Today reminds me of all my years covering the Canadian Open after all the excitement and drama on Sunday afternoon, when we were allowed in the media to play the course on Monday morning.
Mentally drained, I'd go out on the course once filled with 35,000 people, now empty. grounds crew out early again cleaning up the garbage blowing everywhere, crews dismantling the scaffolding and broadcast equipment, the tented village in disarray, always a great big let down..
But still, there is the glow, the warm memory of what has just transpired, like Tiger's shot from the fairway bunker to win it in 2000 and so many more.
I'm one of millions around the world who today are so proud, so happy for Captain Luke Donald and the entire team, who finally really let loose in the team bus with the normally shy lad from Oban, Bob MacIntyre leading the rousing version of the Scottish band, the Proclaimers smash hit "I'm Gonna be" (I would walk 500 miles...).
From the first 4-0 session on Friday morning they never trailed, simply returning the favor after their 19-9 thrashing at Whistling Straits in 2021.
Justin Rose, who deservedly was the recipient of the Nicklaus-Jacklin award (see my earlier post) said it best in the post match interview and I paraphrase...
" People ask me what we have as European teams that the USA may not have. We here are all playing for those who went before us, we are the current guardians of our tradition and values passed down by all our peers, we are bound together to uphold all that entails"
I might add that much of what that entails were the annual drubbings that the original GB&NIre teams with the likes of Brian Hugget, Neil Coles and Peter Alyss would take when Jack and Arnie and Lee would come over.
Everything was bigger and better in the USA. Some remember how we were fighting for our lives in for 2 years in WWII while America was busy getting on with their lives oblivious, until the Japs bombed Pearl Harbour Dec.7, 1942 and they finally arrived in England to help turn the tide.
The David vs Goliath mantra emerged for all of this and more, we had no chance until Jack got involved in the late 70's with the R&A to change the format to include Europe, and of course Seve arrived.
In 1985 may I remind you, Sam Torrance sealed the first win in 28 long years for the Tony Jacklin led European team at the Belfry. 16.5 -11.5
This weekend many players on the European team live and play in the US, but it becomes the same theme when they get together. It is and always will be no matter how wealthy they have become, them vs the big bad Yanks.
And the Americans just don't have that advantage, don't have all that history in their DNA.
Bryan Angus
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