A European And Proud Means It Can Only Be The Ryder Cup

By Luke Edwards on Sep 28, 10 06:10 PM

For someone whose golf experience is limited to an addiction to Tiger Woods PGA Golf I would never profess to being an expert on the subject, but I will be an avid follower over the weekend.

The last time I took quite so much interest in anything Woods did, of course, was during the steady procession of kiss and tell stories exposing the world number one's infidelity.

But there is something unique about the Ryder Cup which gets English sporting traditionalists like myself - those who survive on a steady diet of football and cricket - excited.

Perhaps it is the team aspect, perhaps I have just been brainwashed by the Sky Sports hype machine - anyone who is following American Football again will know what I mean - but I'm genuinely excited about the Ryder Cup.

In truth, although I've fallen for Sky hype before, I think it is the team aspect given to an otherwise extremely individual sport and the fact that it pits Europe - we weren't good enough to take them on by ourselves - against the Americans.

Golf is normally a polite game, but the Ryder Cup brings out the worst in the players, which therefore makes it the best for people like me.

I want a bit of niggle, a bit of edge, a bit of "in your face Woods" and yeah, yeah, "f**k you Furyk, this hole is mine."

I've never actually heard anyone shout anything like that at the Ryder Cup, but there is that little bit of extra spice to add to the occasion. It might not happen, but you suspect it could and that is enough to raise the excitement levels.

The Americans were full of themselves when they won two years ago in the States. They crowed and they celebrated, they cheered and they laughed - and quite frankly that is enough to annoy anyone.

So it's payback time and Europe will be the favourites to win back that title at Celtic Manor because, by and large, they are better at this than the Yanks.
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But there are also loads of sub-plots, the possibility of Woods' redemption - he's been crap since his personal problems by all accounts - and all of the fascinating personal triumphs and failures which contribute to the collective success or failure of the teams.

The Ryder Cup offers sporting drama at its best, whether you know how to fade, draw or even the basics of how to hold a putter or not.

It is also the only time most of us are ever proud, or willing, to refer to ourselves as a European. Now that really is unique!