Sun Mountain Trying to Figure Out What Went Wrong

Sun Mountain Sports Inc., maker of the U.S. Ryder Cup golf team’s rain suits, said it was very sorry its outerwear leaked during the event.

In a statement posted on the Missoula, Montana-based company’s Facebook page, Sun Mountain owner Rick Reimers said the company will apologize to U.S. captain Corey Pavin and his wife, Lisa, at its “earliest opportunity and hope they will accept our heartfelt apology for the stress this must have caused.” Lisa Pavin selected the team’s clothing.

Many believe that the design that Lisa wanted necessitated changes to be made to the quailty of the product, and that cause the wardrobe malfunction.

Reimers said the company is still evaluating what caused its RainFlex outerwear to leak during the opening day of the event at Celtic Manor Resort in Newport, Wales. The competition ended on Monday with the European team taking the cup from the U.S. by one point.

After players complained that their pants and jackets weren’t performing well on Oct. 1, the PGA of America bought new apparel for competitors and caddies in the merchandise tent at Celtic Manor.

An embarrassment to the U.S. Ryder Cup Team, and a publicity nightmare for Sun Mountain.

ProQuip Suits European Ryder Cup Team Just Fine

I have to give it up to Monty and the Euros.  While the U.S. Ryder Cup team was looking like sponges soaking every bit of water on the course in their rain gear, the Euros were looking at home in a driving rain.

The reason, the Euros actually put some thought into choosing its rainsuits knowing the weather could and probably would be wet and miserable.

A Scottish company call ProQuip is the early star of this Ryder Cup.  ProQuip supplies the European team with its rain gear.

Richard Head, the managing director for ProQuip Ltd. in Edinburgh, Scotland, said his company has been supplying the European team since 1983, and the American team occasionally, most recently 2004.

For some reason, maybe because U.S. Captain Corey Pavin let his wife choose the wardrobe for the team, the U.S. team was wearing Sun Mountain rain gear.  That was until everybody realized it didn't work and U.S. officials headed over to fan's merchandise tent to buy Pro Quip attire for the team and caddies.

"They requested 20 suits, but I'm not sure who they were for — whether it was players or simply caddies and team officials," Head said of the American team.

U.S. player Stewart Cink emerged from the team room for a television interview wearing a tan rain suit with short sleeves.  I guess now we know who they were for.

When he was appointed captain nearly two years ago, Pavin said his wife, Lisa, would be helping him pick out the team uniforms.

"Lisa has an unlimited budget with clothing at home, so I just want to give you guys a fair warning right now about the clothing," Pavin said that day.  Great, when was the last time Lisa played 18 in the wind and rain of Scotland?

I just wish the U.S. players could get on Twitter to say how they feel about the rain gear they were originally forced to wear.  Oh, Corey Pavin blew that one too.

Not a Sunny Day at Sun Mountain Today

You think there will be some meetings in the conference rooms at Sun Mountain today?

Sun Mountain Sports of Missoula, Montana is the supplier of the rain gear that was used by the U.S. Ryder Cup team this morning in a downpour that brings back memories of Noah and an ark.  The problem is the rain gear did not repel the water causing players to wonder how this was chosen by team officials.

I'm sure that Sun Mountain makes great products, but this one didn't make the cut in Wales.

The team has abandoned the Sun Mountain gear and is going with gear bought at the merchandise tent.

Here are some postings from Sun Mountain's Facebook page that are goingto comeback to haunt them.

 Ouch... may the team with the best outerwear win.  Apparently the U.S. team doesn't have a chance.

Ryder Cup Rain Gear Leaves Team USA "All Wet"

Nice job by Corey Pavin and the leaders of the U.S. Ryder Cup team not providing proper rain gear for the players.

Reports say the gear is not 100% waterproof and gets heavy when it gets wet, which is all the time in these parts of Europe.  Conditions on Friday are awful, and play is currently suspended.

How does this happen?  Was Capt. Pavin more worried about what tweets might leak out on Twitter than getting rain gear that actually works in the rain.

Even the USA Today writer covering the event weighed in on the situation.

He's right, in addition to the gear not working, it looks awful.

Did I just hear ESPN's Mike Tirico correctly?  He said some US team members were at one of the merchandise tents buying gear for the rain? 

This will be a struggle this weekend.  Can't stand losing to "Monty".

Update on Friday, October 1, 2010 at 8:20AM by Rick C.Limpert

The U.S. team has made the decision to scrap the rain gear they had been using and now will be wearing some rain gear made by a top notch company called ProQuip that was bought onsite in the merchandise tent.  Imagine that, the spectators were wearing better rain clothes than the U.S. Players.

The original gear from Sun Mountain did not work and the players could not play in it.  The new gear will not have a U.S. logo on it, just a Ryder Cup logo, but who cares at this point. 

More updates to come.