Ryder Cup Recap

When the leaderboard is tight on a Sunday afternoon at the Masters, there isn't anything more exciting in golf. Or so I thought. While watching the Ryder Cup on Sunday those same emotions felt during the last day of a major tournament were present. I was excited and nervous as the Europeans closed the gap.

The result of the tournament was unfortunate as a fan of the American squad, yet the overall tournament excitement made the result bearable. I was hoping to see, like many other fans, Tiger Woods' 18th hole to have meaning. Unfortunately, Martin Kaymer made a clutch putt on the 18th versus Steve Stricker to seal the deal for the Europeans.

Many people will question some of the decisions made by the captain of the U.S. team, David Love III. Many will say that Love's captains picks were questionable, a group that included Stricker and Furyk. Some will say that Love messed up the Saturday afternoon session when he sat a hot Keegan Bradley and Phil Mickelson duo in favor of a struggling Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker. All of these arguments can be made, but at the end of the day the U.S. blew a significant lead and the true fault for the loss lies on the players.

The Ryder Cup has a much different feel than any other tournament. In most golf tournaments, personal pride is on the line and a nice sum of money. The Ryder Cup is played for national pride. The best golfers in the United States represent our country in hopes of bringing the Cup to the U.S. When it comes to big money prizes for the players, you won't find it at the Ryder Cup. There is no money to be won in the tournament.

Final Thought

Although I was upset that the U.S. didn't win the Ryder Cup, the story on the European side was quite remarkable. After being down 10 to 6 going into the Sunday singles matches, the European's needed a huge Sunday to retain the cup. It took a full effort from everyone on the European side to pull off the remarkable upset. In the back of all the European's minds while playing had to be the Steve Ballesteros story. Ballesteros tragically died in May of 2011 from a brain tumor, and the Europeans were playing in his honor. With Steve Ballesteros on the Europeans sleeves, they pulled off the unthinkable. Truly a good story.





 @dmrosen7