Quintin Jardine's blog

Two Ryder Cup memories say with me this morning.

I watched it in Spain, via the Golf Channel on Canal + (if only we could access that in the UK; much better than Sky). When it was all over and the craziness was in full swing, its camera and mike picked up a private moment between Ollie, the captain and Luke Donald, who was given the massive task of winning the first game against Bubba Watson, a guy who could have been designed to play the long Medinah course, and who delivered. The voices were indistinct until the end, when Luke was heard to say, ‘Thank you for trusting me.’ That’s what team management’s about, boiled down: inspiration through trust.

Then there’s Tiger. He will be crucified in the US press for delivering only half a point out of a possible four, and maybe also for conceding a very missable putt on the last that turned a tie into a European victory. Nobody will suggest that he was badly used and badly served by his captain, in being put out three times with the same player, in a combination that should have been split up after its first loss, and in being put out in the last of the twelve singles matches, which, with USA’s  four point overnight lead, was long odds against being significant. Nobody will suggest that, but it’s true.