- Home
- Jeff Dawson
- Ryder Cup team star at awards
Imagine Golf Blogs
Imagine Golf Bloggers
- Canadian Hot Spot
- Chris Stewart
- Chris White
- Chris White
- Competitions
- Dermot Gilleece
- Equipment News
- Equipment News
- Iestyn George
- Imagine Golf Club News Desk
- In Golf We Trust
- Jeff Dawson
- Jeff Dawson
- Legends
- Lip Service
- Mark's Kaddy Korner
- Pro Focus
- Rhodri Williams
- Rob Lee
- Shaun Edwards
- Simon Penson
- Sophie Horn
- The Week In Golf
- The Wish List
- Tips and Techniques
- Tom Cates
- Weird World Of Golf
Ryder Cup team star at awards
Team and coach awards for golfers
Posted Dec 20, 2010 by Jeff Dawson
The European Ryder Cup team were the toast of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards show last night collecting two awards in total. They were crowned Team of the Year ahead of the England cricket team and Chelsea FC whilst Colin Montgomerie won the Coach of the Year award.
Graeme McDowell and Lee Westwood were both nominated for the overall prize but unfortunately neither made the top three.
This recognition was just desserts for a stunning performance that saw them overcome the US team 14.5 to 13.5 at Celtic Manor in Wales in October.
Whilst I agree with the Team award and the nominations of Westwood and McDowell, I have to say that I disagree with Monty winning the coach of the year title. To me, a coach is a guy or woman who is one the field every day with the players or individual working tirelessly to improve the game of those listening to them. To me, Monty was a motivator in Wales, and a very good one at that.
I honestly don’t believe his task of selecting the pairs that would feature was worthy of this accolade especially when the likes of Ian Holloway, the Blackpool FC manager, and England cricket coach Andy Flower have achieved so much in 2010.
Monty’s only real tasks were selecting the wild card entries, choosing the pairs for one weekend and motivating the 12 players to a sensational victory. Yes he did all this well, but is that more worthy than earning minnows like Blackpool promotion to the Premiership or making England the World 20Twenty cricket champions?
In my opinion, no. I would have given it to Holloway. The guy brings entertainment to the Premiership, he brings attacking football and he has transformed a club that was struggling in the Championship to a mid-table outfit in the elite league in England. He has worked wonders and he has done this over a long period of time, not four days in October.
Don’t get me wrong, I was as happy as anyone that the Europeans won the Ryder Cup but I’d have given the Coach of the Year award out elsewhere. However, well done Monty, those in the know obviously like what you did.