The Ryder Cup is the greatest team event in golf. At one time, it was more of a friendly match than the raucous fan event it has become. This year’s match provided us with Hatgate, Lacava/McIlroy throwdown and all the fist-pumping and screaming following clutch putts we have come to expect. All of it being great television.
So, what happened? How did this friendly, semi-annual team event go from congenial club-like match to an international event with stadium style seating with fans dressing in matching attire and chanting and singing and cheering on their players like major team sports. Players celebrating as if they just won the World Cup or the Super Bowl.
A few things transpired which culminated in the Ryder Cup which changed everything: The War at the Shore.
The first change. The Ryder Cup was slipping into obscurity. The match had become decidedly one sided. The Americans won every Ryder Cup from 1959 through 1983. That’s 13 straight wins.
In 1973, Irish players were added to the British team in an attempt to level the playing field. This did not yield the desired result as the US teams continued their domination over the next three Ryder Cups.
The second change. Europeans were added to the Great Britain team in 1979 along with an infusion of youth. Young up-and-coming stars named Faldo, Lyle and Ballesteros joined veterans like Jacklin, Barnes and Gallacher. In ‘81, Bernhard Langer and Sam Torrance made their debuts. Even with the addition of the young guns and Europeans, the Americans won in ‘79 and ‘81 in lopsided fashion. But, while the Americans won again ‘83 14 1/2 - 13 1/2, it was obvious the influx of youth and the Europeans were making a difference. Change was coming.
The Belfry. 1985. The youth added in’79 were now veterans of the Ryder Cup. The result was domination. Europe decimated the American team 16 1/2 - 11 1/2. It was the kind of lopsided match the Americans were used to handing out. To show it wasn’t a fluke, the Europeans won again in ‘87 at Muirfield Village. A tie in ‘89 at The Belfry allowed Europe to retain the cup. Three wins in a row. The match suddenly felt compelling. The change to include players from Europe worked.
The War at the Shore. 1991. Kiawah. Arguably the most contentious and greatest Ryder Cup of all time. Pete and Alice Dye designed the Ocean Course at Kiawah specifically for the Ryder Cup. The Gulf War had been won. American patriotism ran rampant. The American team posed for a military-inspired photo/poster. Some players even showed up in battle fatigues inspired hats for the first day of matches. Military flyovers fueled the spectacle. The Europeans took exception to the display. And the War on the Shore was just getting started.
Day 1. Azinger/Beck vs. Ballesteros/Olazabal. Nicknamed “The Spanish Armada,” Ballesteros and Olazabal fell behind Azinger and Beck early in their match. Olazabal recognized Azinger and Beck were switching balls with different compressions between holes. The European team called for Captain Bernhard Gallacher who arrived after the ninth hole which the Americans won to go three up in the match. Azinger, at first, denied any wrongdoing. Azinger eventually admitted he and Beck had been switching balls with different compressions, but the Europeans believed he only admitted it once he knew there would be no penalty. Tempers flared as Azinger and Ballesteros argued angrily with each other. Ballesteros and Olazabal went on to win the match.
Day 2. Cough-cough. This time Ballesteros was accused of gamesmanship. Ballesteros again paired with Olazabal went against Ray Floyd and Fred Couples. Tempers again flared when Floyd accused Ballesteros of coughing in the middle of Couples swing on more than one occasion. But, once again, The Spanish Armada prevailed in the match.
Day 3. Gamesmanship and the ultimate pressure. Prior to the start of the Ryder Cup, a limousine carrying American players to a pre-Ryder Cup dinner was involved in an accident. An American player, Steve Pate, ended up with a soft tissue injury just below his ribs. He sat out Friday play and Saturday morning foursomes. In the Saturday afternoon four-ball, Pate was paired with Corey Pavin. They lost 2 & 1 to Bernhard Langer and Colin Montgomery. The decision was made that Pate was unable to play Sunday singles due to injury. By rule, the Europeans had to sit a player, and the point was halved. The Europeans felt Pate was healthy and could play. They accused the Americans of gamesmanship to earn a half a point.
As the day wore on, it became apparent the Cup would come down to the later matches. The pressure became immense. Mark Calcavecchia led Colin Montgomery 4-up with four to play. But Montgomery won the 15th and 16th holes to remain alive. Calcavecchia looked like he was having a nervous breakdown. On the brutal par-3 17th, Montgomery all but handed the match to Calcavecchia by hitting his ball in the water. Somehow, Calcavecchia managed to hit a worse shot by half shanking the ball into the water. Despite all that, Calcavecchia had a two-foot putt to win the match. He missed. He followed up with a bogey at 18 to lose the hole, giving Montgomery the comeback to halve the match.
Later, Calcavecchia walked down to the beach, sank into the sand and cried.
This led to the final match of the day being the deciding factor. Hale Irwin, a multiple major winner, paired against Bernhard Langer, the 1985 Masters champion. Despite both players being battle tested with victories in majors, they each would succumb to the pressure with Ryder Cup riding on their shoulders.
Irwin led 2-up with four to play. Langer needed to win the match to keep the cup. Langer won the 15th. They halved the 16th. Langer won the 17th bringing the match all square heading to the 18th. Langer hit the fairway with his tee shot. Irwin’s ball started way left but somehow struck someone in the gallery and ended up in the rough near the fairway. Langer hit the green with his approach. Irwin missed the green and was unable to get up and down. Langer needed two putts to win. He three putted.
If you have never seen a replay of the ‘91 Ryder Cup, do yourself a favor and watch it. It has led to the Ryder Cup we anxiously await every two years.
Fortunately, none of us have to experience the level of pressure of a Ryder Cup. We will not drop to our knees in the sand and cry believing we just lost the cup for our team. Instead, let’s laugh at the good and bad, enjoy the company of good friends and be grateful we get to play this game for fun. Now, go golf!