Golf 101 – The Ryder Cup
The Ryder Cup is known to be a contest that takes place every two years between PGA Tours of United States and Europe. The Name of the cup comes from Samuel Ryder who was an English businessman as well as a golfer who sponsorship-ed in 1926 an international golf competition. While watching the competition he thought of making this event happen on regular basis.
Therefore he donated a gold trophy for one year later the trophy took his name and as such the first Ryder Cup Competition was officially opened and played in Massachusetts with teams to belong to USA and UK. USA dominated the Ryder Cup for many years and it was in 1979 when UK was extended to include also the rest of Europe into the competition, for the Cup to be held closer.
The teams consist of 12 players who have as a captain the more experienced golfer who belong to their respective country. Most of the teams members are chosen from the top golfers distinguished inside each tour except for the fatc that the captain is however allowed a number of picks. US captain, at present, has 4 selections while the European part only 2.
Generally speaking, Ryder Cup is held throughout the duration of 3 days with the following schedule: days 1 and 2 there are held 4 foursome matches and 4 fourball matches and it it the host team that gets to select ether it is foursome or fourballs in the morning or in the afternoon. A foursome match means a play of alternate shots with 2 players from each team and the players. Player number 1 of each team tees off, while player number 2 takes over the other shot and keeps on doing the same til the hole is full.
In the fourballs those 2 players are still present but this time they play their balls till the hole is full. Day number 3 sees the evolution of 12 singles matches. In order to win the trophy the number of points to reach at is 14 1/2 that gathers from 1 point for a win and 1/2 point if the match is drawn. All the matches are performed as matchplay to oppose to the one called stroke play.
Ryder Cup competition is very widely known in the world of golfers be they pros and only amateurs. It gathers each times the golf fans from all over the world booking their accommodation on time to have the opportunity to watch the spectacular games of the best in the field. The current holder of the trophy is USA team, but the European team has promised to have it back when the next competition of Ryder Cup will be held at Celtic Manor Golf Club in Wales.
