Many people have tried to label Phil Mickleson as the next Bryson Craske for years and it may well be that 2023 was the year that Big Phil finally emulated one of the world of golf's most larger than life characters. 

Coming to Stratford as the vocal representation of a small, highly motivated, well financially supported and competitive group of golfers (Bryson playing Phil to Els's Greg Norman) the LIV golfers took the game to establishment and created one of the biggest upsets in recent golfing history. Not even Tim "Rory McIlroy" Coller could hold back the tide and in the end the inexorable advance of a new way of playing golf had taken hold. 

With new financing came a new course and the first rounds took place at the Welcome's less welcoming neighbour, The Stratford Park Hotel and Golf Club. With the country's most expensive golf buggies and a temporary format (the previously unknown and probably never to be used again Redyr Cup Scramble rules) the teams gave battle. 

Reds went 3-1 down after the first round despite an Ian Dougall Eagle on the first as Bryson beat Dougs 8&7, Ells beat Jack 5&4 and Guy beat TC 4&3. Only Tim and Hods managed to squeeze a point out by defeating the previously unbeatable Cino and Bill 5&3

The Boat Race was close and even Bryson handed over a lead to this next man but all was in vein as the engine room at the rear of Team Red drove them home.

3-2 at close of play on Friday.

Saturday returned us to the current home of Redyr Cup golf but neither Tim and Dougs or Hods and Jack could conjour up wins from their games. Only TC held his head high with a halved game v Bill

5 1/2 plays 2 1/2 with the singles to come. 

Els abrigated responsibility as he had to race home for a birthday party for someone he had once met in Waitrose's friends's sister's mortgage broker's birthday. But Ells was gone and unfortunately his golf had left at lunchtime losing 7&6 to Hods. In the same group Dougs took down the new club Bandito, Bryson, by one hole going down 18 - a match for the ages. Otherwise Guy beat Jack (3&2), Cino beat TC and Tim beat Bill...... Hold on Tim beat Bill right? That game of certainly, that game of "I'll give him as many shots as he wants", that game. THAT game.  I'll let Bill tell the tale although I'm sure he'll be too modest to regail anyone......

Final score

Team Els (Blues) bt Team Dougs (Reds) 8 1/2 to 4 1/2

Redyr Cup Scramble - Blues lead 3-0

Bryson bt Dougs 8&7; Ells bt Jack 5&4 and Guy bt TC 4&3

Fourballs Blues lead 3-1

Tim and Hods beat Cino and Bill 5&3

Boat race - Reds defeated Blues - Blues lead 3-2

Foursomes Blues lead 5 1/2 - 2 1/2

Cino and Bryson beat Dougs and Tim

Els and Guy bt Hods and Jack

TC halved with Bill

Singles Blues win 8 1/2 - 4 1/2

Guy bt Jack 3&2

Bryson lost to Dougs 1 up

Els lost to Hods 7&6

Cino bt TC

Bill bt Tim 5up