Rosie Jones takes notes after watching rainy Ryder Cup in Wales
During the Ryder Cup contested earlier this month in Wales, rain was an issue. Not only was it the cause of numerous weather delays but it also produced a mild controversy regarding the
quality of the U.S. team’s rain gear. On the rainy first day of competition, U.S. officials were forced to purchase new rain gear from the pro shop for their players once it became clear their existing gear wasn’t satisfactory.
At least one person who watched the whole thing unfold was Rosie Jones, set to captain the U.S. team at the 2011 Solheim Cup, the women’s equivalent of the Ryder Cup, next September in
Ireland. With some rainy days almost a certainty for the three-day event, Jones made sure right away that her team wouldn’t suffer through the same equipment malfunction.
“Well, there was an exchange of e-mails right away with the LPGA about our rain suits and an assurance that wouldn’t be happening with us,” she said.
The rain suits for the U.S. women’s team are being made in Montreal, Canada by a company called Sun Ice. Jones said she personally paid a visit to the Canadian city to make sure her players
will be kept dry.
“I was assured about our rain suits right away, as this was unwinding Friday at the Ryder Cup,” she said. “The first person I got an e-mail from was a contact at Sun Ice, assuring us our
outfits are going to be great, that they’ll work and that they’re going to be tested and re-tested.”
The Ryder Cup was forced to revamp its format after numerous rain delays made it impossible to complete all the sessions on time. Organizers ended up combining the third and fourth sessions
into one mixed session of foursome and four ball matches. While the event was scheduled to finish on the Sunday, the singles session was pushed back to a Monday finish. Jones, knowing she and her team could face some similar weather conditions, was watching
intently.
“Watching them have to change their line-ups and put foursomes and four balls together to get everybody on the course at the same time, it was a wake-up call for me,” she said. “It was
a wake-up call knowing the same situation could happen to me in Ireland with rain. I need to be ready for anything. That was a big deal, knowing we were going to be over in possibly the same weather conditions, and that anything could happen and we have to
be ready.”
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