Some people may think that winning the Masters and putting that Green Jacket on is the best tournament you could win in golf, because of its prestige and history. Other may think that it is the US Open, because you have to conquer the most difficult golf course during the season. It may even be the British Open or the PGA Championship. These tournaments are the 4 Majors, which mean that they are the biggest tournaments of the season. Winning either one of these shows that you are one of the best. However, there is one tournament that people forget about and that is, the Ryder Cup. For 83 years now, US and Europe have battled it out against each other to claim this prize. It is played every two years and it alternates courses between anywhere in the US and in Europe.
This year it was played in Europe at the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport, Wales. The Us needs 14 points to defend the cup and fourteen a half for Europe, because they have to try to retain the cup. A point is awarded to the team or player who wins the match and half a point for each player who tie in the match. There were three types of matches, four-ball, foursome and singles. In the four-ball, each team members had to alternate playing the shot to the hole, the lowest score of each team would win the whole. In foursomes, each team member would play their own ball and who ever had the lowest score from each team would win the hole. The singles is just normal match play against another person.
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| Graeme Mcdowell, from mirror.co.uk.sport |
Two years ago, the Americans won the cup and had to defend it this year. After the first day of play, US lead Europe by one point, 2 and a half to 1 and a half points. Rain canceled the first day of matches. After the second day US had a commanding lead over Europe 6 to 4. Europe came up strong in the third day of matches and won 5 of their six matches giving Europe the big lead over US going into the last day, 9 and a half and 6 and a half. The US, looking for a miracle, gave it their all and won 7 of the twelve matches. However, they were half a point short when US team member Hunter Mahan lost to Graeme Mcdowell in the final match. Europe beat the US, despite a charge by the US, 14 and half to 13 and a half.
It was a great display of skill and athleticism shown by these players. It was definitely a blast to watch.
