'Golf War'... "I Put My Honor on the Ryder Cup"

US vs European Union Nations Competition Started in 1927
US Leads All-Time Record with 27 Wins, 2 Draws, 14 Losses
Mickelson Most Appearances, Garcia Youngest and Top Scorer
World No.1 Scheffler vs No.2 McIlroy as Frontline

It is a ‘Golf War’ that has been ongoing for nearly 100 years. This refers to the Ryder Cup, a national team competition where the United States and the European Union clash. There is no prize money. It is about honor. Loud cheers and jeers are allowed. Enthusiastic support battles also unfold. This year, the 44th Ryder Cup will take place over three days starting on the 29th (local time) at the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club (par 71, 7,268 yards) near Rome, Italy. This is the story of the Ryder Cup, where golf brings both joy and sorrow.

The Ryder Cup originated in 1926 when American and British players held a friendly match before the start of The Open Championship. The first tournament was held in 1927 at the Worcester Country Club in Massachusetts, USA. The tournament’s name comes from Samuel Ryder, a British businessman who commissioned a 17-inch gold trophy for about 250 pounds and donated it. This trophy was called the ‘Ryder Cup,’ which became the official name of the event.

The United States and the European Union face off every two years. The battleground alternates between courses in the US and Europe. The competition for pride, more precious than money, is fierce. The 12 players selected from each continent also consider participation itself an honor. The US leads the all-time record with 27 wins, 2 draws, and 14 losses. Since the first tournament against the England-Ireland combined team, the US dominated overwhelmingly for the first 50 years (the event was suspended from 1939 to 1945 due to World War II).

Golf legend Jack Nicklaus (USA) proposed in 1979 to expand the team from the England-Ireland combined team to the entire European continent. Since then, in 21 matches, the US has been at a disadvantage with 9 wins, 1 draw, and 11 losses. The European Union won 8 out of 10 Ryder Cups from 1995 to 2014. In the 10 matches of the 2000s, Europe also holds a 7-3 advantage.

The U.S. team is cheering on the podium after defeating the European Union by the largest margin in history at the 2021 Ryder Cup.

Phil Mickelson (USA) has appeared in the Ryder Cup 12 times, the most appearances. Sergio Garcia (Spain) holds the records for youngest participant (19 years and 258 days) and most points earned (28.5 points). Raymond Floyd (USA) is the oldest participant (51 years and 20 days). The ‘Golf Emperor’ Tiger Woods (USA) has not had much success in the Ryder Cup. In the tournaments he participated in, the US record is 1 win and 7 losses. In the most recent event in 2021, the US crushed the European Union 19-9. They gained an early lead with 5 wins, 2 draws, and 1 loss on the first day and 5 wins and 3 losses on the second day, and dominated the singles match play with 7 wins, 2 draws, and 3 losses. The 19-9 victory is the largest margin of victory in history.

The Ryder Cup consists of 28 matches over three days. On the first and second days, there are 4 matches each of foursomes (two players alternate playing one ball) and fourballs (each player plays their own ball, and the best score counts), totaling 16 matches. Then, on the final day, all players participate in 12 singles match plays. A win earns 1 point, a draw 0.5 points. The first team to reach 14.5 points wins. US players are highly skilled, but they are often criticized for lacking cohesion compared to the tightly bonded European team. This is why weaknesses appear in foursomes.

Ian Poulter is known as the 'Man of the Ryder Cup.' He has shined in past tournaments, including leading the 'Chicago Battle' in 2012.

The Ryder Cup has produced many dramas. The 2012 ‘Chicago Battle’ featuring ‘match play specialist’ Ian Poulter (England) stands out. It was a fourball match at the Medina Country Club in Chicago, Illinois, USA, against Jack Johnson and Jason Dufner (both USA), alongside Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland). Poulter displayed incredible power by making birdies on the last 5 holes. Especially on the 18th hole, he sank a 3-meter birdie putt to win the match.

Justin Leonard (USA) is also a Ryder Cup hero. In a fierce battle against Jose Maria Olazabal (Spain) at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts, USA, in 1999, Leonard staged a brilliant comeback after trailing by 4 holes in the back nine. The highlight was sinking a 13.7-meter birdie putt on the 17th hole to take a 1-hole lead. The US secured at least a draw, earning the 14.5 points needed to win.

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler (left) and No. 2 Rory McIlroy will face each other as 'rivals' at this year's Ryder Cup, leading the charge for their countries' victory.

Seve Ballesteros (Spain)’s ‘persimmon shot’ is also memorable. In 1983, at the PGA National Golf Club in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, USA, the match against Fuzzy Zoeller (USA) was undecided until the 17th hole, and on the 18th hole, Ballesteros’ ball landed in a fairway bunker. He then took a bold shot with a No. 3 wood made of persimmon wood. The fade shot curved right out of the bunker and landed on the edge of the green, ultimately saving par.

This year, the ‘Rome Duel’ awaits. The European Union, playing on home turf, is determined to avenge the heavy defeat from two years ago. The team centers around world No. 2 Rory McIlroy, No. 3 Jon Rahm (Spain), and FedEx Cup champion Viktor Hovland (Norway). Robert MacIntyre (Scotland), Tyrrell Hatton, and Matt Fitzpatrick (both England) joined based on their high points rankings. European Union captain Luke Donald added veterans such as Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose (both England), and Shane Lowry (Ireland) as captain’s picks. However, it is unfortunate that ‘LIV Golf members’ Poulter, Henrik Stenson (Sweden), and Garcia are absent.

‘Major Hunter’ Brooks Koepka is the only ‘LIV Golf member’ participating in this year’s Ryder Cup.

The US has also fielded its strongest team. They even selected Brooks Koepka, the ‘major hunter’ who moved to LIV Golf. He is the only LIV Golf player participating in the Ryder Cup. The US places great expectations on world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, US Open champion Wyndham Clark, and Open champion Brian Harman. Match play specialists Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, and Rickie Fowler also joined on the recommendation of captain Steve Stricker.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.