Columnist Ron Kantoski: After Ryder roar, all quiet for Parnevik at TPC

Ron Kantoski

Thursday, Oct. 10, 2002 | 10:11 a.m.

Ron Kantowski's insider notes column appears Tuesday and his Page One column appears Thursday. He can be reached at ron@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4088.

Less than two weeks ago, Jesper Parnevik played head up against Tiger Woods with virtually the entire world watching.

On Wednesday, Parnevik played with a couple of hardware salesman from Iowa in front of a gallery that at one time was comprised of two overweight guys with their shirts unbuttoned way too far.

Welcome to the diverse world of professional golf.

Just 10 days removed from helping the upstart European team win back the Ryder Cup at the De Vere Belfry in England, the colorful Swede with the turned-up cap brim joined four amateur partners for a round of golf at TPC Summerlin that had about as much intensity as a Steven Wright monologue.

"There was one person doing this," Parnevik said, clapping his hands like a seal after shooting 2-under-par 70 in the first round of the Invensys Classic on a day more perfect than Nadia Comaneche on the balance beam.

"It was little bit louder at the Ryder Cup."

Indeed it was. There was electricity at the Ryder Cup. At the TPC, the only buzz I felt came from the cell phones of investment bankers mixing a little business with pleasure.

If you're going out to the links this weekend, don't fret. There's a lot of golf yet to be played and by the weekend, much of it should be exciting.

Will it be as exciting as Europe's 15 1/2 to 12 1/2 victory over the U.S. in the 34th showdown for Sam Ryder's Cup? Well, unless that Cheetahs dancer depicted on the mobile billboard just outside the clubhouse gates wanders onto the 18th green Sunday without her wood covers, probably not.

At least, not if you speak with an accent. And I'm not talking about the guy with the Louisville drawl who approached Parnevik after his tee shot on 17 and said "Go Yurr-up."

"Attaboy, Jasper," chimed another, mispronouncing Parnevik's name.

There was a lot of that Wednesday as almost everybody in his tiny gallery -- which by 18 was still fewer than that -- congratulated Parnevik on the Euros' victory.

He exchanged pleasantries with one and all and was still smiling after turning in his scorecard despite losing a ball in the sage on No. 4, sliding a makeable birdie putt past the hole on 17 and hitting his drive between three small trees on the edge of the right fairway that led to a bogey on 18.

Again, Las Vegas seemed like such a far cry -- and not just in nautical miles -- from Sutton Coldfield. Parnevik and Woods were locked in a duel on No. 16 on final day Sunday that was every bit as tight as the overall match when Irishman Paul McGinley holed an 11-foot par putt to secure a half point against Jim Furyk, clinching the victory for Europe.

Parnevik said Woods showed little emotion, perhaps because the players were instructed to finish out their match.

"He said 'congratulations' but he still wanted to kick my ass," said Parnevik, who halved his match with Woods. "It was a little tough to focus on those last couple of holes."

The postmatch celebration was on a par with Ann-Margret (Olsson), another famous Swede, entertaining the USO troops on Bob Hope's nickel.

"We were pretty champagned out," Parnevik said. "I had arranged to fly in two entertainers from Sweden ... and we sang songs and (partied)."

"Entertainers from Sweden?" a reporter asked, perhaps envisioning a guest appearance by the Swedish Bikini Team.

Parnevik chuckled at the inference. "It wasn't what you think," he said. "They were two guys, let's put it that way."

Asked to rate the Ryder Cup victory in the context of the 14 he has had on the PGA and International tours, Parnevik said they are like comparing apples to oranges. Or a Chevy to a Volvo.

"It's hard to compare the Ryder Cup to an individual tournament because of the atmopshere. The Ryder Cup is like a World Cup soccer match or the Super Bowl. In fact, it's probably louder than the Super Bowl," said Parnevik who has been exposed to a few, in that he now makes his home in Jupiter, Fla.

He agreed that the European players probably get more jazzed for the Ryder Cup than their American counterparts but was quick to add, "You saw the fans in Boston (at Brookline in 1999). It's still very important to the Americans. But it's even more important (from a credibility standpoint) to the European tour.

"We are always so much weaker on paper."

As the underside of the bill of his cap proclaimed "Analyze That."

In truth, the message was meant to promote the sequel to "Analyze This," the movie starring Robert De Niro and Billy Crystal. But it also served as a reminder that in golf, as in most sports, anything is possible.4"It's hard to compare the Ryder Cup to an individual tournament because of the atmopshere. The Ryder Cup is like a World Cup soccer match or the Super Bowl. In fact, it's probably louder than the Super Bowl."