The Ryder Cup is one of the rare events in all of sports, where passionate patriotism meets the highest level of sportsmanship. And that’s just part of why I love the battle of USA against Europe.
It’s Ryder Cup week!
One could argue, and I have, that the Ryder Cup is more exciting than any of the majors. One of the reasons is that it’s one of the rare opportunities where participants in an individual sport get to compete on a team. Even better, it aligns those players against each other based on political boundaries, heightening the emotional stakes.
Sure, tennis has the Davis Cup. Last year France beat Belgium. Excuse me while I slide back from the edge of my seat. The year before, Argentina beat Croatia.
Croatia. Yeah, it wasn’t exactly an international slobber-knocker that hypnotized the sporting world.
And of course, we have the Olympics. Is cornhole an Olympic event yet? What about origami? Is there any human activity that the Olympics haven’t co-opted to boost their sagging ratings?
I grew up during the Cold War. Now, that was a time to watch the Olympics. The ‘Miracle on Ice’ still ranks as one of the greatest sports moments of my lifetime. It was so much bigger than a simple hockey game.
Now the Olympics feels like watching a 27-part Ken Burns documentary with promotional consideration provided by Mountain Dew. It’s a 4-week sugary sweet mixture of puff pieces and GoPro videos. Like Mountain Dew, it stays with you for about 20 minutes before it exits your mind and body.
Sorry, I had to get that off my chest.
The Ryder Cup! Ah yes, now we’re talking!
The U.S. versus the European Union. England was getting their asses kicked so badly they had to enlist the rest of Europe to stem the tide. And, indeed, they did. Since the European team broadened they have actually taken the upper hand. It’s now a proper battle of equals.
And that’s why we love it. The conclusion isn’t foregone. Sure, on paper the U.S. looks like a shoe-in (is anyone terrified of Thorbjorn Olsen?), but history has shown that rarely makes a difference.
Perhaps we like it most of all because the Ryder Cup is one of those increasingly rare events where we as a nation set down our politics and root for the same team. It almost never happens anymore. It’s also one of the last places on earth where it’s acceptable – nay, encouraged – to chant “USA! USA! USA!”
I like that. I love my country. I love my team. And the Ryder Cup is one of the few places I feel comfortable expressing my unabashed patriotism. That’s sad.
The Cup has only been canceled twice – 1939, as Europe was plunged into war and September 11, 2001, just a couple of weeks before the match was scheduled.
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It seems fitting this battle of forged iron and wits is only postponed when an actual battle is afoot. In between, we play a gentleman’s game as war by proxy. Shots are fired, to be sure, but they are booming drives, piercing irons, delicate chips, and feathery putts. I think we all agree it’s a better way to settle the bragging rights.
Best of all, it ends with handshakes, smiles (mostly) and an agreement to do it all again in two years. It reflects the best of the human fighting spirit: grit, passion, and pride. And that’s why the Ryder Cup resonates beyond the hallowed halls of golf. It is a reflection of what we all wish the world could (and perhaps still can) be. A place where competition – emotional, hard-fought, gut-wrenching competition – is respected and settled; never tainting all the other aspects of our lives.
I, of course, am bullish on the American team this year. Tiger is back, Brooks is having a historic year, Dustin is a beast, Thomas, Spieth, Mickelson, and on and on. Not a weak link among them unless Tony Finau decides to skip and jump down the first fairway.
This year the cup is being contested at Le Golf National in France; a Ryder Cup first. It’s a course that looks like it jumped out of the screen from Le Golden Tee. There is water everywhere. There’s even an island green.
Driving will be a premium. The Euros might have an advantage as it may nullify the Americans long game. It’s also been 25 years since we won on European soil.
But let’s be honest, America is undefeated in wars contested in France. That’s right. I went there. And you’re welcome, France.
USA! USA! USA!
Follow all our Ryder Cup coverage here throughout the week.