DES SMYTH ADMITS he never expected to get a second bite of the cherry.
Last month, Paul McGinley named both Smyth and Sam Torrance as two of his vice captains for this year’s Ryder Cup.
It’s the latest honour in an illustrious career for the 61-year-old, in which he’s competed in two Ryder Cups (1979 and 1981), as well as already serving as a vice captain once in 2006.
“I was very excited,” says Smyth, recalling when he first heard the news that he would be involved at the PGA Centenary Course in Perthshire, Scotland come September.
“After 06 in the K club when I was vice-captain to Ian Woosnam, I thought that was a real blast, and I thought I’d never be involved at that level again.
“I’d no regrets because I’d played two Ryder Cups and I’d had a vice-captaincy, which is as much as anyone can expect really, but to be called back in in an advisory capacity and to help Paul in the selection of the team — to be a board for him to throw his ideas at basically is really exciting, and I was delighted with the invite and I didn’t take too long to respond.”
Moreover, Smyth believes his experience will be an invaluable asset as Europe bid to win their eighth Ryder Cup in the last 10 events.
“I’ve been involved with professional golf for well over 40 years now. I know how guys think, I know their ambitions, I know how they can prime themselves to perform for the team. The aim is to keep them relaxed and focused, and to try and select the players on form.”
Des Smyth and Cork hurler Anthony Nash teamed up to promote the GuinnessPLUS app. Dan Sheridan / INPHO
Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO
With nine players automatically making the team based on ranking, McGinley and his vice captains must decide who to pick for the remaining spots.
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Consequently, Smyth will be obliged to undertake an arduous scouting process over the next few months.
“Basically, I’ll just be keeping a watching eye, seeing who’s playing well — there are a lot of young players on the periphery. I had an opportunity to meet some of them in Malaysia about a month ago. I need an opportunity to acquaint myself with some of those players that I don’t know very well, and I’m planning on attending a few events. So I’ll be familiar with the players no matter who gets selected.”
Smyth says that he is in “constant contact” with McGinley, but admits their conversations are necessarily vague, with so many developments likely to occur between now and September.
“You’re going to really have to wait until the time [to judge players]. The nine that will already qualify and have their hand up for selection — every one of them will probably have a good case. It’s a matter of making sure you pick the right one that’ll enhance the team.”
Although Smyth will have an opportunity to argue the case for certain players that he believes merit being selected when the time comes, he nonetheless understands that McGinley is entitled to make the decisive choice.
“From my experience of the last time, I was on a watching brief. At the final analysis, I’ll be putting up the three players I think should make the team and give my reasons for saying that. But as you know, it’s the captain’s choice. He will be getting the same feedback, obviously from a different perspective from Sam Torrance. I wouldn’t think I’d be discussing the selection process with Sam. I think Paul wants independent feedback and back-up, as to the reasons why [we made our choices]. He’ll have his own players in mind too and Paul makes the final decision.”
Sam Torrance has also been named as one of McGinley's vice captains Donall Farmer / INPHO
Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO
Torrance is someone that Smyth knows particularly well already — the two experienced their golfing prime at similar stages, and they continue to play together on senior tours.
“Sam’s great — he was a professional golfer from the age of 16. He has huge involvement with the Ryder Cup, so he’ll bring invaluable advice to Paul and I’ll be coming from a different perspective.”
Smyth’s relationship with McGinley also goes back a long way. During the early part of the Dubliner’s career, his fellow Irishman took him under his wing and helped him adjust to professional golf.
“You don’t do that as a plan,” he says. “He came on tour, we became friends, and knowing Paul, he’s able to get information from anybody. He was always asking my advice over the course of chats and I was happy to give it.”
As for the Americans, Smyth cites Jordan Spieth, Jimmy Walker and Harris English as being among the standouts, and acknowledges that many of their emerging young group of golfers will be eager for revenge, given Europe’s miraculous and improbable comeback win the last time the teams met.
“They’re going to have quite a different team from the one in Medinah,” he says. “There’s a lot of new blood coming through. That’s what makes the Ryder Cup — these kids or young men have been watching the excitement of the competition for years. Any professional golfer, whether they’re from Europe or the US, will feel they need to make the team to fulfil their ambitions in the game.”
