As the dust is settling on the European victory of the Ryder Cup, the inevitable questions are being asked.
How did they do it?
And what went wrong for the USA?
Of course we all have different views, and I can only give you mine.
So here it is.
From the outset the Europeans were having fun , they were ‘well knitted’ as a team and playfully teased each other in the run up.
Could this have been to calm their nerves?
Yeah maybe.
Home soil advantage in front of a roaring crowd?
Plays a part. Just a part.
But it’s more likely that the fun was happening because they felt confident, good around each other and had that inner belief that , together they were going to win.
No one individual golfer acted like they were better than the rest. They could have done (especially McIlroy, Rose and Garcia) but instead they acted as equals and visibly supported each other when things did and didn’t go well.
They spurred each other on, verbally , physically and emotionally.
McDowell was a rock, lifting the new kids on the block into the spotlight and delivering an amazing turn around himself on the last day. He was not going to let the side down – you could see that in his eyes (did you look?), and as he later admitted he had:
‘“… felt something inside me start to turn around’.
Yeah, we saw it alright.
Team USA had been doing some of the above, but they didn’t do it anywhere near enough. They appeared to be individual golfers playing a game, wearing the same team kit.
There were few displays of passion on show….and even the crowd was more behind the enthusiastic, gut bursting, Reed. Shame he was on his own with his display of ‘will to win’.
It’s not difficult to assess the impact of not having Mickelson out on day 2 . Whatever the reason for him being left out, his presence was sorely missed. What he sometimes lacks in his performance he makes up with his personality and ability to excite and motivate ….controversial (and outspoken!) though he may be.
(Note to all : Publicly praise, privately disagree with, your leader. Anything otherwise is unprofessional and potentially damaging.)
The young guns did their best and showed a fair degree of brilliance. But it just wasn’t enough to pull the whole team through.
So what about the captains?
Tom Watson’s pedigree is unquestionable . He is well respected, admired and liked on both sides of the Atlantic.
But something just didn’t quite fit.
He looked vacant, isolated and at times, uncomfortable…..almost like he was in too deep and didn’t know what to do.
His face and body language told the unfolding story.
At no time did we see a ‘bonded’ team or genuine displays of affection between Tom and the team. Unusual for Americans?
Paul McGinley on the other hand, had a back up team so strong , he was never lost for ideas, feedback and validation.
He praised his team individually however they performed – he knows that the best way back from a poor performance is to build confidence.
And praise for Paul was colossal, with every member of his team gushing about him and ‘his plan’ .
I don’t know about his plan, but I do know this: he knows how to make people feel good, and how to drive performance – that I could see.
Anyone can have a plan ….it’s how you execute it that counts.
Whatever it was, he was the difference that made the difference.
Teams work, with the right leader doing the right things.
What’s a winning performance?: It’s all about how you make people feel.
Well done Paul, and Europe. That’s how to do it.
Amana
Straightforward, straight talking coach