Golf Comment: We may be Seve Trophy outsiders, but so were Europe at Ryder Cup
THIS week’s column comes from France, where I’m excited to be preparing my Great Britain and Ireland team to face Europe in the Seve Trophy.
The highlight of my career came as a captain, when Europe beat the United States to win the 2002 Ryder Cup at the Belfry, and although this is a different event I can’t wait to get started.
Devising the pairings is great fun and there is nothing like following the action first hand as the week’s twists and turns unfold.
On paper, Jose Maria Olazabal’s Europe team are much stronger than us and the clear favourites, but then they said that about the US at the last Ryder Cup and we know how that turned out.
We have some very talented young players, such as 22-year-old Englishman Tommy Fleetwood, and some great experienced ones, like Paul Casey, who will have important roles to play.
I’m not disappointed that some of Britain and Ireland’s better known names couldn’t make it; it doesn’t fit well with the PGA Tour and I’ve known for some time that would be the case. It’s a great opportunity for the youngsters.
Finally I’d like to congratulate David Howell on winning the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship – the Englishman’s first title for seven years. They say nice guys don’t win but he has proved that wrong.
Sam Torrance OBE is a multiple Ryder Cup-winning golfer and media commentator. Follow him on Twitter @torrancesam