The Ballad of the US Ryder Cup Team

Sad Stories are generally told very well in a ballad, so I dedicate this to the American teams, both present and future

Heading over to Ireland for some Guinness and fishin’,
The Americans seemed prepared for their difficult mission.
Tiger changed his schedule and took a more involved stance,
Lehman thought that without Woods the team stood little chance.
As the days approached quickly the determination never wavered,
Though they knew for the first time they were no longer favored.
It was a strong team from Europe that stood prepared to defend,
Europe felt all the while that fate was with them in the end.

A lot will be made about Captain Lehman’s moves,
But in the end, as always, it’s the players who lose.

As play began Friday the groups were no surprise,
But it would have been hard to predict Mr. Mickelson’s demise.
And though Tiger and Jim looked like a pretty strong link,
Furyk faltered in the afternoon and yanked one in the drink.
But leaving on Friday they were down only two,
If some putts would fall Sunday they could erase their miscues.

A lot will be made about Captain Lehman’s moves,
But in the end, as always, it’s the players who lose.

There was solid play early from Johnson and Verplank,
But then later on Phil Mickelson hit another cold-shank.
Gamblers lost money in Las Vegas, Nevada,
Because our boys were getting a beat-down from the Spanish Armada.

A lot will be made about Captain Lehman’s moves,
But in the end, as always, it’s the players who lose.

On Sunday morning visions of Brookline must have danced in their heads,
But the fact is that the Yanks should have stayed in their beds.
Johnny Miller would agree, he had no nice things to say,
But who cares, because his ego always gets in the way.
When the putts started dropping it was too little, too late,
And another two years we will be forced to wait.

A lot will be made about Captain Lehman’s moves,
But in the end, as always, it’s the players who lose.