
in the past three matches and has a 6-4-4
record) will certainly be on hand.
The Europeans could also find some
new blood in their ranks, as McIlroy was
passed in the European points list in
April by surprise Masters winner Danny
Willett. Willett, along with Matthew
Fitzpatrick (T-7 at the Masters), Rafa
Cabrera-Bello and Andy Sullivan could
all be Ryder Cup rookies at Hazeltine.
But the Euros are sure to be represented
by some of their experienced
players, including Henrik Stenson, Justin
Rose, Victor Dubuisson and Ryder
Cup hero Sergio Garcia. Lee Westwood,
veteran of eight Ryder Cups, walked Augusta
National on Sunday of the Masters
with Willett and tied Spieth for second
place-triggering talk of Westwood and
Willett teaming up at Hazeltine. But Ian
Poulter, a biennial Ryder Cup thorn in
the American team's side, will have some
work to do over the summer to return to
the Matches.
A new wrinkle could affect the competition
this year, as players from both
teams will have recently played for
queen and country at the Rio Olympic
Games in August. The impact on play
remains to be seen-but it could stoke
nationalistic fires. Or, by the time the
Americans get to Hazeltine in September,
their intensity will have smoldered a
bit, and a familiar Ryder Cup finish will
be in store.
But not if Jordan Spieth has anything
to say about it.
" When we get there this year, it starts
over, " Spieth said of the Ryder Cup at
Hazeltine. " If we go in believing that the
Ryder Cup, this is the inaugural event,
this is a clean slate, we are ready to go
and start a new trend, then we'll be fine. "
Match Spieth up against Willett in a
Sunday's singles match for the Cup, and
it will be hard to bet against him. MG
I
f local golf fans want to see what could be in store for future Ryder Cup
competitions, they can head to Interlachen Country Club on Sept. 26-27
and check out the PGA of America's Junior Ryder Cup matches.
While the pros are arriving and playing a practice round at Hazeltine, storied
Interlachen is hosting the junior matches between a collection of the best
junior golfers in the United States and Europe.
" This just speaks volumes to Interlachen's commitment to the game of golf locally,
nationally and internationally, " Interlachen's general manager Eric Dietz says.
The 12-person U.S. team will consist of six boys and six girls who are in the
2017 high school graduating class or younger. They are picked from players
who have won events (the top two boy and top two girl finishers from the 41st
Junior PGA Championship, the 2016 U.S. Junior Amateur Champion and the
2016 U.S. Girls' Junior Champion) or have earned points over the past two years
from events, including the AJGA fall and summer invitationals, USGA junior
section and national championships, PGA junior section and national championships,
and other select independent events. In addition, points are awarded
to those juniors who make the cut in a 2015-16 PGA Tour, LPGA major or USGA
national event.
JORDAN SPIETH
LEXI THOMPSON
The Junior Ryder Cup matches were started in 1997, and if you don't believe
that future Cuppers could be culled from this year's teams, then consider that
current Ryder Cup members Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth have played in the
Junior Ryder Cup matches. In fact, Spieth famously teamed with current LPGA
star Lexi Thompson in the 2008 matches held at The Club at Olde Stone in
Bowling Green, Ky. Spieth and Thompson were 15 and 13 years old at the time,
respectively, and helped the U.S. side to a 22-2 victory (the U.S. has won the
past four matches).
The format for the junior matches are similar to the Ryder Cup's, according
to Chris Childers, director of junior championships for the PGA of America. It
starts Monday with foursomes in the morning and mixed four-ball in the afternoon.
Tuesday morning is singles.
For Interlachen, the event (which is open to the public) is another in a long
line of historic competitions on the grounds.
" Bobby Jones walked the fairways for seven days back in 1930, and Patty
Berg spent a lifetime here, " Dietz says. " Perhaps you will see some of these
young people further down the road-which just makes it that much more fun. "
-J.O.
www.mngolf.org
Summer 2016 MINNESOTAGOLFER
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Minnesota Golfer - Summer 2016

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