• The United States has played the Ryder Cup with Europe since 1979 and there have been 28 points since then. 19 is a new record

  • The fans were not shy about doping, which created an atmosphere of competition that golfers do not often experience, as they usually play solo.

  • Among the viewers were many celebrities who also love to play golf. Michael Jordan revealed that many players asked him for advice

Launched in 1927, the Ryder Cup is not the only golf event played in match form, but it can be considered the most famous and exciting. Initially, the US and UK teams competed, but due to rare British victories in 1979, the game was changed to the US and Europe, and there are 28 points to score since then. Golfers from the Old Continent have won 11 out of 21 matches, but now have lost decisively. The Americans scored a record number of points.

Located on the shores of Lake Michigan, Whistling Straits Golf Course in Wisconsin was filled with a throng of fans who cheered the hosts loudly, creating an atmosphere of competition that golfers don’t often experience, as they usually play solo. Many famous personalities can be seen among the audience, and some of them (for example, former football player Alessandro Del Piero, former basketball player Tony Cuco or actors Rob Riggle and Tom Felton) also took part in the celebrity show match. He is considered the best basketball player in the history of the NBA, and Jordan did not take part in it, although he is also ready to take the baton in his hand. He sometimes plays with some players from the US national team, for example with Dustin Johnson.

A few of them asked me how team sports work, because it comes from a game based on individualism, but it’s a little different in a game like this. The most important thing is simplicity. Sometimes people tend to go ahead and do more than they can. I’ve always thought that when I play an important game, it should be handled very simply. I’ve been doing this my whole life, so why would I do something like this I’ve never done before? Enthusiastic about his countrymen’s success, Jordan said, simplicity is the best advice I can give people.

On Friday and Saturday, players played in pairs with two systems. Every day 8 pairs fight with each other – 4 in the quadruple formula and 4 in the “four balls”. In both cases, the number of holes won is decisive, but in the first two players from one team alternate with one ball, and in the second, each has its own ball and the best result is one of the two players on the team. It is easy to guess that the four-ball requires an equal level of both golfers, and in a four-ball it is enough for one to play great. 12 singles matches were played on Sunday.

Johnson was only the third player since the aforementioned format change in 1979 to score 5 points in 5 matches. Johnson scored 3 of 4 points with Colin Morikawa, one point with Tokyo Olympic champion Xander Shaveli, and one point apart. Morikawa and Patrick Cantlay scored 3.5 points each. The US victory should come as no surprise, as 8 out of 10 golfers in the top 10 in the world rankings are Americans. On the other hand, there were 5 novice players in their roster.

In Team Europe, only Spaniard John Ram (No. 1 in the world rankings) and Sergio Garcia, who won three matches in a duo, disappointed. After their meeting, Europe was leading 1-0, but on the first day it scored only two more draws. The morning session of the second day was again a victory for Ram and Garcia and defeats for the rest. The Europeans performed better in the evening, but at 5:11 it became clear that only a miracle in the singles series could bring victory to the guests. Nothing like that happened. Ireland’s Rory McIlroy (1 point in 4 games), England’s Paul Casey (0 on 4) and Norway’s youngest player at 24, Victor Hovland (1 in 5) were disappointed.

According to the original calendar, the next Ryder Cup was scheduled to be held next year in Rome, but after the 2020 edition was postponed for a year, it was agreed that the next edition would also be held in the singles year, that is, in 2023.