ANOTHER VIEW ON THE 2014 CURTIS CUP MATCH .. FROM A FATHER

E-mail from John Dryburgh

Reference Colin Farquharson's post-Curtis Cup article. Pictured are the Curtis sisters, American, who started it all.

JOHN DRYBURGH WRITES: 

I agreed with a lot of what he said, although not everything. 

Remember that even though the team lost 13 – 7, GB and I only needed to reverse three more of those 20 matches to retain the cup! 

No-one should go away with the idea that we were somehow blown away- although we were on Friday morning. 

So many of the matches in the US’ favour were very tight and turned on a few putts, some exceptional in their case  and some poor on ours. Meg Mallon, the last US Solheim team captain, tweeted that she thought the score didn’t reflect the tightness of the competition. It didn’t.

There is no doubt that Colin is right that it would definitely help the Curtis Cup team selection and also be a different and fun alternative to the singles formats to have a team competition. 

It is worth looking at the US where the US ladies Public Links, one of the oldest and most prestigious amateur tournaments in the States, is coming to an end, to be replaced by a team competition, I understand teams of two in a four-ball, better-ball knockout format. 

The USGA believe it will improve team golf and provide a different challenge. I think the ladies would really enjoy a similar format in GB and I, perhaps with the last few matches being played over four-balls and foursomes formats.

I also agree that the GB and I team would benefit from practising at Dun Laoghaire before the 2016 match.

I spoke to some of the US team's dads and they told me that during their April get-together they were playing to the same flag positions and from the same distances that they encountered during the Curtis Cup.

It was no coincidence that the American players  came out of the blocks at a sprint and that GB and I only caught them up on Day 3, where they won the singles.

The US also had some inspired individual performances, especially with the putter. In particular Kim and Talley both of whom holed everything they looked at. 

If we are looking to make the biggest difference in 2016 and beyond I think GB and I should look to take advantage of their home course ( which must mean picking the team earlier than May when it is too late to get people together) and get completely comfortable with the greens and any psychology/ coaching should focus on that area.

That’s where the US won the 2014 Curtis Cup ( as they did in Ryder Cups of old) and I would be surprised if it wasn’t won or lost on the greens at  Dun Laoghaire in 2016.

Any change to a Ryder Cup format where the team was picked from the whole of Europe  would be a real shame, for the Curtis Cup and for future aspiring Curtis Cup players here in GB and I. 

The pool of ladies across Europe is large and any country having two or more team members would be doing really well. There is no reason why GB and I could not compete and win more, as we did at Nairn. 

In my view as two nations we need to focus and put much more emphasis on short game, particularly putting – and I include Gemma as one of those who needs to improve - and preparation in our home tournaments.

Although the US is dominant in the Curtis Cup it means as much to the USGA, the US players and their captain. 

The fathers I spoke to told me that being a part of the US Curtis Cup team took over their daughters’ lives. They all wanted to be part of the team- and bear in mind that the NCAA Champion Doris Chen didn’t even make the team, such is the prestige of making it.  

The US officials say the same. I am sure Gillian Kirkwood would confirm that. I would also add that the Golf Channel and Sky televised the tournament live on a Saturday night! 

They clearly don’t see any immediate need for change but I do accept that they will want to see semi-regular GB and I victories if they are to continue.

The tournament has a long and fantastic history. By all means have a Europe v USA in the alternate years but I think it would be a real shame if the Curtis Cup match in its present format  was lost.

The fantastic army of ladies ( over 200 of them!) who flew to the match from all the corners of Britain and Ireland, including the massive contingent from Nairn, and created the most wonderful atmosphere with their flags, jackets, hats and daft songs, just wouldn’t do so if there were only one or two GB and I girls in a team and I can’t see them being replaced.

On this one, Jock McVicar isn’t right.

 

 

John Dryburgh