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East Palestine’s McGee still gets excited about Ryder Cup
By Greg Gulas
EAST PALESTINE
There will be plenty of cheering, jeering, some finger-pointing, plenty of high-fives and even one or two congratulatory fist-bumps, and that‘s just when players are getting set to tee-off at this year’s Ryder Cup, which begins today at Scotland’s Gleneagles Golf Club.
It’s the time — according to East Palestine resident Jerry McGee, a member of America’s 1977 winning team — when playing for money and family takes a back seat as you boast and play for love of country.
“This year’s team captain, Tom Watson, and I were rookies on that ’77 Ryder Cup team and we looked at each other in disbelief. We had never experienced that type of hoopla as either amateurs or during our professional careers,” McGee said. “That year we played in England at the Royal Lytham & St. Anne’s Golf Club and I missed a six-foot putt on one of the early holes. There was an eruption by the fans and my partner that day. Dave Stockton and I just looked at each other and shrugged our shoulders as they cheered that fail. I had never experienced that type of fanfare so that’s why it is paramount for veterans to help rookies not only as they adjust, but cope the entire week as well.”
For McGee, their 1977 win was the fourth of seven consecutive championships for the United States as the Americans ran their record to 17-1-1, post-World War II.
Since their last win in 1983, America is just 4-9-1 overall with its last win coming in 2008; 16 Ω-11 Ω at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky.
Despite playing on foreign soil, McGee feels that America can break its two-match losing streak because the course has the feel of an American course.
“The Gleneagles course was designed by Jack Nicklaus and is neither a seaside nor links course. I am hoping that plays in our favor,” McGee said.
America’s last victory on foreign turf came in 1993 when it posted a 15-13 win at The Belfry G.C. in Sutton Coldfield, England.
According to McGee, this year’s captain, Watson, was dealt a bad hand when it came to filling out this year’s roster.
“First, there is no Tiger Woods on the team and while Tiger might not be the player he was several years ago, he’s still Tiger Woods and when its 1-on-1 or 2-on-2, he’s very intimidating. We’re going to miss that intimidation factor,” McGee said. “Dustin Johnson is out because of his own stupidity and Jason Dufner, despite making the team won’t be around because of a neck injury.”
Team selection has changed since McGee’s championship year.
“When I played you qualified with your performance over the previous two-year period. The only way you could get a point was to finish in the top-10 of a tournament,” he said. “Now, there are three captain’s picks and points are still calculated in similar fashion, but it’s over a one-year period now and not two years.”
America’s current hottest golfer, Billy Horschel, is a glowing omission.
“Billy wasn’t even in the mix because Tom already had the team picked before he went on a tear,” McGee said. “All he did was win twice and finish second, earning $14 million in the last three tournaments that he played. I just feel as if Tom could have been dealt a better hand.”
For McGee, the common denominator for a United States win is his friend, Watson.
“Tom’s record is impeccable in Europe as he has never lost there while a member of the Ryder Cup; either as a competitor or captain. He’ll be more of a father figure and rightfully so,” McGee said. “Tom will also rely on Andy North, Steve Stricker and Raymond Floyd. Steve and Raymond are vice-captains with Raymond’s stare hopefully igniting some of our players when necessary.”
McGee added that you become pretty much family once the team is selected.
“We spend the entire year trying to beat each other’s brains out and now we’re teammates,” he said. “For 51 weeks you’re playing for you and your family and for one week out of the year you’re playing for every family in the United States. If you’re lucky enough to make the team, you aren’t playing for one penny — just one point in each match for the USA.
“When England’s Ian Poulter said it’s the most nervous you will ever be on that first tee, it’s literally the most nervous you will ever be your entire life. I still get emotional thinking back to ’77 and the strands of hair on the back of my neck never fail to stand up when I hear our national anthem.”
Inability to putt has also contributed to America’s drought.
“They’ve outputted us so we need to putt well if we expect to win. Captains get heat for not doing enough, but people fail to realize that they aren’t the ones playing,” McGee said. “We’ve lost too many matches by a point or point-and-a-half and that usually comes down to making a critical putt when it’s needed most.”