Ryder Cup 2012: The Greatest Event in Golf

The Ryder Cup is the greatest event in golf. Sport is at its best when it is partisan; one team against another. In individual sports, spectators can support their favourite but rarely do so with the fervour with which they would support a team in a head-to-head battle. For this reason, the Ryder Cup is hotly anticipated.

The Europe-USA battle is always an intriguing one. Golf is a sport invented by the Scots and made popular by Europeans, but it was traditionally perfected by the Americans. The USA has won the fêted trophy on 25 occasions, and lost only 11 times. But in recent times, Europe has become the dominant competitor having won four of the last five events. It is ironic that the beginning of Europe’s domination of the Ryder Cup coincided with the continent’s struggles in major championships. From Paul Lawrie’s victory at the Open in 1999, no European won a major until Padraig Harrington in the Open in 2007. In that time, Europe won the Ryder Cup three times in succession, each time convincingly. Since then Europe’s fortunes in the majors as improved, but Ryder Cups performances have waned. Europe won the last event in 2010 which went down to the wire on a dramatic extra day forced by rain, after a comfortable US victory in 2008.

Europe is blessed with some of the strongest individuals. Team captain José María Olazábal has four of the world’s top five golfers at his disposal. The team boasts only one rookie, Nicolas Colsaerts from Belgium. But Europe also has only four major winners. Only one, Rory McIlroy, has won multiple major titles. Another, Paul Lawrie, won his only major at the Open Championship thirteen years ago. The American team has seven major winners, including 14-time major champion Tiger Woods and four-time champion Phil Mickleson. They also have more experienced heads. Lee Westwood, making his eighth Ryder Cup appearance, is the only European in the top four. Mickleson (9 times), Jim Furyk (8 times) and Woods (7 times) give the Americans the upper hand in this category. Also significant, the Americans’ 12 players all sit in the top 17 of the world rankings, apart from Furyk (ranked 23). After Europe’s big four, alluded to earlier, the next highest ranked player in Graeme McDowell at 18, and Europe also calls upon three players outside of the top 30.

But as always with the Ryder Cup, the venue holds the key. The USA hosts this year’s event, at the Medinah Country Club in Illinois. Europe won the Ryder Cup for the first time on American soil in only 1987. Since that date, Europe has won the Cup in America twice more, but lost the most recent American hosted event, at Valhalla in 2008. Significantly, Tiger Woods has twice won the USPGA Championship when it has been held at this course, in 1999 and 2006. Woods has of late managed to recreate the form which saw him win 14 major championships up to 2008. He has climbed back to second in the world rankings. He is likely to be a force to be reckoned with this year.

The Ryder Cup may have once been a fairly laid-back and jovial affair. But in recent years it has taken on a more partisan character, which is all the better for the spectators. This is the case both for players and fans. The rivalry between the best golfers in Europe and the USA is a real one, and neither wants to cede the upper hand in this rivalry. The fans who attend the event also have a big part to play, in supporting their team. Golf fans are rarely badly behaved, and respect the opposing team when they play their shots. But they can make up for this by getting right behind their own side, and this can be worth a lot in close match-ups. The trip to the US will be a tough one for the Europeans, and with two evenly matched teams it promises to be an exciting encounter.

Both have major winners as their captains. José María Olazábal, from Spain, has won the US Masters on two occasions, and leads the European team in the first Ryder Cup since the death of his good friend, golfing legend Seve Ballesteros. Seve was a legend of the Ryder Cup and played alongside Olazábal in four Cups. No doubt the European team will have him in mind throughout. Davis Love III, winner of the USPGA title in 1997, leads the US team. Olazábal has the upper hand in terms of Ryder Cup playing record. He has won outright 18 of 31 matches, taking 20½ points in total. He made his debut in that historic European away win in 1987, and has won four of the seven Cups he has played for. Love’s record is poorer, with nine wins from 26 matches, totalling 11½ points. The US team won the Cup twice in Love’s six appearances.

Taking a closer look at the teams, a few names jump out. The American big names have disappointing records in the Ryder Cup. Tiger Woods, Phil Mickleson and Jim Furyk have all lost more matches at Ryder Cups than they have won. In fact, none of the American team have taken more than half the maximum points they have competed for. On the other hand, Europe’s more experienced players have stronger records. Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia, who have often been paired up together which significant success, both have strong records in the Cup, winning more points than they have conceded. Garcia has won over half of his match-ups. Ian Poulter and Luke Donald have played in fewer Ryder Cups than Garcia and Westwood, but from three appearances each both have enviable records, winning eight of 11 matches apiece.

In conclusion, Europe has the upper hand in both players’ records and captains’ experience. But the American’s have a stronger record in major championships. The USA has more strength in depth, but the Europeans have a quartet from the world rankings top five and a tendency for their players to over-perform. The American’s big benefit is their status as hosts. Overall, it should be a close and entertaining affair, a must watch. I can’t wait!