U.S. Ryder Cup Captain Tom Watson calls to support PGA Cup Team

Megan Blank/The PGA of America

The U.S. PGA Cup team got a phone call of encouragement from U.S. Ryder Cup Captain Tom Watson just before they attended the Opening Ceremony on Thursday.

0

2

2

0

• PRINT
• TEXT

By 

Bob Denney

The PGA of America

Series: PGA

HEXHAM, England — U.S. Ryder Cup Captain Tom Watson made his version of a long distance pre-game speech Thursday, providing tips and words of encouragement for the U.S. PGA Cup Team.

Watson made his surprise call before the U.S. Team marched in the Opening Ceremony at Slaley Hall.

U.S. PGA Cup Captain Allen Wronowski asked Watson if he had any tips for the team of 10 PGA club professionals attempting to hold on to the Llandudno Trophy while facing a strong Great Britain & Ireland unit.

“Go out and stay warm, and the most important thing is keep your hands and head warm,” said Watson. “It’s not rocket science. You pros all know that if you get your hands cold, you can’t feel a damn thing. 

“There are certain holes out there that are going to play tougher than others. Get normal expectations of how those holes are going to play and that will help you through match play,” Watson added. “I am a firm believer in that. It is not a perfect game over there, that’s for sure. But you just have to be one hole more perfect than your opponents.”

Practicing the tough shots on the practice range before a match, Watson said, and “working until you hit it right” is one of his methods that proved fruitful over his career. “That will give you the extra boost of confidence that you will face when you face them on the course,” he said.

Watson said playing foursomes is a simple formula: “You hope that you have a partner who makes everything.”

The last Ryder Cup Captain to lead America to victory in Europe (1993 at The Belfry), Watson welcomed Wronowski’s description of a 10-member U.S. PGA Cup Team. “Our goal is to keep a PGA Cup winning streak alive,” said Wronowski. “We’re going to try to win here and try to get you some great momentum into the Ryder Cup.”

“Well, we need that,” said Watson. “We’ve been getting our butts kicked in the Ryder Cup, and I’m tired of that stuff. You go out there and take care of business. I will point that out to my team when we get over there to Scotland next year. 

“Let’s keep the train running along the tracks that it is supposed to run on,” Watson said, adding that: “May everyone there have the lucky bounce when you need it most.” 

Ravens Confident Can Get Coveted Wide Receiver

Posted Jan 9, 2014

Garrett DowningBaltimoreRavens.com Staff Writer@Ravens All Garrett Downing Articles



The Ravens have already identified the type of receiver they want next season.



Ozzie Newsome stopped just short of giving away too much information, but the Ravens general manager made it clear that he’s intent on getting another weapon for quarterback Joe Flacco this offseason.

“We will try to acquire – I already know this and I won’t share it with you – I think we’ve identified the type of receiver that we want,” Newsome said.

Newsome did not provide many specifics about what qualities that receiver will possess, but said he wants a target who “can make a third-and-7, third-and-8, catch and run some after the catch.”

Newsome was also confident that he will find and acquire the player over the next few months of the offseason.

“That player will be available between now [and the start of the season], whether it’s in free agency, whether he’s a cap casualty, whether it’s in the draft or whether it’s through trade,” Newsome said. “There is no reason that he might not be here at the beginning of the season.”



Newsome did acknowledge that it could take him into training camp or even the preseason to find a desirable target.

“I always try to leave myself a little leeway to give us a chance to get it right,” he said.

Head Coach John Harbaugh then jokingly chided him about having a little urgency.

“I’m going to put a little pressure on Ozzie to get that going a little bit before the first game,” Harbaugh said with a smile.

If the Ravens try to add a receiver through the draft, they have the benefit of holding their highest draft pick (No. 16 or 17) since the 2006 season. Drafting higher could give the Ravens a chance to nab one of the top receiving prospects, but Newsome also pointed out that a high pick doesn’t guarantee anything.

“The wide receiver position in the draft – there are a lot of hits and misses,” Newsome said. “You can draft aTorrey Smith in the second round and you can have some success, and you can draft Travis Taylor in the first [round] and you can blow it.”

The Ravens have some questions with the passing game heading into next year, as wide receiver Jacoby Jonesand tight end Dennis Pitta are both free agents. That leaves Torrey Smith and Marlon Brown as Flacco’s top two targets, if the Ravens don’t re-sign Pitta or Jones.

Smith and Brown possess differing skill sets skillsets, as Smith is a speedy deep threat and Brown is a big body who can make tough catches over the middle of the field. It’s unclear what kind of qualities the Ravens desire in the receiver they add, but Newsome and Harbaugh are on the same page with what they want.

“When John told me [what he wanted], I lit up, because I was right there with him as to what we’re looking for in a receiver this year,” Newsome said. “And I think before the 2014 season ends, we will have that guy on our football team.”






RELATED TAGS