I’m sure if you’re actually taking the time to read a golf article, you know what the Ryder Cup is, so I don’t have to explain the basics: that it’s a team tournament where the best golfers from the U.S. take on the best golfers from Europe in a series of matches that are played under different systems: some fourball matches, some singles matches and some foursomes matches. A win in any match gets your team a point and whichever team reaches 14.5 points first wins.
So now that I’ve explained what I said I didn’t have to, let’s talk about this year’s event a little.
The 2018 Ryder Cup takes place on the Albatross Course of Le Golf National just outside of Paris, France. It’s only the second Ryder Cup ever held on continental Europe, the last of which was held in Spain in 1997.
Maybe I’m weird, because the last day is easily the most exciting, when the teams are approaching the finish line, but day 1 is always my favourite day of the tournament.
I love watching the strategy the pairs employ during the foursome matches. Foursome, if you’re unfamiliar, is also known as “alternate shot.” The dynamic between the players is most important during this round, I think, because the other guy is playing whatever you leave him with, so you’re not only playing your game, you’re also playing his.
The pairs haven’t been announced as of the writing of this piece, but there are sure to be some beauty matches in this year’s event. Some of the most entertaining players in the world are on this year’s squads – I would pick out Rory McIlroy, Ian Poulter and Henrik Stenson on the European side and Jordan Spieth, Patrick Reed and Phil Mickelson on the U.S. side – so there’s going to be some serious energy out there.
Not like that’s ever a problem for the Ryder Cup. Despite the players not being paid – no matter the outcome – ask any one of them and they’re likely to tell you they care more about what happens this weekend than any other week on tour.
And the crowd at Le Golf National will certainly feel the same way. The Ryder Cup is always one heck of a party.
For what it’s worth, I’ll take the Americans this weekend, but we’ll see how it goes. I’ll love it either way.
CONTEST TIME
Last week I asked for you to send me the dumbest rules in golf to get in the contest.
I had “grounding your club in the bunker is a penalty” in my mind when I wrote the question, and a few of you submitted that as your answer, as well. I got one “you must play your ball from a divot if that’s where it comes to rest,” and a couple of “stroke and distance for a lost ball is too severe.”
Then Lorraine Nissen emailed me to point out that if you hit another player with your ball, there’s no penalty, but if you hit yourself with your ball, it’s two strokes. She was absolutely winning until Erin Munsie chimed in with her answer.
Did you know that if the clubhead falls off during your downswing and you miss the ball, it counts as a stroke but if it falls off during your backswing and you miss the ball, it doesn’t?
How many clubheads are falling off out there that they needed to make this rule?
Congratulations, Erin. I’ve got a bunch of golf passes waiting for you at the Mirror office.
This week, in celebration of the Ryder Cup, I just want you to tell me what your favourite event or tournament is to watch. That’s it. I’ll draw a name from everyone who enters by emailing me at miked@campbellrivermirror.com by next Friday, Oct. 5 at 4 p.m.