'The Concession' - 1969 Ryder Cup

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1ajibVkQzE

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1969_Ryder_Cup

Just caught a little bit about this on Sky Sports. Am I alone in thinking this is very much an over-rated piece of "golf history"? I'm a huge Nicklaus fan, but I just feel the whole "amazing gesture of the spirit of the Ryder Cup and, indeed, golf" narrative about it is really hammy.

I imagine, if Nicklaus wasn't giving TJ the putt before he took his own putt, Jacklin would've much preferred the chance to hole it himself and 'halve' the Ryder Cup on his own merit.

I kinda feel like Jack gets too much credit for this act - and the Sky Sports doc makes it sound like he didn't just concede a putt, but cured cancer and figured out the Israel/Palestine conflict while he was at it...

EDIT: Also, just to add - I find the whole 'gimme' culture of Matchplay to be totally ridiculous. The aim of golf is to get the ball in the hole. Hole everything out - and let's have less of the feigned outrage we see when a pro isn't given a putt he feels he should be given. If it's that easy, knock it in, lad!

Deep Thought

I think that it was more down the the unsportsmanlike stuff that went before hand, players being told not to help looking for balls etc, players trying to put each other off on shots and at one point each manager had to come out and tell the players to calm down

I think that Jack was showing that its a game of golf and that nothing is worth being an ass about it and respect each other.

stockdam

Jacklin was hardly going to miss that putt. If it had been a foot or two longer then it would have been a nice concession.

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stockdam wrote: »

Jacklin was hardly going to miss that putt. If it had been a foot or two longer then it would have been a nice concession.

Exactly. In a way, I think Nicklaus kind of stole a nice career moment from Jacklin.

Benicetomonty

Disagree entirely. On those greens back in the day, that was no gimme. I'd equate it to the putt McDowell holed to win the US Open in 2010, or the putt Westwood holed to beat Matt Kuchar and continue the comeback at the Ryder Cup in Medinah, except on greens that were awful compared to modern day surfaces. Both Westwood and GMac said they felt like the longest putts they'd ever stood over, and anybody here who's on the verge of winning an important event or posting a decent score will know how difficult even the shortest of putts can become.

Nicklaus's gesture was pure class imo. The putt was miss-able and he didn't want Jacklin to get crucified for costing GB and I a treasured tie with a powerhouse USA team. Ive never once heard Jacklin complain about the concession because he was damn happy to take it! Also the fact that Jack's decision annoyed then captain Sam Snead so much speaks volumes. He knew it was significant even if his attitude was short sighted!

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Benicetomonty wrote: »

Disagree entirely. On those greens back in the day, that was no gimme. I'd equate it to the putt McDowell holed to win the US Open in 2010, or the putt Westwood holed to beat Matt Kuchar and continue the comeback at the Ryder Cup in Medinah, except on greens that were awful compared to modern day surfaces. Both Westwood and GMac said they felt like the longest putts they'd ever stood over, and anybody here who's on the verge of winning an important event or posting a decent score will know how difficult even the shortest of putts can become.

Nicklaus's gesture was pure class imo. The putt was miss-able and he didn't want Jacklin to get crucified for costing GB and I a treasured tie with a powerhouse USA team. Ive never once heard Jacklin complain about the concession because he was damn happy to take it! Also the fact that Jack's decision annoyed then captain Sam Snead so much speaks volumes. He knew it was significant even if his attitude was short sighted!

So... did Europe really draw the match then? Or was it a patronising pat on the head from the Yanks?

valoren

Thinking back to Medinah in 2012.
Woods is 1up against Molinari as they watch Kaymer putting from the 18th fairway.
He holes it. Europe have improbably retained the Ryder Cup.

Even if Woods loses the hole Europe still have the Cup.
He ends up conceding Molinari's three footer, loses the hole, giving the European team the 1/2 pt for outright victory.

I would liken that to Nicklaus' gesture. It was the classy thing to do in the circumstances.
Sunday's singles was supposed to be a cake walk for the US.
I'm sure Woods saw his match as a dead rubber, that the match would have been long settled before their final match even reached the turn.

That Woods' gesture (which is to be his final one at a RC) allowed outright victory after the miracle comeback should be looked at as magnanimous as it was.

The contrast between both gestures is that while Nicklaus was roundly lauded for it, Woods was roundly lambasted for it.
He is criticized for allowing them to win. Not just tie. That he wanted to leave asap, that it vindicated people's perception that he couldn't care less about the RC etc. It's an interesting dichotomy between the two players.

Wichita Lineman

Nicklaus's gesture was pure class. End of. If only more people played the game in the spirit it's intended to be.

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Wichita Lineman wrote:

Nicklaus's gesture was pure class. End of. If only more people played the game in the spirit it's intended to be.

If Nicklaus had missed his putt would he have given Jacklin his?

Benicetomonty

WHIP IT! wrote: »

If Nicklaus had missed his putt would he have given Jacklin his?

Certainly not.

The Rape of Lucretia

And to be seen in the context of the US not really caring about the Ryder Cup, and basically whuppin GB&I time in time out, and on the trajectory of loosing all relevance completely that led to the 'we must do something to save it' step of making it Euro inclusive. I would say we have all given putts to someone, when the match meant little to us, and giving the weaker opponent some recognition for a good effort is more important maybe snatching it from him in what would be unfortunate circumstances.

Adiaga 2

WHIP IT! wrote: »

Exactly. In a way, I think Nicklaus kind of stole a nice career moment from Jacklin.

In fairness, from what I have seen and read, I think Jacklin himself makes more of the concession than Nicklaus ever has. And he's made it a big part of his legacy. There's ever a resort course in Florida called The Concession that he(and possibly Nicklaus) were heavily involved in. Personally, I'd take his US Open and British Open wins any day Especially at the time they came - very barren times in the majors for Europeans.

Nice video though, WHIP IT