There are likely more than just a few folks in the world who have more than a passing interest in the outcome of the FedEx Cup. Personally, I don’t know a single one of them. Between my golfing buddies and me, our only interest is how this new playoff system and subsequent Fall Series will affect our golf fantasy league. Beyond that, the consensus is that this $10 million playoff is just a contrivance, about on a par with the WGC events.

What really stirs the soul are team competitions, where the only thing at stake is pride. It seldom gets more personal than that. It never ceases to amaze me how often the urgency of the moment brings rise to unbelievable clutch shots such as chip-ins, long putts and the most recent example: Jonathan Moore’s 252 yard 4 iron to near-gimme eagle distance on the 18th hole of the deciding match of the 2007 Walker Cup. Not only was it just a spectacular shot, but when taken in context of the moment of what had already been an incredible contest, it will be forever etched into golfing lore of amateur play at the very highest level.

So now I’m psyched to watch the favored American defending champions face a determined European team on Swedish soil in the 10th Solheim Cup this weekend. The US team is loaded with young winners such as Paula Creamer, Morgan Pressel and Brittany Lincicome, but will be facing the most hostile crowd they ever have faced. Their reaction to the crowd cheering the result of their failures will be most interesting. To add to the already partisan nature of the gallery, Euro Captain Helen Alfredsson has the benefit of 4 Swedes in the team, not the least of which will be an in-form Annika Sorenstam.

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