He continues: “They should have won in Medinah. ‘The Miracle in Medinah’ is a pretty apt description of what happened there. Almost two years on, it’s still hard to believe we won. But it shows you the character of the players, and the 2012 team will be the nucleus of our team as well up in Gleneagles. But the Americans are coming here to win, and that’s why they’ve picked Tom Watson to take over the captaincy.”
Smyth expects both Rory McIlroy, above, and Graeme McDowell to figure prominently in this year's Ryder Cup Matt Slocum
Matt Slocum
Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell are likely to be the two players most Irish eyes are on, and Smyth expects both to make the team.
“I haven’t watched Rory very much this year, but I watch TV and I read a lot of stuff and I’m well aware of how good he is. I don’t think there’s much doubt that he’ll be on the team. And Graeme McDowell looks a pretty strong contender as well. I expect them to be in the nine players that make the team automatically.”
Furthermore, he cites the greater experience the European players are likely to have, in addition to the spirit they demonstrated in 2012, as potentially key factors in their favour.
“I think the Europeans have been good at [conjuring team spirit] anyway. But it is unusual, even for these players two years competing on their own and having to beat their buddies and then for that one weekend, they do bond and become part of a United European side. But I think they enjoy the experience of that.”
Another key issue at the competition is that the level of pressure the players are under is arguably even more intensive than usual. Play badly normally and you’ve primarily let yourself down, play badly in the Ryder Cup and you’ve disappointed an entire team, not to mention the continent you’re representing.
“I think any player will tell you that it’s a lot easier playing for yourself than playing for your team,” Smyth explains. “You do carry the expectations of Europe, of your country, of your family, of your fellow players. So there’s greater pressure on players when they’re playing in the Ryder Cup. But that’s part of what they say makes it. You’re not going to make this team unless you’re a great player — so there’ll be 12 great players on both sides.”
Some critics have suggested that an American win is important for the sake of the competition’s health, given the Europeans’ dominance in recent years, however Smyth says his team are paying little heed to these claims.
“I don’t think my captain would be too pleased to hear that,” he laughs. “They can win some other times, we don’t want them to win this time, they can pick some other year.”
Moreover, Watson recently played the RBC Heritage in order to get to know his prospective players better, yet McGinley is already likely to be more than familiar with most of the candidates for Europe’s team. Does he have an advantage in that sense?
“I’m not so sure. At the end of the day, it’s what the players really need to do. It’s how they feel when they’re going out, and that’s our role. To make sure that we send them out with that inner feeling of confidence.
“I’m under no illusions, we’re in for a really rough ride. The Americans are unbelievably determined to get this trophy back. They’re very very upset with the fact that they didn’t win it in Medinah. It took them a long time to get over that, and I’m sure Tom Watson will be reminding them every day as we approach this event.”
Cork hurler and golf enthusiast, Anthony Nash, teamed up with Des Smyth to announce that the Guinness Plus App is giving fans the opportunity to win a unique golfing Masterclass with them both. More details can be found here.
The other Irishman set to lead Europe's Ryder Cup charge
DES SMYTH ADMITS he never expected to get a second bite of the cherry.
Last month, Paul McGinley named both Smyth and Sam Torrance as two of his vice captains for this year’s Ryder Cup.
It’s the latest honour in an illustrious career for the 61-year-old, in which he’s competed in two Ryder Cups (1979 and 1981), as well as already serving as a vice captain once in 2006.
“I was very excited,” says Smyth, recalling when he first heard the news that he would be involved at the PGA Centenary Course in Perthshire, Scotland come September.
“After 06 in the K club when I was vice-captain to Ian Woosnam, I thought that was a real blast, and I thought I’d never be involved at that level again.
“I’d no regrets because I’d played two Ryder Cups and I’d had a vice-captaincy, which is as much as anyone can expect really, but to be called back in in an advisory capacity and to help Paul in the selection of the team — to be a board for him to throw his ideas at basically is really exciting, and I was delighted with the invite and I didn’t take too long to respond.”
Moreover, Smyth believes his experience will be an invaluable asset as Europe bid to win their eighth Ryder Cup in the last 10 events.
“I’ve been involved with professional golf for well over 40 years now. I know how guys think, I know their ambitions, I know how they can prime themselves to perform for the team. The aim is to keep them relaxed and focused, and to try and select the players on form.”
With nine players automatically making the team based on ranking, McGinley and his vice captains must decide who to pick for the remaining spots.
Consequently, Smyth will be obliged to undertake an arduous scouting process over the next few months.
