Ryder Cup: A Rivarly to Last the Ages
Among the many golf tournaments and competitions, there is one that stands unique. Indeed even in any other sport you’d be hard pressed to find a tournament such as this. Despite bringing in millions of dollars in sponsorships and TV-rights, there is no winning
purse. The competitors compete purely for the joy of victory and national pride. The prize is the Ryder Cup.
The biennial golf tournament pits European golfers against their American counterparts, with the venue alternating between courses in the States and Europe. Although unofficially Ryder Cup matches have been taking place since 1921 the first official Ryder Cup
match was held in 1927 at the Worcester Country Club in Worcester, Mass.
The man behind the cup was the seed merchant Samuel Ryder, who, having watched a match between American and British teams similar to Ryder Cup matches today - thought it would be a good idea to make the idea official and donated the trophy which now bears his
name.
Ryder himself was a fascinating man. By the age of 50, when most professional golfers are way past their prime, he had no previous exposure to golf. To get started he hired a professional Abe Mitchell to tutor him in golf and soon was captaining the Verulam
Golf Club in St Albans.
In the first official tournament the American team was led by Walter Hagens and the Britons by Ted Ray, with the Americans coming out on top 9 ½ to 2 ½.
The format of the Ryder Cup has changed several times over the years. Initially (and till 1961) the tournament lasted 2 days. On the first day 4 foursome matches were played (each match was 36 holes in length). A foursome pitted two teams of two players against
each other; in a team each player would alternate between taking the shots. This was followed by 8 single matches on the second day. Hence a total of 12 points were at stake.
From 1981 onwards till today the tournament was expanded to take place over three days. On the first and second days 4 foursomes and 4 fourballs are played (in a fourball, two teams of two individuals play their own balls throughout, and the low score between
the two partners in a team is that team’s score). On the third day 12 single matches are played consecutively. The length of each match was shortened to 18 holes. A total of 28 points were up for grabs, with 14 ½ required for a team to win.
At the start Ryder Cup matches were contested between natives from the United States and natives of the Great Britain (this was later changed to people who held either of the nationalities). The matches were hotly contested initially, but after World War
II the United States dominated the tournament and results were often lopsided. To remedy the situation Jack Nicklaus spearheaded an effort to increase the competitiveness of the game. After discussions between the PGA of America and PGA of Great Britain it
was decided that from 1979 onwards Ryder Cup matches would take place between American and the whole of Europe.
Among the reasons for this change was also the emergence of several excellent Spanish golfers at the time. In 1979 Antonio Garrido and Seve Bellesteros, both Spainiards, became the first European players, outside of UK, to play in the tournament. Within a decade
of the change the matches became fiercely contested again, and as a result the tournament grew more popular as well. Since the change Europe has won the Ryder Cup 8 times against 7 American wins and 1 tie between them.
As the prestige of the Cup increased so did the passion of the players. The competitiveness of the game, and tight finishes often meant the matches were mired by gamesmanship and animosity between the players. This has led to some of the matches being marred
by controversy; instead of decreasing the appeal and draw of the game, however, it has only increased it-by intensifying the desire to win in the teams.
This year the Ryder Cup matches were held in Wales, from October 1st through the 4th. Despite leading the first two sessions 6-4, Team Europe made a strong comeback in session 3 to lead the score 9 ½ to 6 ½. In the final session the Americans
staged a spirited fight to close the gap, but eventually fell short of the Europeans by just 1 point to lose 14 ½ to 13 ½ .
Pitting the best players from around the world against each other, playing solely for the spirit of the game, Ryder Cup matches have begun to epitomize what golf is all about. Marked with nationalist fervor, superlative competition, and all round good sportsmanship,
it is indeed a rivalry to last the ages.
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