VMLIFE

 

Although only held biennially there are very few bigger sporting events than the Ryder Cup. Taking place at Hazeltine National in Minnesota in the US, and with no money to play, it’s all about pride and bragging rights as Team Europe aims to retain the trophy for the fourth time in a row.

In what is the normally relaxed, gentlemanly, and predominantly quiet sport of Golf there is one exception, and that is the Ryder Cup. For a sport where usually the vast majority of supporters have no real favourites, and turn up to just watch the sport itself, for the Ryder Cup it seems almost everyone is supporting one of the teams.

It also seems to bring out the best in both sets of players. Classics of recent years include the ‘War On The Shore’, the ‘Battle Of Brookline’ (both of which were won by the US, but not without controversy), and most recently the ‘Miracle / Meltdown (whichever way you look at it) at Medinah, where on home soil in Illinois the European team were at one point 10-4 behind, only to come back and win the Cup 14 ½ to 13 1/2 .
That win in 2012 was the second of three consecutive wins by the European team, with the most recent victory being a 16 ½ - 11 ½ triumph at Gleneagles in Scotland in 2014.

After that comprehensive defeat a ‘Task Force’ was set up to tackle what was seen as a failing in American golf. Well respected former captain Davis Love III was brought back as captain, and he quickly installed a fresh new look to his assistants in the form of Tiger Woods, Jim Furyk, Steve Stricker, and Tom Lehman who have a wealth of experience between them.

The European committee selected the hugely popular Northern Irish player Darren Clarke as their captain, who won the Cup 5 times as a player between ’97 and ’06. He in turn selected Thomas Bjorn, Padraig Harrington, Paul Lawrie, Ian Poulter, and former winning captain Sam Torrence as his assistants, who have 24 Ryder Cup tournaments between them.

 

With one player still to be picked by the Americans there are a quite a few surprises in both teams.
Firstly the surprise was that after all of the talk of new blood, and fresh beginnings for the US Team, the announced team only actually has one ‘rookie’ in it making his debut – that being Brooks Koepka – and that is due to being an automatic inclusion for being ranked the sixth best American of the last year (that’s not to say he wouldn’t have been picked anyway).
When questioned about this Love pointed to the fact that he has the most experience Team, but this has been countered with how valuable is this as the experience and knowledge accrued has largely been in defeat?
In contrast to that Clarke’s European Team includes six players making their debuts – those being Danny Willett, Chris Wood, Rafael Cabrera-Bello, Andy Sullivan, Matthew Fitzpatrick, and Thomas Pieters – although there is still experience in the team in the form of Sergio Garcia, and Lee Westwood who have 16 Ryder Cup tournaments between them.

As always the format of the tournament will be the same:
The first two days consist of eight matches; four foursomes and four fourball matches. The final day sees all 12 members of each team competing in singles matches.
A foursomes match is contested with two members from each team playing alternate shots. A fourball match consists of two players from either team, who each play their own shot throughout the round. The player that completes the hole in the lowest number of shots wins the hole. Singles matches are also played, with players from each team contesting a one-on-one match. The winner of each match scores a point for their team, if a match is tied after 18 holes then each team is awarded a ½ point.

The magic number both teams will be looking at is 14 ½ points, as that is what is needed to be achieved to win the cup, although Europe as the reigning holders will retain if the score ends 14-14.

 

The US Team

Team Captain: David Love III

 

The European Team

Team Captain: Darren Clarke

For more information please head on over to the rydercup.com

Tweet