Jonas Blixt plays a shot out of the woods during the final round of the 2014 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on Sunday. (AFP)
Ewan Murray/theguardian.com
Paul McGinley is an excellent television analyst and in the early months of his Ryder Cup captaincy, has demonstrated an attention to detail which bodes extremely well for Europe’s meeting with the United States in September. But he found himself in a tricky position at Augusta National on Sunday evening.
When asked live on air about Jonas Blixt, who had just recorded a second impressive major finish in succession, McGinley had to be careful. He couldn’t reasonably dismiss the Swede’s chances of a Ryder Cup place and he couldn’t guarantee him one, either. Instead, the 47-year-old rightly offered effusive praise towards Blixt, including the slight contradiction that he is “maybe nailed-on” for a spot in Europe’s team. The subtle message to Blixt was clear; keep on doing what you are on golf’s biggest stages and you will be impossible to ignore.
Earlier, Henrik Stenson had been asked if he would fancy partnering his compatriot against the USA. “You would want to play with anyone who does so well in majors,” Stenson said. Again, this was a smartly diplomatic response. Stenson, who is a certainty to feature in McGinley’s team, could probably have his pick of partners given both his experience and stunning success in 2013.
The lack of scrutiny afforded Blixt owes much to his professional career starting out and blossoming in the United States, through a university education in Florida and progression to the main PGA Tour via its Nationwide equivalent. At the Masters, Blixt was overshadowed by Jordan Spieth’s bid for history despite the pair finishing on identical scores.
A glance through Blixt’s career statistics does not flag up anything he is exceptional at, despite the terrific short-game performance he offered during day four at the Masters. With putting so significant in the Ryder Cup, this was a statement of intent.
He has also recorded tour victories in both 2012 and 2013, and currently lies 33rd in the world. That is above Lee Westwood and Stephen Gallacher, who both have Ryder Cup aspirations.
In the specific context of points for automatic Ryder Cup-qualification, Blixt actually has a bit to go, which renders his schedule choices between now and late August highly important.
“It would be a lifelong dream to appear on one of those teams,” Blixt says. “I am going to do everything I can, absolutely everything, to be on that team.
“I’m going to try to play as good as I can, in order that Paul McGinley doesn’t have a choice but to pick me. But if I don’t, I want the Europeans to win and I’ll cheer. I’ll support them as much as I can but I want to be part of that team.”
Those comments illustrated a brilliant attitude. McGinley will have taken note.
Last of Steve Williams at Augusta?
It certainly appears so, with the caddie admitting he will scale down his work with Adam Scott considerably at the end of this year. It was previously thought that the 50-year-old Williams, who gained fame and fortune through his work with Tiger Woods, had an autobiography in mind but the New Zealander insists he wishes to spend more time with his family.
A visible thawing in the relationship between Woods and Williams perhaps offers an explanation as to why the latter will keep his experiences with golf’s world No.1 to himself for the time being.
“It could be, yeah. It’s a definite possibility,” said Williams on the 2014 Masters being his last.
“My plan is to see out 2014 and next year I’m either going to caddie half the year, or not at all. If Adam wants me to caddie for half a year, then that’s what I’ll do. If he’s not agreeable to that, then that’s me done.”
There is time this year, of course, for Williams to win three more majors.
