A round-up of news from Whistling Straits
Pavin in war of words
COREY Pavin’s most memorable input – to date – in the Ryder Cup came at Kiawah Island in 1991 when he donned a Desert Storm army camouflage hat in whipping up the crowds in what became known as the War by the Shore.
By comparison, what happened yesterday could be something of a storm in a tea cup to Pavin, who will captain the US team at Celtic Manor in October. At his official press conference, Pavin claimed he was “misquoted” on Tuesday when telling the Golf Channel’s Jim Gray he would definitely give world number one Tiger Woods a “wild card” pick.
Pavin, who’d earlier sent out a tweet on his Twitter account, remarked: “Let’s straighten this out right now. I had a conversation with Jim Gray just outside the locker-room and he asked me a few questions and his interpretation of what I said is incorrect. There’s nobody that’s promised any picks. It would be disrespectful to everybody that’s trying to make the team. I’ve quite a few people I’m looking at.”
If Pavin – who has four captain’s picks to go with the eight players who automatically make the team – thought that was the end of the matter, he was sorely mistaken. Outside the media centre afterwards, Gray confronted Pavin and used the “L” word in telling the US skipper in no uncertain terms how he felt about him.
Finally, it’s shaping up to be an interesting Ryder Cup!
Lowry lauds his caddie
THE Majors can’t come quickly enough these days for Shane Lowry. Hot on the heels of playing in his first major in the British Open last month, the 23-year-old Offaly man makes his US PGA debut here – and attributes his caddie Dermot Byrne with his move up the world rankings. “I’ve had talks with Dermot since he started working with me. He told me I had to work harder and pointed out the right things, like getting to know my own game, getting to know myself and what works for me. I want to play in the Majors. There’s no real point in playing golf unless you really, firmly believe you can compete with the world’s best. That’s the goal.”
Clarke has the answers
DARREN Clarke has the answer to those who wonder about his new-found approach to the game. “I’m just allegedly older and allegedly wiser . . . you take what life throws at you and you deal with it as best as you can,” said the Ulsterman ahead of his return to Whistling Straits where he was the first round leader in 2004 before eventually finishing in tied-13th. With a new pep in his step in recent months, Clarke – playing here on a special invite from the PGA of America – is taking the attitude that his best years are still ahead of him. “Family comes first and golf is up there, I’m still as mad and determined as ever.”
On TV today
Sky Sports 1 – 7pm-1am.
