Cavalier about Ryder Cup?

You can imagine the stink created last week when McIlroy said at the Irish Open that the Ryder Cup is "a great spectacle for golf, but an exhibition at the end of the day and it should be there to be enjoyed. I'm sure it's a great experience. But in the big scheme of things, it's not that important an event for me."

What in the name of Samuel Ryder is going on here? The kid is young, sure, but doesn't he know about the War on the Shore, those battles at the Belfry, Seve's gamesmanship, Leonard's putt, the Miracle at Brookline? Isn't he aware of the hype ratcheting up preposterously every two years, complemented by the pressure of players frantically, even foolishly (see: Perry, Kenny), doing everything in their power to join 11 of their peers and represent their homeland in a three-day dance that puts drama on display but not a dime in their pockets?

On the few occasions I've talked with McIlroy, he comes across as a typical young adult, interested in his golf, obviously, but also in music and malls, soccer and boxing, video games and American food. It's been nice, actually, to see and hear someone who has a wide range of interests and isn't all golf, all the time.

McIlroy knows his role in the game is expanding by the week, as evidenced by his successful march through America this spring and his steady climb up the world rankings. Perhaps he doesn't know what impact his comments can have. He's finding out, and already is attempting to clarify his Ryder Cup remarks.

"I wasn't trying to disrespect the Ryder Cup in any way," McIlroy told the BBC this week. "It's a great event, and it's a great event for golf. But I was just saying I'd rather win majors, that was basically it. I know a lot of people would give their right arm to play in the Ryder Cup, and I wasn't trying to say that I'm not going to play in a Ryder Cup, because I'd love to play in one. It's just that it's not one of my main priorities."

McIlroy was paired, coincidentally, with Colin Montgomerie in the first round of the Irish Open. Monty, who will captain the Euros next year when the Ryder Cup resumes in Wales, said after the round that the two didn't discuss the matches, but added, "He'll understand what it's all about when he's part of it."

There's parts of McIlroy's initial comments I have no problem with. Great spectacle for golf? Check. Should be there to be enjoyed? Absolutely. A turn toward civility wouldn't hurt. Calling it an exhibition, though, doesn't sound right. This isn't a course designer playing the first round of his new creation, nor is it "Shell's Wonderful World of Golf." Those are exhibitions.

The Ryder Cup is a competition, plain and simple. In the individual world of professional golf it's a unique event, teaming together guys who for the other 51 weeks a year are competing against fellow tour pros and trying to stomp on anyone who comes in their path, friends and foes alike. The Ryder Cup gives us matching outfits, flags, face paint, emotion, camaraderie, and "Olé, olé, olé, olé!"

This isn't the first time comments about the Ryder Cup have made news. McIlroy professes to know everything about the career of Tiger Woods, down to former match play opponents and key shots throughout Sir Eldrick's public and very productive journey. He must know, then, that Woods said he could "think of a million reasons why" he'd rather win a tour event than the Ryder Cup.

Woods was also part of a group, including Mark O'Meara, David Duval, and Phil Mickelson, who pressured the PGA of America before the 1999 matches at The Country Club into directing some of their Ryder Cup profits to the players, who would designate a charity to receive that money.

Most recently, Hunter Mahan, in a magazine interview last year, said the nightly team dinners during Ryder Cup week and other team functions hindered the US team's opportunity to prepare. "You're just a slave that week," said Mahan, who at the time of the interview had never played in the Ryder Cup. He was criticized for his remarks, apologized, made last year's US team, and didn't lose any of his five matches, winning two and halving three.

Not surprisingly, many of the Ryder Cup comments center around cash. The Ryder Cup doesn't compensate players for participating, yet it's turned into one of the biggest sporting events in the world, with global merchandise sales and big-money corporate sponsors and on-site hospitality. Even the caddies get paid.

Whether McIlroy's lukewarm impression of the matches centers around money remains to be seen. Odds are, he'll make next year's team, and by the time he arrives on the first tee at the Celtic Manor Resort, he'll wonder why his heart is racing, his knees are shaking, and why he's having so much trouble drawing the club back for that opening drive.

While I can't fault him for wanting to win majors more than the Ryder Cup - every player would share that thought, I'm guessing - when McIlroy leaves that first tee Oct. 1, 2010, he just might recall the comments he made as a 20-year-old at the Irish Open, chuckle, and know that it's quickly become a very important event for him.

All in the card for Driscoll

On the strength of a final-round 62 - his previous low score on tour was 65 - Driscoll worked his way into a playoff at the Texas Open with former Masters winner and defending Texas Open champion Zach Johnson. No shame in the result: Driscoll missed a 30-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole, then Johnson made a 10-footer for the victory. In fact, it's the kind of result Driscoll has been looking for.

"Things really clicked," said Driscoll, who lives in Brookline and has been on tour, off and on, since 2005. "I've always had the belief it was just a matter of time before I had some good weeks. With hard work and patience, things usually turn out well at some point."

The Texas Open was only Driscoll's seventh start of 2009, and matches his best result on tour; he also lost a playoff in New Orleans in 2005.

The $658,800 Driscoll earned for the second-place finish sent him from 212th on the money list to 57th with $682,164. Last year it took slightly more than $850,000 to finish in the top 125 and retain a tour card. This goes a long way toward that.

"It's huge for just my job security and, hopefully, confidence to play the rest of the tournaments," said Driscoll, who is playing this week at the Byron Nelson Championship in Irving, Texas. "I haven't really gotten in any rhythm, and it's nice to play two in a row and hopefully play some more tournaments."

Ten Broeck dances a Texas
two-step as caddie and player

Parnevik had an early-morning tee time in last week's first round, and when the round was completed, Ten Broeck was asked if he'd like a spot in the tournament field, since David Berganio had just withdrawn and there were no other alternates on hand. Ten Broeck said yes, and had 80 minutes to find a pair of pants (from a nearby department store), clubs (from tour players Richard S. Johnson and Tag Ridings), shoes (from David Duval), and a caddie (his brother).

Then he went out and shot a respectable 1-over 71.

Ten Broeck had the early tee time in the second round, shot 70, then changed back into his caddie clothes and looped for Parnevik in the afternoon. Neither player made the cut, which came at 1 under, but at least Ten Broeck can claim bragging rights, since he beat Parnevik (70-74) by three shots.

"It's something I've always wanted to do. I wasn't going to pass it up," said Ten Broeck, whose best finish in roughly 350 tour events was second at the 1991 Chattanooga Classic. "I'm just disappointed I didn't play any better."

Etc.