Graeme McDowall suggested that due to fatigue Ryder Cup matches should be held every three years. Panic erupted amongst European and most American fans… Three years would surely be too long to wait for an event that far exceeds the standard excitement for a golf tournament. How did this sporting fixture develop to such a cauldron of tension, nerve and passion. Other team golf events are merely an afterthought for the money centric golf pro. But the Ryder Cup, where no direct prize money is awarded (sponsorship opportunities are likely if you do a ‘Poulter’), brings these homogenised pros to tears and touches a nerve that this most individualistic of sports rarely touches. Here are five reasons why the Ryder Cup can claim to be golf’s premier event.
1. Let’s start with a factor that can only occur through years of experiences and mystique. Yes the Ryder Cup History. Most viewers and probably many golf pros have forgotten who Samuel Ryder was or anything that he achieved in his life but he bequeathed a cross Atlantic tournament - that’s all you need to know. And funnily even though the matches have been played since 1927, it is only really since 1985 that the matches have generated any true level of excitement. The famous 1969 match and Nicklaus concession was the exception. Most matches prior to 1983 were one sided with Great Britain then expanded to Europe being second class golf citizens to the US golf aristos. But since these upstarts turned the tables on their supposed superiors the battle has flared up. At first this was a win for the European underdog aided by their golden generation of the late 1980s. USA fought back proving that once they played less as individuals they could be not too shabby. Since then it has developed into a cross Atlantic passion fest with the obligatory fist clenched salutes and spectator songs - U-S-A vs Ole Ole Ole. This ‘history’ is filled with anecdotes of personal triumph and tragedy. The rotation of new venues and captains adds to this dynamic. Each match has had its own momentum, its own critical turning points (missed putts / holed putts, i.e. to do a “Poulter” - five birdies in a row to turn the match on its head) and its own coup de grace with one, often unlikely, player holing the winning putt. Most golf fans would struggle to remember past majors from years past, but past Ryder Cups have their own fables. Built up over the years, the ‘history’ is what makes this the event it is.
2. Ok another obvious reason here. Sports can be clearly divided into team and individual formats. Some individual sports have their team events like athletics relays and cycling, to an extent. But golf doesn’t do it much. For golfers outside US and Europe the opportunities are thin. Travelling round the globe in expensive soulless hotels, hours on the practice range, leads to a reclusiveness for the modern pro. The Ryder Cup is the perfect chance to forget this isolation and hang out with your mates. That is certainly how the Europeans have approached it since the 1980s. Having that camaraderie has extracted several extra putts and long drives out of the Europeans. It has helped players who are out of form. It has shared the responsibility when the matches have turned towards the other team. When Bernard Langer missed the crucial putt in 1991, he was clearly the player who ‘lost’ the cup, but surely that was also any of his team mates who failed earlier to get extra half points themselves, that would have won it as well. For the Americans the sense of team is less openly displayed. Nobody could say that the ‘team’s of 1991 and 1999 were not passionate groups. But these wins were mainly built on their patriotism and great play. The trend up until recently was for the Americans to be stronger in the singles. Their individualism being superior to Europeans collectivism. A bit of a cliche yes, but the matches of the 1990s saw regular singles wins for USA. Since then as Europeans players have travelled wider and had notable recent successes in US majors, as well as many players in the world top 10, the individual strengths of Europeans has grown. Europe have won the singles in 5 of the last 6 matches.
3. My third reason is going to probably bore the non-golf fan here. It is the matchplay format. Played less so on the tour. It creates a different dynamic for the matches than strokeplay. The intention is to win holes. So players literally go-for-it on many shots, not playing percentages. Why worry about getting a bogey, just go for an eagle. Don’t ever leave a putt short. Bravery is often rewarded. The slow grind of a tournament means that a cautionary approach can make a difference after 4 days. But if you are only playing two matches in a Ryder cup why hold back. The four ball format also enhances this. If my partner is safely on the green, then that gives me more scope to go for the pin. The foursomes format of alternate shots is an interesting escape from regular golf as it denies a player his natural rhythm. Tiger Woods has struggled in this format. The ultimate golf individual, this format must have made him tear his hair out. Coping with a partner who leaves you in trouble would fracture his control freakery. Playing this alien format, brings the best and worst out of the players.
4. After that technical interlude, lets return to the visceral. Passion has to be considered a major factor in the Ryder Cup’s appeal. We’ve mentioned the homogenised prosaic golf pro before, but the cup unleashes air pumping, grimaces and tears like no other golf event, and not even like most sporting events for that matter. Tony Jacklin and Sam Torrance flooded the Belfry in 1985 and did so in further wins as captains. Mark Calcivecchia was disconsolate after halving with Montgomerie when 4 up with 4 to play in 1991. So much so that he was still looking miserable when they actually won. Notable ice-man Faldo broke down in 1995, although Seve’s tears set everyone off. And don’t mention Olazabal in 2012 who was quivering (justifiably of course) after victory. It means so much to these players. The passion exceeds sportsmanship in 1991, but tension plus passion equals great sport.
5. Tension cannot exist in a vacuum and is the product of sporting environment. A source of this sporting tension is from the matches often being razor edge close. The matches of 1989, 1991, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2010 and 2012 were all decided by a point or less. When it goes to the wire, every shot seems crucial. Players know this from day one. Careless early losses could prove critical on Sunday. And this tension manifests itself in alarming ways. The 18th at the Belfry with water on drive and approach proved fatal for many players in 1989. Short putts have been missed by many great players. Whilst the Europeans played superbly on Medinah’s last day in 2012, the Americans quite honestly did choke as well.
