Is there a more over-hyped event in golf than the Ryder Cup ….

[jeffwarne]

Maybe the cup should be played in a neutral location. No home games.

No.
Most of the enjoyment is the partisan fans, the costumes etc.
It was great event.
Is it hyped? yes
Overhyped? you taken a look at college football lately?


and Sean is correct, it was far closer than the final score indicates, and there really was US hope late into the day.
I was there-it was tense, but the fans were very, very respectful to each other and frankly to the players.
The hat thing was a non event and most were laughing except the players who were at the heart of the drama(and where there's smoke there's probably fire)


I still think the US could think about preparing better if they really want to win an away game, and certainly would like to see a house cleaning of the same old Captains, but that's just opinion.
the event is very cool and real pressure.


To AG's point, sometimes you just get beat,
BUT, I doubt AG would be still be coaching if he had failed to win an away game in 30 years.


Now if we could just learn to read a European inland green.....

[Pat Burke]

Keep rolling the same cast of captains and co-captains out and just expect different results.


The old boys network starts at the top.  The revolving door of captains had pluses and negatives.  But it just became politics and ass kissers being given the keys.


The team/points should be based on the big events and playoffs closer too/leading in to the event, to pick players riding high. 


Preparation has changed so much with the advent of the yardage books that have everything you need…….except…….experience on varying conditions and hole locations.


Euros came in hot and played better.


USA came in rested (to rusty) with a few guys not in full form


1/2 shot separates #5 from #60 so it’s always a razor wire

[Daryl David]

Excellent analysis. +1

[jeffwarne]

Keep rolling the same cast of captains and co-captains out and just expect different results.


The old boys network starts at the top.  The revolving door of captains had pluses and negatives.  But it just became politics and ass kissers being given the keys.


The team/points should be based on the big events and playoffs closer too/leading in to the event, to pick players riding high. 


Preparation has changed so much with the advent of the yardage books that have everything you need…….except…….experience on varying conditions and hole locations.


Euros came in hot and played better.


USA came in rested (to rusty) with a few guys not in full form


1/2 shot separates #5 from #60 so it’s always a razor wire

You nailed it.
Do the same thing and expect different results.
What's always interesting is that by definition half or more aren't playing their "best", and at least 1-3 are going to be really struggling.
It's not like a Sunday in a major or PGA Tour event where you had to play great to be on TV.
Here you are, exposed and in the spotlight, having to beat one(or two) player/s with the game you have, in an away environment.
That's a skill that we have not mastered.

[Rob Marshall]

The bottom line is the Cup means a lot more to the Euros than it does to the American's.

I’m sure you can provide evidence for this claim. 


Given that there is a just three point difference between the two sides in the last 40+ years, and given that the US won by a record 19-9 margin in 2021, I look forward to seeing that evidence.

Brad Faxon just said two minutes ago on The Starter Cantlay and Xander want to get paid to play in the Rydercup. He pointed out how they didn't show with the rest of the team (other than Jordan who's wife had a baby) for the trip a few weeks early.

[Charlie Goerges]

Cantlay and Xander want to get paid to play in the Rydercup.

This isn't directed at you in particular Rob, but if they want to get paid and it isn't a paid event, why are they even accepting the invite to participate?

[Tim Martin]

Cantlay and Xander want to get paid to play in the Rydercup.

This isn't directed at you in particular Rob, but if they want to get paid and it isn't a paid event, why are they even accepting the invite to participate?

Reputational Value

[Charlie Goerges]

Cantlay and Xander want to get paid to play in the Rydercup.

This isn't directed at you in particular Rob, but if they want to get paid and it isn't a paid event, why are they even accepting the invite to participate?

Reputational Value

Yeah, seems like they're getting some value (not to mention sponsor performance incentives for making the team).

[Jim Hoak]

Steve Stricker on Golf Magazine's web email today says there are 5 reasons the US team "got throttled:"
Europe's familiarity with the site, jet lag, rusty US players, slow greens, and clutch opponents who came ready to play.


The length of this thread is certainly doing a good job of answering the original question--the "most over-hyped event."

[Peter Sayegh]

Yes!
The FedEx Cup playoff.
Interest/entertainment wise, the Ryder Cup far exceeded it.

[Jim Hoak]

Peter--Since professional golf is an individual, not team, sport, I probably don't agree with you.  The Fed Ex Cup may be complicated, but I don't think it is "over-hyped."  No question that the Ryder Cup is--at least in the US.
I much prefer the Majors to both events.

[Pat Burke]

Cantlay and Xander want to get paid to play in the Rydercup.

This isn't directed at you in particular Rob, but if they want to get paid and it isn't a paid event, why are they even accepting the invite to participate?

Reputational Value

Yeah, seems like they're getting some value (not to mention sponsor performance incentives for making the team).

I’d like to see the performance incentives related to Ryder Cup participation.
In the dark ages when I played, there were companies that did not have Rydr Cup bonuses due to getting little exposure in the event with logos or equipment exposure


Biggest equipment news this week was a hat not being worn

[Charlie Goerges]

I’d like to see the performance incentives related to Ryder Cup participation.
In the dark ages when I played, there were companies that did not have Rydr Cup bonuses due to getting little exposure in the event with logos or equipment exposure


Biggest equipment news this week was a hat not being worn

I definitely don't keep up on that stuff, I was just repeating something that Geoff S. said on the McKellar podcast. I agree on the fact that the sponsors won't get a lot of TV exposure, so if it isn't true, I accept that.

[Kalen Braley]

Charlie,

I've always figured the bigger issue was negative blowback in the form of sponsors pulling out, or not engaging with you because you qualified or were picked...and refused to play.  Given how xenophobic this event has become, what sponsor wants to appear to support unpatriotic players?

