Page 18 - ARUBA TODAY

A18 SPORTS
Thursday 28 sepTember 2017
American golf

Continued from Page 17 young?’ We’re going to be
in our 30s at some point.
The U.S. team at Liberty Na- But if we can keep play-
tional has Spieth, Thomas, ing well, stay competitive,
Berger, Brooks Koepka, keep pushing each other
Rickie Fowler and Patrick ... I feel like there’s a good
Reed. chance that all of us — at
“I think they’re in pretty least four or five of us — will
good shape in the future continue hopefully play
with those guys,” Miller said. on a lot of these teams for
That’s how it was in 1998 consecutive years.
at the Presidents Cup in “But there’s going to a lot
Australia, when the first five of others coming out of
qualifiers for that U.S. team college who are going to
— David Duval, Woods, Jim want to take our place.”
Furyk, Justin Leonard and The relationships they have
Phil Mickelson — were all forged certainly help, and
in their 20s. That figured to this goes beyond Insta-
be the core of American gram posts from their spring
golf for years to come, and breaks. Woods and Mickel-
it nearly was. Duval lost son never hung out in the
his way through injury and Bahamas, much less the
confidence after his Brit- locker room, unless they
ish Open title in 2001, while were playing a Ryder Cup
Leonard made the putt or Presidents Cup. They also Justin Thomas, left, holds the trophy after winning the Fedex Cup, as he stands with Xander
heard ‘round the world at are about 5 years apart in Schauffele who holds the trophy after winning the Tour Championship golf tournament at East
Brookline a year later until age. Most of this genera- Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017, in Atlanta.
his team appearances be- tion grew up facing each Associated Press
came more inconsistent. other no matter where group a decade from now, But it’s the relationship he another guy and he goes
“It is such a young game they were from because of at least a chunk of it. He finds so intriguing. “When out and plays really well,”
right now,” Thomas said how organized junior golf knows as well as anyone one guy does something Stricker said. “It’s really
Tuesday. “I was also think- has become. U.S. captain that form can disappear. well, wins a tournament, it’s cool, and a great outlook
ing, ‘Is it going to stay Steve Stricker can see this So can good health. almost a shot in the arm to for USA team golf.”q