It’s that time of the year again, where the USA will take on someone in the World in match play events. This time its the Presidents Cup, a team event heavily backed by the US PGA Tour, with the opposition being the Internationals, made up of all those countries outside of Europe or the US. The eleventh time the bi-annual event has been held, this time in South Korea, but I must confess, I don’t really buy in and there are many reasons:
a. Team USA has heavily dominated the event winning 8 out of 10 times
b. Team International has won just the once in 1998 at Royal Melbourne Golf Club and drawn another
c. Team USA is usually a lot stronger, with a majority much higher ranked than the International players
d. The event favours Team USA to win, having far more points available for a much stronger field
e. It is a manufactured event designed to make money by the US PGA Tour, due to the fact they have no control over the much more successful Ryder Cup
Entrance to Royal Melbourne Golf Club during 2011 Presidents Cup
I’m not trying to sound negative or a sore loser, but with such lop sided results, it’s hard to get excited over a team which is basically the rest of the World not involved in Ryder Cup. I do barrack for the Aussies, hoping for a win, but its not the same as supporting one country, as is the case for the USA, or Europe, where the countries are a lot closer and have a tighter bond together. Lets face it, they have a lot more history, even through their difficult times. The Internationals are just too dispersed to really create that bond, with members from Asia, Africa and Oceania regions.
This year does see a reduction in the points, from 34 down to 30, in an effort to make a closer result. Certainly something needs to be done to make it even. Having one side totally dominate doesn’t help the event at all. Every time the Ryder Cup is held, I do get excited, as it will be unpredictable on what will happen, even with Europe dominating the last ten years, there has been spectacular climaxes. Even this years Solheim Cup was dramatic with a comeback by the US ladies. But it really does feel like the script has already been written for the Presidents Cup. Another win to team USA. Although we can always hope for a change. Go the Rest of the World.
Comments
Well how wrong was I. Even though the USA won the cup, it was an entertaining spectacle, with the Internationals almost getting there. Would be great to see it carried out in the same format as the Ryder Cup to see a more even contest though. Lets see what happens in 2 years time.