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I think Ian Palter is the greatest match play player of all time. And I know that is a quite an out thing to say, but it’s it’s because he far exceeded what he was able to do in stroke play when he was playing match play. He has played on 11 teams and only been on the losing team twice, 16 RDER Cup points, um 13 wins on the European and PGA Tour combines and two of those were in match play events and two of those were in playoffs. Yeah. And Fergus, you and I both went to the RDER Cup at Valhalla in 2008. And there was a a Saturday evening match where we were on the ropes and he manages to ek out a point or half a point. can’t remember exactly how it unfolded, but I remember him making a putt on the last green and it was like a sign of something that was to come later on when he did what he did at Madina, which I maintain is one of the great individual performances I’ve ever seen. What he did at Madina single-handedly pulling that whole team through and giving them half a chance on that Sunday and then delivering his final his point. It was five straight birdies to finish with when we were dead and buried. And so it was like trying to wrestle the momentum back from the opposition which is as we all know in match play is just so hard to do. And he was playing alongside Rory and Rory was looking effectively like a sort of glorified caddy at that last bit which is an extraordinary thing to say. He was world number one at that point but he was sort of on the sidelines just cheering Palter on and and even though it’s team team play even though it’s match play I think that’s one of the great individual performances I’ve ever seen. And as I say, Ian Palter’s individual career very, very good, really, you know, a really solid career, but not in the upper echelons, not amongst the greats that we often talk about on this podcast. But as far as match play goes, he is great. And that’s why I think because of the disparity between the two that he could be considered as the greatest match play player of all
4 Comments
Sevriano Ballesteros
I totally agree. Matchplay heroes are a different breed. Australian Nick O’Hern beat Tiger twice in matchplay, had a goodstroke play career, but excelled in matchplay.
What poulter did at medinah was incredible but its often overlooked at what Donald and garcia did in the match before. They'd been a couple up coming down the stretch and tiger mounted a come back with 3 to play. Tiger and striker both hit it close on the par 3 17th (I think) and Donald hit it inside them both which sealed the point. Was incredible golf.
Totally agree that IP has demonstrated his match play is unmatched. As an American who enjoys the Ryder Cup, Ian is one of the players you love to hate as the adversary. However, total respect for how he plays in these cup matches. By far the best.