TEAM SPIRIT

In the name of tradition, teamwork and sportsmanship, the best golfers from Europe and the US battled it out at the 44th edition of The Ryder Cup

- KC YAP

NAMED AFTER ENGLISH BUSINESSMAN and golf enthusiast Samuel Ryder, who donated the trophy for an international competition between the United States and British professional golfers at Worcester Country Club, Massachusetts in 1927, The Ryder Cup is the biennial contest between Europe and the United States in which the best of both the Old and New Worlds compete in two teams of 12 over three days for the Samuel Ryder Trophy.

Synonymous with tradition, teamwork and sportsmanship, The Ryder Cup honours the collective, with some of the finest champions in the game channelling their individual talent for the greater achievement of the group. Fierce battles are waged with utmost respect between opponents, and intergenerational solidarity and camaraderie are at a premium.

The match-play competition has even been described by Rolex Testimonee and former World No.1 golfer Luke Donald as “the purest form of competition that we have in our sport. We play a lot of individual tournaments but to come together as a team and do something for the collective rather than just yourself is special. There is nothing quite like representing your country or continent.”

Elaborating on The Ryder Cup, fellow Testimonee and living legend Jack Nicklaus said, “These competitions are very different to Majors and other golf competitions. In team competitions such as The Ryder Cup, your competition becomes your partner in the different matches. I am pretty certain that Arnold Palmer and I never lost a match. We played together a lot throughout our competitive golf careers. These are opportunities for you to become really close with your partner and to create a special bond that can last the entirety of your life. That is the beauty of these competitions.”