Monday, May 19, 2008
Euro Legend Backs The Stars And Stripes.

Golfing legend and inspiration to a generation Seve Ballesteros has come out with something nobody in GP Towers, nay the world, ever thought he’d say. Talking all things Ryder Cup with the Mirror the five-time major winner said, "I hope the Americans win this year in all seriousness." Que?

"I see the Ryder Cup getting very boring because we are beating them so badly. Everybody is losing interest." Ah now we see. Sort of.

Along with skipper Tony Jacklin, Ballesteros was at the forefront of Europe's rejuvenation in the competition in the early 1980s, culminating in victory at the Belfry in 1985, the first European win since 1957.

“I don't want to see a competition looking like a church service, I want to see a bullfight between the bull and the matador”

"My heart is always with the Europeans but my head is with the Americans for the good of the trophy." Said the shot making maestro.

Seve enjoyed a stormy Ryder Cup relationship with US captain Paul Azinger, with the pair clashing at the Belfry in 1989 and Kiawah Island two years later.

"We know how tough Paul Azinger is and how competitive he is," said Ballesteros.

"Nick, I was honly hoking."

European captain Nick Faldo has also had run-ins with Azinger over the years but Ballesteros believes the American's feisty character will bring some much-needed spark to the event.

"I don't think they will resort to bad sportsmanship but we need a little bit of something.

"Golf is a gentlemanly sport but we need some kind of controversy to make the news and make it competitive.” Which we’re all for. We hope the Spaniards comments are some sort of reverse psychology to inspire team Europe to another victory. But if there’s one man you can’t second guess it’s Severiano Ballesteros.




5/19/2008 11:41:59 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)  #  Comments [2] 


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