Ryder Cup ... has it 'Jumped the Shark'?

[dashanks]

Ryder Cup is a made for TV money grab?   Established in 1927?  Hmmm.  It's not the Cup's fault that it has devolved into the hyped-up, over-blown circus that it is today.   That is just the way the world has headed.  Class and civility are becoming very rare commodities.   

[JohnnyCashForever]

9 hours ago, drn92 said:

I think the nationalism has gone too far. 

 

The Ryder Cup was literally founded on nationalism.  USA vs Great Britain in 1927.

 

Let's put it this way.  There's no way I'm waking up at 6am to watch Wyndham Clark play Robert MacIntyre for themselves.  I will wake up at 6am to watch Clark (USA) vs MacIntyre (EUR).  Nationalism is the Ryder Cup.    

Edited October 4, 2023 by JohnnyCashForever
Clarity

[imakaveli]

22 hours ago, Putter Addict said:

Yes. Sorry to say this, but Rory was right years ago. It is an exhibition. Also feels extra contrived given that nowadays most Europeans play full time on the PGA. Add to it the consolidation of the PGA and DP, it just doesn't have the teeth it used to. As much as I hate LIV, that would be something truly worth watching. LIV vs PGA/DP is a legit rivalry now. Would be much more compelling IMO. 

 

To be precise Rory said at the 2009 Irish Open:

 

"It's not a huge goal of mine. It's an exhibition at the end of the day. In the big scheme of things it's not that important of an event for me. Obviously, I'll try my best for the team but I'm not going to be running around fist-pumping"

 

Then he played in one:

 

 

 

p.s. that Fastback is sweet!

[Putter Addict]

3 minutes ago, imakaveli said:

 

To be precise Rory said at the 2009 Irish Open:

 

"It's not a huge goal of mine. It's an exhibition at the end of the day. In the big scheme of things it's not that important of an event for me. Obviously, I'll try my best for the team but I'm not going to be running around fist-pumping"

 

Then he played in one:

 

 

 

p.s. that Fastback is sweet!

I miss G-Mac. He was the reason I bought my 330. That 2010 season he was lights out with that Odyssey. 

[imakaveli]

1 minute ago, Putter Addict said:

I miss G-Mac. He was the reason I bought my 330. That 2010 season he was lights out with that Odyssey. 

We all miss G-Mac 

 

[MtlJeff]

I think it's a fun event, some elements of it definitely feel contrived. At the end of the day i think the fans and media make it into a more competitive event than the players think it is. They get out there and want to win because the fans are very passionate

 

But as people have pointed out, many of these guys are friends and play on the same tour now. So i think there's some bragging rights, wanting to win etc....but this isn't some big death match. 

 

I also find the "strategy" of it completely overblown and over-analyzed. I think a Monkey could be the captain and it wouldn't change much. 

[syenkoc]

Delete

Edited October 11, 2023 by syenkoc

[jdl]

11 hours ago, bobfoster said:

 

 

May also be (as has also been mentioned) that the line between the US and EU has become so blurred it is now almost non-existent. Anyone with the chops now simply has a PGAT card, whether they are from the US or EU (or for that matter, Asia). Almost need to take a minute to think that Rory and Rahmbo are "European" golfers. I mean, with a couple of exceptions, the players were the same that I see every week during the season - this tourney just looked like a normal PGAT event, just with different formats. 

 

But as I think about what I'm writing, I realize that I'm trying to find some reason, some excuse. Bottom line is, I have no idea why, but it seemed just really stale or something. I couldn't bring myself to care - either who won individual matches or what continent won the Cup. But as I said, that might just be me.

 

IMO the fact that most of the top Euro guys play (&live) in the US now has been part of the diminished sizzle  of the RC for some time.

 

I think this year it was even more so because of LIV. Not that too many guys were really missing - Brooks was there, may a case could have been made for Bryson. But the others, especially on the European side wouldn't have made it anyway. However, the fact that guys like Poulter, Sergio, etc weren't even in the discussion or around the event made it clear this was very different now. Those guys were kind of the last guard of players that really made the DP Tour their home. And of course the Euro captaincy had to be changed, too. And longer term, those guys along with Phil are probably not going to be given the chance to be a captain.

 

So yeah to the OP's point maybe a line has been crossed. Still TBD what the new landscape will look like and how that will affect things from here.

