2016 RYDER CUP
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IT’S TIME for the talking to stop as golf’s greatest show on earth tees off at Hazeltine National.
And it promises to be three days of madness and mayhem in Minnesota.
The Ryder Cup has grown into one of the biggest sporting events in the world – and the 41st instalment of a soap opera that puts all our favourites back home to shame is poised to add another thrilling episode to the series.
In the red corner is the United States, the hosts and firm favourites who have put more effort and groundwork into winning back the famous trophy than ever before.
After three straight defeats, this is a Ryder Cup home captain Davis Love and his men dare not lose.
Fixing
In the wake of Europe’s thumping win at Gleneagles last time out in 2014, the nation that used to dominate this contest decided enough was enough.
The powers within their game set up a special ‘Task Force’ aimed at righting the wrongs, fixing previous problems and putting a blueprint in place to guarantee no more humiliation.
Love is also on the road to redemption as he looks to banish the demons and ghosts of Medinah in 2012, when he led America to defeat from the jaws of victory.
It remains to be seen if those scars from Chicago have healed or if America’s blueprint for success can match or better the one that has seen Europe rub their noses in it since 2008.
But Love would be foolish to underestimate the underdogs from Europe fighting out of the blue corner.
The signs are that he has. Love reckons he has the perfect team, the best collection of golfers ever assembled.
Darren Clarke’s outfit have been branded the worst ever to fly across the Atlantic and few give them hope of making it a historic fourth straight Ryder Cup triumph. But write them off at your peril. Clarke has an unprecedented six rookies in his line-up, but he also has the current Open, Masters, Olympic and FedEx Cup champions in his ranks.
Henrik Stenson, Danny Willett, Justin Rose and Rory McIlroy will join Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia in forming the backbone of the European challenge.
Clarke will be hoping the likes of Thomas Pieters, Andy Sullivan, Rafael Cabrera-Bello and Chris Wood can take inspiration from their experienced teammates.
They will have to, because this golfing stage is not one for the faint-hearted.
The build-up has shown them there is nowhere to hide.
Europe have used Love’s comments as motivation, while Clarke’s outfit have inadvertently returned the compliment following the idiotic attack on American golf fans by Willett’s brother Pete, who labelled them ‘imbeciles’ who needed to be put in their place.
The only fool appears to be him. He has guaranteed his brother will face a fierce backlash in the most hostile environment he has ever faced.
Willett might have won a Green Jacket at Augusta, but this could be the biggest test of his mental strength.
Sparks
Those comments will make America’s lust for success stronger and Europe’s defence of their crown tougher. But this wouldn’t be the Ryder Cup without sparks flying before a ball has been struck. The gladiatorial scrap will be played out against the backdrop of the sad death of American legend Arnold Palmer. Palmer changed the game and will dominate the thoughts of many on and off the course. It promises to be an emotional rollercoaster of highs and lows that cannot be missed – and if both sides produce a contest befitting the memory of ‘The King’, then it will be one to savour.