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Golf fans across the world are gearing up for one of the most exciting tournaments of the year: the Ryder Cup.
Throughout the professional golfing season, fans are accustomed to pulling for their favorite players. It may be because of a fun interaction they had with the golfer, an electric moment from their career, or their overall game; everyone has their own golfers that they cheer for.
The Ryder Cup is different from this, however. You don’t choose who to cheer for—you're born into it. For one weekend, you could be praying that your favorite player misses a birdie putt and cheering for your least favorite player to drive the green. This is because, in the Ryder Cup, there is a different type of loyalty: loyalty to your country.
Unlike almost every other professional golf event, the Ryder Cup is not an individual competition. Instead, players are split into two teams: Europe and USA. Captains are chosen by a committee, and it is then up to the captains to select the golfers who will compete for their teams. This year, the American captain was Keegan Bradley, and the European captain was Luke Donald. Throughout the year, golfers are awarded points based on where they finished in tournaments, with some tournaments counting for more points than others. The top six golfers for both Europe and US are automatically selected to be on the team. Then, the remaining six golfers on each team are selected by the captain.
This year, Keegan Bradley, the American captain, had a chance to make history. His strong season on the PGA tour put him within the top twelve American point earners, so he had a strong case to select himself to play, making him the first playing captain since Arnold Palmer in 1963. However, rather controversially, Bradley decided to leave himself off the team. This came as a surprise to many fans, especially considering that two years ago, the last Ryder Cup, he was infamously left off the team by captain Zach Johnson. Bradley, however, made the right decision; he knows better than almost anyone how it feels to be left off the team. Additionally, if he decided to be playing captain, it would’ve added more needless drama and controversy that the US team does not need to deal with. The Americans are feeling pressure this tournament after getting embarrassed in Rome two years ago. Bradley playing would’ve only increased the pressure, stress, and outside noise.
This year, the tournament returns to the States and will be held at Bethpage Black in New York. While the Europeans are highly favored, American fans will still show up, stronger than ever, to cheer on their team.
The game of golf itself has risen greatly in popularity recently, especially with the younger generation. This year's Ryder Cup could bring that popularity to a peak. Everything is shaping up for it to be legendary: it will be hosted in the US, the Americans are the underdogs, and a close match could bring levels of energy and excitement to the sport never before seen.
What makes the tournament so exciting is its other unique aspect. Not only is it a team competition, but it is a match-play format, meaning golfers face off head-to-head in matches each day. There are 28 matches total, each match is worth one point, and if a match is tied, each team gets half a point. The first team to 14.5 points wins the Ryder Cup. If the tournament ends in a 14-14 tie, the previous winner takes the cup home. This match play format adds even more excitement to the tournament. It brings an “I win, you lose” mentality that is never seen in golf anywhere else.
With all that being said, this weekend will be one of the most exciting of the year for a golf fan. If you’re just getting into professional golf—or if you are feeling like cheering on your nation this weekend—I strongly encourage you to put the Ryder Cup on the TV and witness the emotion for yourself.
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