Why I Love the Ryder Cup

Post by Senior Golfshake Writer Adam Smith 

Why I love the Ryder Cup? 

The question for me is what is there not to love about the Ryder Cup? It has everything and in my opinion it’s the best sporting event in the World. Forget the World Cup, forget the Olympics, the Ryder Cup encapsulates everything that sports lives for. It has nail biting action, it has emotion, drama, passion, celebrations, heartbreak, camaraderie, sportsmanship and just that over whelming feeling in your stomach which is a mixture of nerves and excitement and that’s just me on the sofa. I can’t imagine what it’s like stepping on the first tee, hearing the chants and the roars of the crowd.

The cup has had its fair share of controversy as well which even adds to what it means to all the players. From Sevé and Ollie clashing with Paul Azinger at Kiawah Island to the unforgettable and indeed regrettable scenes at Brookline, the Ryder Cup has given me more than any football final or any Olympics race.

Over the years I’ve been glued to the action of Ryder Cups. I’ve watched the here in the U.K, I was in the USA for the 2002 victory at The Belfry and I’ve even watched through the night into the early morning in Australia.

The memories

There’s so many moments that I remember from over the years. The first event that I really remember watching was the 1995 battle at Oak Hill with Nick Faldo’s heroics on the 18th against Curtis Strange. I was genuinely gutted when Faldo failed so badly as captain at Valhalla in 2008 as I’ve always been a Faldo fan. Onto Valderrama and the magician Sevé who seemed to pop up out of nowhere in his buggy and walky-talky in his mouth. There was no way he was going to let the American team leave Spain with his trophy.

In recent years who can forget the first Monday finish at Celtic Manor in 2010 after the constant downpours. Also ‘Super Saturday’ in the Welsh valley as Europe whitewashed USA to paint the scoreboard blue to really turn the tide in Europe’s favour.

And finally the best sporting occasion of all-time in my opinion, the ‘Miracle of Medinah’ two years ago. Nothing even comes close to what happened in Chicago on that Sunday and I’m not afraid to say I shed a tear as the Martin Kaymer holed the putt which sealed the deal for Europe. I was balling my eyes out when the camera’s down the fairway showed Ollie overcome with emotion after a grueling and draining final day.

I’ll be like a kid at Christmas on Thursday night and I cannot wait to have some more memories come Sunday night.
THIS is why I love the Ryder Cup. Come on Europe!

Agree with Adam? Tell us why you love it? Give us a moment you remember or a reason why the Ryder Cup is the best event in the World. Or do you disagree?

Image Credit - Graeme McDowell Facebook Page