Allen Terrell's Final Blog from the Ryder Cup
10/4/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Oct. 4, 2010
LONDON, England - The weather finally broke and the Ryder Cup has ended. The US showed a lot of heart and pride today by never giving up and almost retaining the cup. Today was symbolic of Dustin and specifically this year of perseverance. He never quit fighting and found a way to get the ball in the hole. He made 8 birdies and beat this years PGA Champion Martin Kaymer 6&4.
I'm sitting here in a London Airport Hotel waiting for my flight back to the states in the morning. As I reflect on my trip, I think of the highlights of this special weekend and things I discovered...
1. Rugby is huge in Wales.
2. Never leave home without waterproof golf shoes.
3. There is no need for weather forecast in the UK. We all know what the weather is going to do.....RAIN.
4. Golf is a hard sport to watch from outside the ropes.
5. Cardiff is a hip little metropolitan town.
6. The US team needs to play their own game in fourball and stop reading putts for each other. Look at how many putts we holed in single matches.
7. Hotels can charge whatever they want if hosting a world event.
8. McDonalds rocks in the UK too.
9. How special CCU is to have the President (David DeCenzo) & Athletic Director (Hnter Yuracheck) fly all the way to Wales and slop through the mud supporting their alumni. Dustin was extremely humbled from this display of support.
10. You eat a lot of carbs in the UK.
11. How much I miss London.
12. Celtic Manor was perfectly design for the Ryder Cup. Awesome place.
13. How nerve racking it is to be away from my team waiting to hear how they played.
14. The VAT is going up to 20 percent soon. WOW!!
15. Most importantly, how proud your players make you when they are presenting their country. There is no bigger honor.
I remember the pride when I saw Dustin hit his first shot at the Walker Cup back in 2007. I remember being there with David Winkle, DJ's eventual agent. Ironically, David and I shared this moment together again as we sat beside each other at the opening ceremonies. It was an emotional moment for the both of us. We both know all the work that has been done behind the scenes since the Walker Cup. We have both seen the enormous growth in Dustin as a golfer and person. I know more now than ever you become emotional when the people you love reach the top.
I am so proud of Dustin. I know he is already telling himself how he will never lose again. That is why he is so special. He may get knocked down but he will get up and win the next round. I will never forget watching Dustin wearing the American flag. I can not wait until 2012 at Medinah to see Dustin help the US regain the Cup.
We are proud of you DJ and the US team. Let's get it back in Chicago in 2 years.
That is what Dustin has taught us all. You pick yourself and keep moving forward. As DJ and I always discuss, it's not how hard you can hit, but how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.
Dustin has shown to the world he is a man who puts the past behind him and moves forward to success. We love you Dustin.
-Allen
