LOUISVILLE, KY – Boo Weekley turned a Tiger-less Ryder Cup into one of the year’s greatest sporting spectacles, right there with the Federer-Nadal Wimbledon finals, Michael Phelps’ gold medal runs and even topped Tiger and Rocco’s U.S. Open clash.
When Boo bull-danced his way off the first tee Sunday afternoon, it capped a performance this week that is worthy of a lifetime Ryder Cup Matches exemption. Until Weekley decides to hang it up for his fishing rod, he should be a captain’s pick should he not qualify. He rallies his teammates and makes the Europeans want to whine their way all the way to the loser’s circle. Even though he’s completely innocent about it all, Boo is a major distraction to the Europeans. Lee Westwood may never win another Ryder Cup match so long as Boo’s around.
And while I’ll never be the guy who validates “The Americans are better off without Tiger” argument, I think Woods has a newfound fire to get back on the American team after seeing what Boo did this week. Find me a golfer in this nation who wouldn’t want to pour their heart out for Boo.
The next five Ryder Cup captains better pick Boo if he doesn’t qualify. That said, I think he’ll be an automatic qualifier for awhile now. Based on what I saw out of him this week, he should finish in the top eight in at least the next two Ryder Cup years. His game is too good, and I think this weekend will catapult his confidence to new levels. His galleries are going to swell, more ghost costumes and hunting fatigues will follow. Weekley is poised to win a major.
Maybe I’m getting carried away, but in 2009 or 2010, we could see a Boo-Tiger duel in a high-profile event that would take golf to heights unforeseen. Think about it: The “Dust up at Augusta” or the “Rampage at Bethpage", I’m cheesin’ just thinking about it.
I’m confident a Boo-Tiger duel will happen before Phil Mickelson, who showed he still can’t be a premier player by getting smoked by Justin Rose today, contends in a major again, and it will be a glorious day in golf history.
Speaking of exemptions, Paul Azinger should captain the 2010 team. Tony Jacklin coached the Brits three times in a row and Davis Love III is still young enough to compete, so he shouldn’t captain them just yet. Let ‘Zinger show Europe ‘dem Yanks ain’t no fluke.
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Agree that Azinger brought you together, and he had something to prove to Faldo.
Boo Weekley's antics merely help to cement the sterotypical view of Americans that the rest of the world seems to have.
His antics on the first hole would add to a Jackass movie, it shouldn't grace a golf course anywhere ....
Next they'll be wearing denim coveralls, dungaree's or whatever you call them, along with a camouflage ball cap.
The great play of an excellent US team was overshadowed by the guys antics. Westwood should've kept his mouth shut, but the press must be the one's to raise the issue of sportsmanship or lack thereof in what is one of the few remaining bastions of deceny, honour, sportsmanship .... that being golf.
First, your comparison of "sports spectacles". Unfortunately, the difference between the three events you compare the Weekly Ryder Cup with, those three were actually phenonmenal athletic performances. While Boo certainly played well, was his play that other-worldly? His antics and quips were hilarious and entertaining, that's for sure.
Secondly, I'm not sure AK went out in the first singles match--"I've got to do this for Boo!!" Not sure Hunter, JB or Kenny P went out with that mindset either.
It was a great win!! Lose all the BS hysteria about lifetime exemptions and win one for Boo.
Yes !