It’s here! Ryder Cup week. Probably the golfing event that I get most excited about.
The selfish sport of golf turns into a team game and because over the last few years Europe has taken the lead it is now an amazing contest.
So the big question is, who’s gonna win?
Well this is a dilemma for me and I have mixed feelings.
When I look at the teams, on paper, I would probably say that the USA look marginally stronger. However, you could have probably said that for the last 8 Ryder Cups, of which we won 6.
This year team USA has a not so secret weapon. The venue is Medinah, Chicago. People from Chicago are incredibly passionate sports fans and so I think that the home crowd may create a fairly hostile atmosphere for the Europeans that will really get the Americans charged up.
Now I don’t think it will get as out of hand as it some times has in the past but some of our players may be in for a rough ride!
So my head is saying that the USA will win.
Europe have still got an incredible team. We’ve got 3 players who have been passing the title of world number 1 between them for fun.
The golf course will be set up with the big hitting USA team in mind…..but we’ve got some bombers in our team too.
Our real ace in the hand is the Captain, Josè Marìa Olazabal. He has a great team of vice captains with him but he also has a vice captain that will be there in spirit.
Seve Ballesteros. It brings a tear to my eye just to think about him and his connection with the Ryder Cup. Imagine the effect on the European team?
Photos of Seve will be around the team room and I have no doubt that Josè’s decisions will be guided by Seve’s past influence and getting the team inspired will be absolutely no problem at all.
So with that in mind my heart says that Europe will fight to the death to retain that trophy for Seve and now, even more importantly for their new captain, Josè.
Good luck Europe. I will be there with you for every shot.
neal granville golf 