"Instead, this was simply such a much-needed antidote to the micro-management that now dulls the buildup to a biennial joust between a continent and a country. Golfers who ordinarily have plenty to say and who revel in the rarity of team combat find themselves delivering anodyne soundbites. Bradley's blunder was such an endearing reminder of days gone by, when the Ryder Cup was more open to rogue elements."
"The whiff of cordite was never far away. The Ryder Cup needs a little more fizz. That may well be provided by a volatile New York crowd, the arrival of a US president who polarises opinion and stars such as Rory McIlroy or Bryson DeChambeau who should not be backwards in coming forwards when the proper stuff starts."
"More pertinently, the Ryder Cup requires even the occasional away win. This is the weekend for Europe to seize that opportunity, with Luke Donald's class of 2025 the best placed team since 2012 to hand the US a bloody nose in their own back yard. That European win in Medinah was dubbed a miracle."
Keegan Bradley muddled surnames during the opening ceremony, producing a memorable blooper that cut through micro-managed soundbites. The mistake revived a rogue, combustible Ryder Cup atmosphere and underscored a desire for more unpredictability and crowd-driven intensity. A volatile New York crowd, polarising political figures, and outspoken stars such as Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau could restore edge to the contest. The Ryder Cup generates fierce rivalry despite players' off-course familiarity. Competitive validity requires occasional away wins, and Luke Donald's 2025 European team is well placed to challenge the US and seek victory on American soil.
Read at www.theguardian.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]