[Charlie Goerges]

Charlie,

I've always figured the bigger issue was negative blowback in the form of sponsors pulling out, or not engaging with you because you qualified or were picked...and refused to play.  Given how xenophobic this event has become, what sponsor wants to appear to support unpatriotic players?

I could see that being an issue; Cantlay goes "I don't get out of bed for less than $10,000 a day" and Goldman or Delta says they don't want to be associated with a player like that. Or rather, the fear of it happening. That said, Geoff mentioned actual incentives rather than the threat of losses. But again, if they don't exist, I'm happy to accept that too.

[Pat Burke]

I’d like to see the performance incentives related to Ryder Cup participation.
In the dark ages when I played, there were companies that did not have Rydr Cup bonuses due to getting little exposure in the event with logos or equipment exposure


Biggest equipment news this week was a hat not being worn

I definitely don't keep up on that stuff, I was just repeating something that Geoff S. said on the McKellar podcast. I agree on the fact that the sponsors won't get a lot of TV exposure, so if it isn't true, I accept that.

Charlie, I certainly don’t know these days.  Just what was going on (with some companies I dealt with) a long time ago.  Things do change!

[Jerry Kluger]

1. A player does not have to accept an invitation to play in the Ryder Cup so if they have a problem with any aspect of it, including if they are paid or if there will be filming by some company, they don't have to accept and they can stay home and let another player participate who accepts those issues.


2. In selecting the captain's choices the only thing to consider is how a player is currently performing.  Justin Thomas was not playing well (His duck hook into the trees at the Wyndham when he needed a birdie is not performing under pressure) and neither was Colin Morikawa who had two of the worst rounds of any player on the weekend in his last event.


In the end The Ryder Cup is a sense of pride for some of the players and who would have more exemplified this than Keegan Bradley and Lucas Glover - it was an opportunity to show some class and compassion which would have shown the rest of the players how much this meant to these two guys and made the team far more of a unit set on winning instead of a buddy trip.

[Rob Marshall]

If you don’t want to play, just turn it down. Weiskopf did. No one is forced to do it. Not for nothing if Cantlay doesn’t play is anyone going to miss him? 

[Sean_A]

I've asked this before. Does anyone believe the US team wasn't good enough to win? On paper this team was plenty good enough if one does not buy into the world ranking system...which I don't. Does anybody believe ZJ picked a squad he thought would not have a chance to win, but would have a good time?

Not that I blame anybody for the US loss, they were simply outplayed. We can go on about preparation, course experience and time zone acclimatisation, but how much time is considered enough to be properly prepared for an unpaid exhibition?

Fans have a hard time accepting losses and often think they know better and what they know would have changed the outcome. That's why fans are fans.

Ciao

[jeffwarne]

1. A player does not have to accept an invitation to play in the Ryder Cup so if they have a problem with any aspect of it, including if they are paid or if there will be filming by some company, they don't have to accept and they can stay home and let another player participate who accepts those issues.


2. In selecting the captain's choices the only thing to consider is how a player is currently performing.  Justin Thomas was not playing well (His duck hook into the trees at the Wyndham when he needed a birdie is not performing under pressure) and neither was Colin Morikawa who had two of the worst rounds of any player on the weekend in his last event.


In the end The Ryder Cup is a sense of pride for some of the players and who would have more exemplified this than Keegan Bradley and Lucas Glover - it was an opportunity to show some class and compassion which would have shown the rest of the players how much this meant to these two guys and made the team far more of a unit set on winning instead of a buddy trip.

Agree with your first point to some degree, certainly the week of the event is NOT the time to express an opinion on that subject.


As far as picking how a player is performing, I'm not sure how exactly you can find who is "in form" when they haven't played in 5 weeks.
Besides, when picking a player "in form" he's often just about to revert to the mean.
That said, I most certainly would have taken Lucas Glover because it we're going to change the rules to allow ourselves to pick players based on late season performance, it's hard to see how we could leave off a guy who won two of the last four events.
I also would have taken Justin Thomas because he has a proven record in the format.
It's a crap shoot to decide who's going to be "in form" after a 5 week layoff halfway around the world, but I'd prefer a guy who knows how to compete and contend even when he may or may not be "in form" and that includes Justin Thomas(great team match play record) AND Jordan Spieth who was really struggling. Spieth doesn't need to be  "in form" to demoralize an opponent or even beat him, so I'd always take him.


The jet lag excuse baffles me.
I mean they went over 2 weeks ago, then came back.
Why not just go over a week later, and stay and acclimate, prepare(maybe have players and especially caddies study the greens), enjoy Italy and Rome a bit, rest and not waste precious time and energy crossing the Atlantic and 6 time zones three times before the matches.
It seems ONE 10-14 day trip just would do more good and waste less energy than two separate trips

[Pat Burke]

If you don’t want to play, just turn it down. Weiskopf did. No one is forced to do it. Not for nothing if Cantlay doesn’t play is anyone going to miss him? 

Weiskopf missed to go hunting and got roasted for it

[John Kavanaugh]

In a world where a male partner is granted maternity leave a modern Dad can hardly afford a month away from his young children. Sometimes you gotta touch base.

[Rob Marshall]

If you don’t want to play, just turn it down. Weiskopf did. No one is forced to do it. Not for nothing if Cantlay doesn’t play is anyone going to miss him? 

Weiskopf missed to go hunting and got roasted for it

Yes he did, but if you don’t want to be there unless you are being paid, man up and don’t go. A potential pick could tell the captain to not pick him…..

[John_Cullum]

Why aren't they paid?

[John Kavanaugh]

Why aren't they paid?

Why can’t the PGA survive without Saudi money?