THERE’S a new book out this summer called ‘Ryder Cup Rivals’, written by Hank Gola and sub-titled ‘The Fiercest Battles for Golf’s Holy Grail’. I haven’t read it but I can guess at a few of the inclusions. I think we all could, in fact, and three of the most incendiary Ryder Cups of recent times are always worth revisiting.
There was, of course, the 1991 match, an encounter that, because of two very distinct historical factors, was laced with enough vinegar to pickle a 10-acre field of onions. The first was the complete reversal of Ryder Cup history during the previous decade. Ahead of the 1985 clash Europe (previously Great Britain and Ireland) had been little short of hapless in the contest, losing 17 of the 19 post-Second World War matches. It was little short of a miracle that the Americans could be bothered with such a mismatch and yet, when Europe won back-to-back before retaining the trophy with a draw in 1989, the Yanks were furious about the vibe change. They even considered the scenes of celebration in that latter result something of an outrage and vowed revenge.
To this febrile mix was added the inflammatory nature of American patriotism in the aftermath of the first Gulf War. The atmosphere at Kiawah Island was therefore inflammable and many Europeans never forgot (some never forgave) what they had to deal with that year.
Then there was 1999, when Justin Leonard drained a putt longer than most Greyhound bus journeys during his crucial singles against Jose Maria Olazabal, prompting his team-mates and various hangers-on to leap across, and around, the green like tipsy whirling dervishes. Who can forget the sight of a befuddled Olazabal, forlornly hoping that someone might recall that he still had a putt to equal Leonard’s effort? That one moment has been seared into the memory banks of the Europeans who played that year; their eyes narrowing, lips pursing and noses twitching at the presumption and arrogance of the premature celebrations.
And then there was the last Ryder Cup in Rome, when Patrick Cantlay was icily resolute as Europe’s fans mocked him while his caddie Joe LaCava went a little potty on the 18th green of Saturday’s final match, winding up European players, caddies and galleries to the extent that Rory McIlroy ended the day bounding around his courtesy car looking for a scrap.
It’s all been tremendously nutty fun and Gola’s book is undoubtedly well-timed with the latest episode of this trans-Atlantic tussle scheduled for the end of the summer, but the reason I’m bring the subject up now is that the last week’s international news has got me wondering: are we set for the most acrimonious Ryder Cup of them all this September?!?!
We always suspected it would be testy, of course. Cantlay is almost certain to play and European fans (and the media) will continue to prod and poke at his perceived sniffiness about the event. The Americans are also desperate to regain the Cup and will be pumped up to the max. And the New York galleries are the loudest and most rancorous of all in the United States.
But there is a new dynamic to consider, one with echoes of 1991: politics.
We’ve already seen how matches between the Canadian and American hockey teams have descended into fist-fights among the players and bitterness in the stands. Fisticuffs among the players is, thankfully, highly unlikely at Bethpage, but the galleries could easily be fiery. The bullishness of Donald Trump’s presidency has empowered his supporters and they may well look upon the Ryder Cup as an opportunity to repeat the jingoistic fervour of 1991’s War on the Shore. And, of course, Trump loves golf – an appearance would be no surprise. What European fans might make of this come September will depend on high-grade diplomacy between now and then.
Bethpage in September will be Black because that is the name of the course. Yet it could be darker – far darker – than any Ryder Cup we’ve witnessed.
But enough of such cheery thoughts! It’s the Arnold Palmer Invitational this week which means a return to Bay Hill. Scottie Scheffler won there in 2022 and again in 2024. Can he make it three in four years? It’s well within his compass, of course, but here are three who can beat him to the red cardigan.
Each Way – Shane Lowry
The Irishman’s golf has been very good and very consistent for a long time now. He hasn’t found a win, but he’s finished top 12 in 10 of his last 12 tournaments including third at the DP World Tour Championship in November and second in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am last month. The Florida resident has also finished top 20 in eight of his last 10 starts in his home state. He didn’t have a good record at Bay Hill at all ahead of last year (four missed cuts and T67) but last year he led through 54 holes before finishing third.
Each Way – Harris English
The American tends to like a tough test. In fact, he’s racked up three top 10 finishes in the last five US Opens, and Bay Hill is often described as being “major-like” with fast-running fairways, bone-hard greens and thick rough. This year alone, playing the US Open-hosting Torrey Pines, he has recorded a win and T24. The clincher is his last four results at Bay Hill. He was ninth in 2020, T26 in 2021, second in 2023 and three shots back of the 54-hole lead last year when eventually T21.
Each Way – Wyndham Clark
The 2023 US Open champion’s form might not be as bad as it first appears. He was only three shots off the halfway lead in The Sentry when T15. He was the first round leader after a 64 when T16 at the Phoenix Open. And he was top 10 through 36 holes last time out in the Genesis Invitational. And he has good memories of Bay Hill. He shared the halfway lead last year hung around for second place and he can revive those memories this week.
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