“Basically, I’ll just be keeping a watching eye, seeing who’s playing well — there are a lot of young players on the periphery. I had an opportunity to meet some of them in Malaysia about a month ago. I need an opportunity to acquaint myself with some of those players that I don’t know very well, and I’m planning on attending a few events. So I’ll be familiar with the players no matter who gets selected.”
Smyth says that he is in “constant contact” with McGinley, but admits their conversations are necessarily vague, with so many developments likely to occur between now and September.
Although Smyth will have an opportunity to argue the case for certain players that he believes merit being selected when the time comes, he nonetheless understands that McGinley is entitled to make the decisive choice.
“From my experience of the last time, I was on a watching brief. At the final analysis, I’ll be putting up the three players I think should make the team and give my reasons for saying that. But as you know, it’s the captain’s choice. He will be getting the same feedback, obviously from a different perspective from Sam Torrance. I wouldn’t think I’d be discussing the selection process with Sam. I think Paul wants independent feedback and back-up, as to the reasons why [we made our choices]. He’ll have his own players in mind too and Paul makes the final decision.”
Torrance is someone that Smyth knows particularly well already — the two experienced their golfing prime at similar stages, and they continue to play together on senior tours.
“Sam’s great — he was a professional golfer from the age of 16. He has huge involvement with the Ryder Cup, so he’ll bring invaluable advice to Paul and I’ll be coming from a different perspective.”
Smyth’s relationship with McGinley also goes back a long way. During the early part of the Dubliner’s career, his fellow Irishman took him under his wing and helped him adjust to professional golf.
“You don’t do that as a plan,” he says. “He came on tour, we became friends, and knowing Paul, he’s able to get information from anybody. He was always asking my advice over the course of chats and I was happy to give it.”
As for the Americans, Smyth cites Jordan Spieth, Jimmy Walker and Harris English as being among the standouts, and acknowledges that many of their emerging young group of golfers will be eager for revenge, given Europe’s miraculous and improbable comeback win the last time the teams met.
He continues: “They should have won in Medinah. ‘The Miracle in Medinah’ is a pretty apt description of what happened there. Almost two years on, it’s still hard to believe we won. But it shows you the character of the players, and the 2012 team will be the nucleus of our team as well up in Gleneagles. But the Americans are coming here to win, and that’s why they’ve picked Tom Watson to take over the captaincy.”
Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell are likely to be the two players most Irish eyes are on, and Smyth expects both to make the team.
“I haven’t watched Rory very much this year, but I watch TV and I read a lot of stuff and I’m well aware of how good he is. I don’t think there’s much doubt that he’ll be on the team. And Graeme McDowell looks a pretty strong contender as well. I expect them to be in the nine players that make the team automatically.”
Furthermore, he cites the greater experience the European players are likely to have, in addition to the spirit they demonstrated in 2012, as potentially key factors in their favour.
Another key issue at the competition is that the level of pressure the players are under is arguably even more intensive than usual. Play badly normally and you’ve primarily let yourself down, play badly in the Ryder Cup and you’ve disappointed an entire team, not to mention the continent you’re representing.
“I think any player will tell you that it’s a lot easier playing for yourself than playing for your team,” Smyth explains. “You do carry the expectations of Europe, of your country, of your family, of your fellow players. So there’s greater pressure on players when they’re playing in the Ryder Cup. But that’s part of what they say makes it. You’re not going to make this team unless you’re a great player — so there’ll be 12 great players on both sides.”
Some critics have suggested that an American win is important for the sake of the competition’s health, given the Europeans’ dominance in recent years, however Smyth says his team are paying little heed to these claims.
“I don’t think my captain would be too pleased to hear that,” he laughs. “They can win some other times, we don’t want them to win this time, they can pick some other year.”
Moreover, Watson recently played the RBC Heritage in order to get to know his prospective players better, yet McGinley is already likely to be more than familiar with most of the candidates for Europe’s team. Does he have an advantage in that sense?
“I’m under no illusions, we’re in for a really rough ride. The Americans are unbelievably determined to get this trophy back. They’re very very upset with the fact that they didn’t win it in Medinah. It took them a long time to get over that, and I’m sure Tom Watson will be reminding them every day as we approach this event.”
Cork hurler and golf enthusiast, Anthony Nash, teamed up with Des Smyth to announce that the Guinness Plus App is giving fans the opportunity to win a unique golfing Masterclass with them both. More details can be found here.
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