Edited October 4, 2023 by jdl

[elwhippy]

It has too commercial and over-hyped. Needs pared back. 50000 people a day is too many. True golf fans avoid attending as the RC attracts the corporate event junkies whose sole ambition is to get drunk. Bethpage could get really ugly. 

[tgoodspe1991]

The main problem with the Ryder Cup is that it's become stale and hasn't been competitive for over 10 years. They need to do away with Captain's picks and go straight off the rankings. They also need to limit how many times someone can captain, vice captain, or be on the team leadership at all. At least from the US side we have seen nearly the exact same people either lead or play on the team for like the last 7+ Ryder and President's Cups...

 

I'd also love to see the format change a little bit. I find the last day of every Ryder Cup to be incredibly anti-climactic. It's a team event, yet we end the last day on a bunch of singles matches. It's kind of a snooze. Maybe they could at least play the last day in foursomes, or, hell, make the last day a scramble, just anything to make it more engaging than 12 separate matches coming off the heels of 72 straight holes of team golf. 

 

 

[mshills]

14 hours ago, kiwigolf72 said:

I agree about bethpage,I think it will be hijacked by non traditional golf fans who some how see yelling abuse and being obnoxious as the way to help their team win.such a shame as both teams have incredible golfers and that's what we should be celebrating 

 

I watched a bit more than I thought I would -- it's easy for me to get sucked into match play since it's not common at this level.  The actual competition is fine if you are able to tune out all the other BS.  I don't 'gram or tweet, so that helps, and no interest in watching press conferences.

I do wish the coverage would change but it's not going to happen.  All the false dramatization and breathless talking, being done by the worst on-air team in sports (NBC) is a pretty tough listen, and makes it hard to tune out the aforementioned BS unless you use the MUTE button.

 

Likewise, am confident Bethpage will be a mess and don't look forward to that at all.

[kiwigolf72]

47 minutes ago, mshills said:

 

I watched a bit more than I thought I would -- it's easy for me to get sucked into match play since it's not common at this level.  The actual competition is fine if you are able to tune out all the other BS.  I don't 'gram or tweet, so that helps, and no interest in watching press conferences.

I do wish the coverage would change but it's not going to happen.  All the false dramatization and breathless talking, being done by the worst on-air team in sports (NBC) is a pretty tough listen, and makes it hard to tune out the aforementioned BS unless you use the MUTE button.

 

Likewise, am confident Bethpage will be a mess and don't look forward to that at all.

I have heard others say the same about the coverage, maybe because I am in NZ, we had a different feed, but I found it ok, commentary wise.

[Dutch1008]

3 hours ago, tgoodspe1991 said:

I find the last day of every Ryder Cup to be incredibly anti-climactic. It's a team event, yet we end the last day on a bunch of singles matches. It's kind of a snooze. Maybe they could at least play the last day in foursomes, or, hell, make the last day a scramble, just anything to make it more engaging than 12 separate matches coming off the heels of 72 straight holes of team golf.

Please no. Rory vs JT, Rory vs Reed, the last two Rahm vs Scheffler matchups, Fitz vs Homa have been awesome. It's only been anti-climatic because the events haven't been close going into the last day. 

 

I agree that the event is overhyped but that is a function of the media and the corporate marketing machines. Regardless, I still enjoy it. The only suggestion I've heard that I believe would be truly accretive is to allow the away team to set up the course. Home team picks the venue and gets the fan support but the away team gets to control the set up to balance that out. 

Edited October 4, 2023 by Dutch1008

[tatertot]

1 hour ago, tgoodspe1991 said:

The main problem with the Ryder Cup is that it's become stale and hasn't been competitive for over 10 years. They need to do away with Captain's picks and go straight off the rankings. They also need to limit how many times someone can captain, vice captain, or be on the team leadership at all. At least from the US side we have seen nearly the exact same people either lead or play on the team for like the last 7+ Ryder and President's Cups...

 

I'd also love to see the format change a little bit. I find the last day of every Ryder Cup to be incredibly anti-climactic. It's a team event, yet we end the last day on a bunch of singles matches. It's kind of a snooze. Maybe they could at least play the last day in foursomes, or, hell, make the last day a scramble, just anything to make it more engaging than 12 separate matches coming off the heels of 72 straight holes of team golf. 

