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It's a Bad Herr day for some as Langer makes surprise 12th man pick!

August 28, 2004; Source: AnyoneForTee World Exclusive
Ryder Cup wild card shock as Langer opts for Monty - paired with Sports Pyschologist!

By our Sports Psychology correspondent, Prof. Honour Couch

MUNICH. European Ryder Cup Captain Bernhard Langer will spring a huge surprise tomorrow evening after the BMW Invitational Open in Munich when he announces his Captain's picks for the 35th Ryder Cup, to be held at the Oakland Hills Country Club in Detroit on September 14-19, Anyone For Tee has exclusively learned.

As expected, the German non-playing captain has opted for Ryder Cup veteran Colin Montgomerie as one of his choices, to the unashamed delight of the 7-time European no. 1 (left). But his other option has rocked the European game – and an already wobbly Monty (right).

Instead of choosing one of Europe's leading stars such as Germany's Alex Cejka, England's Luke Donald and Sweden's Fredrik Jacobson, Langer has opted for famous Belgian sports psychologist Jos Vanstiphout – and will pair him with Monty throughout the event.

Vanstiphout (left) – not to be confused with Monty's major nickname of 'Puttslipout' – is one of the game's most prominent motivational experts. He is reputed to use techniques with his clients that help them face their weaknesses and improve their strength for the most difficult situations. He was widely credited, for example, with Retief Goosen's victory in the 2001 US Open – though it was a pity that he was advising Ernie Els at the time.

His clients have included Irishman Padraig Harrington, Kiwi Michael Campbell, Dutchman Maarten Lafeber and Craig Stadler. Vanstiphout's controversial motivational approach of offering the veteran Stadler a Big Mac with large fries for every birdie at this year's Bank of America Championship paid off as 'the Walrus' stormed to a sensational victory with a final round 8-burger 64, before his equally dramatic disqualification for being unable to fit into the scorer's hut.

But that controversy will pale alongside the Belgian's selection for the European Ryder Cup squad – and his pre-nominated pairing with Monty. Vanstiphout is a 28 handicapper at the Van Dyke Country Club in Flanders, a water-laden course where cries of "Dam!" can be heard after every shot. As such, he seems certain to struggle against a star-studded US team, including household names such as Tiger Woods, Phil Mickleson and Davis Love III.

[Flemish painter Sir Anthony Van Dyck (1599-1641) is of course credited with popularising the belly-putter in the 17th century with his famous portraits of well-known yippers of the period, including King Charles I of England. The belly-putter then disappeared from the scene, along with some of the crowned heads - and in particular Charles I's - who used it, until its recent rehabilitation in the hands of leading professionals such as Bernhard Langer and Colin Mongomerie. See below - Ed]

The belly-putter through the ages.
From left to right: Guglielmo II and Charles I, Bernhard Langer and Colin Montgomerie

But Langer says that Vanstiphout's mental awareness and ability to probe the opposition's minds will compensate any weaknesses in his all-round game. "He may be a psychologist but he von't shrink from ze challenge," laughed Langer. More importantly, the European skipper added, he will keep Monty from self-combusting by psycho-analyzing him between shots.

The plan is to pair Monty and Vanstiphout in both the foursomes and fourballs on days one and two, then pit the Dutchman against whoever is considered the USA's psychologically weakest player in the singles, when mind games becomes as important as the real thing.

In the fourballs (where each member of the two-man teams play their own ball), Vanstiphout will deliberately play to his 28 handicap, in an overtly manipulative effort to make Monty feel good about himself and make the Scotsman feel as if the fate of the Ryder Cup is on his shoulders.

Super-charged (right) by the sense of responsibility of carrying a 28 handicapper - "It could have been worse," said Langer, "Seve is still trying to get a game and he can't play to 36!" - Monty will play to his Ryder Cup best and leave the Americans shattered after a 10 and 8 loss. Or so Langer's theory goes.

Asked if Vanstiphout's weekend duffer standards would struggle against, say, Mickleson at the top of his game, if Monty is not at the top of his, Langer replied, "Nein... maybe an occasional eight und several neins... zat should be enough to put Mickelson off his game and for Vanstiphout to vin ze odd hole. Phil vill feel very odd indeed playing against ze duffer..."

After intensive lunchtime psycho-analysis ("I want you to let go of all the anger you feel inside when you hear the word 'Major' Colin..."), Monty and Vanstiphout will then face the trickier task of the foursomes – when each player has to play alternate shots.

How will a sports psychologist cope with such pressure, Anyone For Tee asked? "I vouldn't couch it like zat," said Langer, "ze question is how vill ze oppozition cope? Vanstiphout vill play vithin himzelf, keeping it on ze fairway – admittedly not a fair way from vere he hit it - and again bring out ze best in Monty. Anyvay Vanstiphout has a great short game - in fact I think he's one of the shortest hitters I've ever seen. And around the greens he's amazing, especially since he sorted out that chip on his shoulder."

Langer said he was confident Vanstiphout (left) could also pull off a major upset in the singles – whoever he was paired against. "Sink about it, ze Americans vill vish Vanstiphout good luck on ze first tee and our man vill reply by asking him vot he really sought of his farter. By ze zecond tee he'll be sinking a lot about zat qvestion, by ze turn he'll be in denial and on ze back stretch he vill be in tears!"

Vanstiphout said he personally welcomed the challenge. Casting an eye over the US line-up he highlighted some of their potential weaknesses. "Names like Fred 'In a Blue' Funk and Stewart 'Can't Swim' Cink resonate with failure," he said. "Jim Furyk has obvious inner fury and anyone called 'Swinging' Chad in America is clearly deeply loathed. Tiger's lost his roar and will want to explore the reasons why that's happened and Davis Love III must deep down be wondering why he had to be raised with someone else's name instead of having one of his own like the other kids. I'll have my mobile couch in my bag instead of a five-iron and before you know it, they'll be coming up short on everything

in their life, including their putting. I practised a little on John Daly before the USPGA (right) - John really wanted to make the US team, and we didn't want him against us. I asked him how he'd feel if the US won and he couldn't have any victory champagne, now he's on the wagon. Look what happened! He shot 81 - 76, missed the cut, and didn't make the team."

But Monty himself was not so convinced. "I'd rather play with myself," he said, before rapidly clarifying his meaning. "It sends out all the wrong signals to the Americans and suggests I'm some sort of basket case, whereas everyone knows I wouldn't even fit into a Harrod's hamper. I know people say I could do with a little shrinking but this is taking it too far!"

Monty said he needed no help to overcome the famed hostility of the American crowds, typified by the infamous 'Mrs Doubtfire' jibes. "I've got over that now," he said. "OK, I still feel I would have been better in the role, but Robin Williams did alright."

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