Ryder Cup embarrassment for Europe

Caption: The United States team is all smiles following it's trouncing of Europe by 19-9 in the Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits, Wisconsin, in the United States last month. Photo credit: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images.

It was Europe's worst defeat in the Ryder Cup.

United States last month demolished Europe by a score of 19-9 which is the biggest win since Europe began competing in the Ryder Cup in 1979.

The tournament had previously been been contested between the United States and Great Britain and Ireland.

The previous biggest margin between the US and Europe had been nine points when a score of 18.5 to 9.5 points was posted. That score had been recorded three times when the US won in 1981 and when Europe won in both 2004 and 2006.

The Ryder Cup, from an American viewpoint was, presumably, compelling watching.

From a European viewpoint it was painful.

Europe was just never in contention. It lost the first session on Friday morning (US time) 3-1. It lost the Friday afternoon session 3-1, the Saturday morning session 3-1 and tied the Saturday afternoon session 2-2.

Caption: United States captain Steve Stricker proudly poses with the Ryder Cup following his team's win at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin in the United States. Photo credit: Patrick Smith/ Getty Images

Europe needed to win the singles matches on Sunday by at least 9-3 but almost achieved the opposite, going down 4-8.

The Ryder Cup result was perhaps best summed up before a ball was hit when it was pointed out the United States had nine of the world’s top 11 ranked players. Europe had one — John Rahm.

Because the Americans kept winning, perhaps more interesting was the venue of the Whistling Straits golf course in Wisconsin.

It was the first time the Ryder Cup had been held at a public course on US soil in 30 years.

The previous time had been in 1991 when it was held at the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort in South Carolina.

Whistling Straits is well known to many. It has hosted the PGA Championship three times in 2004, 2010 and 2015 but it was good to see it again.

It has more than 1000 bunkers — some as small as a table top — and nine of the holes run along the shore of the massive Lake Michigan. As a consequence the course gives the appearance of a links course that might be often seen in Britain for such an event.

Green fees for the public vary during the year but the peak rate is $US485 which is up with the likes of other bucket-list public options such as Pebble Beach, Pinehurst No 2, TPC Sawgrass and Shadow Creek.

Apologies. We should get back to the Ryder Cup.

Ah, um, oh yes. The next Ryder Cup. It will be held in 2023 in the Italian capital of Rome at the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club. Marco Simone has just hosted the Italian Open and is 30 minutes from the centre of Rome, with views of the city from the course.

Also don’t forget the Presidents’ Cup in North Carolina in September of next year. That’s when non-European countries get together to play the United States in a Ryder Cup format.

Who won the last Ryder Cup? Can’t remember