 

 

I've never thought about it ... but you're spot on about Sunday. Friday and Saturday are awesome, but Sunday is always a drag, even when it's a close. Great call. We need a new format for Sunday ... something where all 12 players play their own ball, but not four ball.

[Stevens24]

I think the coverage this year made  it hard. I wish they could simply get 3 sponsors and show 9 minutes of commercials an hour. And having guys who are on the team because of TV or they are in the “ crowd” is brutal. Go back to only having 2 captains picks. JT, Jordan and Morikawa had no business k. The team with how they were playing. Bryson , Glover and Bradley were hot and warmed it

[tatertot]

2 minutes ago, Stevens24 said:

I think the coverage this year made  it hard. I wish they could simply get 3 sponsors and show 9 minutes of commercials an hour. And having guys who are on the team because of TV or they are in the “ crowd” is brutal. Go back to only having 2 captains picks. JT, Jordan and Morikawa had no business k. The team with how they were playing. Bryson , Glover and Bradley were hot and warmed it

Guess what? If you gave Zach just 2 picks, Jordan and Morikawa would have still been on the team, because they were both in the top 10 in points ... 

 

Bryson got hot, but remember, he won 1 of his 2 tournaments AFTER selections were made.

 

And Zach would have been RIPPED if he picked Bradley.

 

Hindsight is always 20/20. Reality is, the Euros had all the star power AND the momentum ... we should have seen the beatdown coming.

[grm24]

33 minutes ago, tatertot said:

We need a new format for Sunday ... something where all 12 players play their own ball, but not four ball.

Pretty certain they already do that on Sunday of the RC. 😁

[grm24]

55 minutes ago, tatertot said:

Bryson got hot, but remember, he won 1 of his 2 tournaments AFTER selections were made.

And in the event he won before the RC selections he only started getting considered by some is becuase he shot the 58. Had he shot say a 67 and won he never would have been mentioned for the RC. And he shouldn't of. Talor Gooch has had a better season than BDC. Even after BDC's recent win.

Edited October 4, 2023 by grm24

[Ignatius Reilly]

2 hours ago, grm24 said:

Pretty certain they already do that on Sunday of the RC. 😁

Good catch!

 

Off the top of my head, I was thinking they could try a 24-ball as a new alternative.

 

I haven't quite worked out a few of the details, like scoring and concessions, but it would be fresh and different.

[imakaveli]

15 hours ago, Ignatius Reilly said:

Good catch!

 

Off the top of my head, I was thinking they could try a 24-ball as a new alternative.

 

I haven't quite worked out a few of the details, like scoring and concessions, but it would be fresh and different.

 

How about Match play speed golf?

 

[hammersia]

Strange how there wasn't a similar thread when the US won at Whistling Straits.

 

Mystifying I tell you. And I shall remain mystified all day.

[Mcfly]

If one good thing came from the Ryder Cup on the American side, it's that we shouldn't have to listen to this stupid song/commercial on Golf Channel/NBC two years from now. 

 

[golfheaven69]

On 10/3/2023 at 4:14 PM, BrianMcG said:

The past few matches have started to get the feel of WWE. Lots of hand wringing and contrived controversy. 
 

“Oh no, someone celebrated too much after a putt”, “Oh no, fans cheered when I hit it in the water. Th hurts my feelings”. 

You must have never watched Seve. 

[caniac6]

I really don’t like the behavior of the fans on both sides. It’s the same behavior that gets gets criticized at the Wasted Management every year. I don’t know why it seems to get a pass at the RC. Adults wearing costumes at a golf tournament. Pretty stupid look at me behavior.

[Mcfly]

44 minutes ago, caniac6 said:

I really don’t like the behavior of the fans on both sides. It’s the same behavior that gets gets criticized at the Wasted Management every year. I don’t know why it seems to get a pass at the RC. Adults wearing costumes at a golf tournament. Pretty stupid look at me behavior.

I agree 100%, but at the same time I'd give a month's pay if I was to turn on Sunday at The Masters and see that these guys had somehow managed to sneak into the picture on 18 green.  

[caniac6]

2 hours ago, Mcfly said:

I agree 100%, but at the same time I'd give a month's pay if I was to turn on Sunday at The Masters and see that these guys had somehow managed to sneak into the picture on 18 green.  

I think it’s a pretty safe bet you’ll never see that at Augusta.

[jonsnow]

Would we be as down on the Ryder Cup if the U.S. had won? I'm not saying, I'm just saying...