Reasons to go to an away Ryder Cup

What a fantastic victory that was for Team USA at Whistling Straits! 19-9 is the biggest win since ‘Europe’ entered the competition and this young team are well placed to create even more history in years to come. 1993 is the last time USA won the Ryder Cup on overseas soil, which means it will be 30 years since an away win when the event is contested in Rome two years from now. Wouldn’t that be pretty cool to witness first-hand!

Who needs an excuse to go to Italy? No one, right! That’s why this is going to be such a special and possibly unique Ryder Cup. Rome is one of the most famous capital cities in the world and the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club is no more than 25mins drive north-east of the city. If there is ever a place to watch gladiators battle it out, then this is it!

Whilst the four Majors are pretty special and tend to define a golfer’s career, there is nothing quite like the sheer electricity and drama of the Ryder Cup. It is the ultimate test in team golf which tends to bring out the best from arguably the top 24 golfers on the planet at that time. Golf is an individual sport and it is fascinating to watch players come together under the stewardship of their inspirational captain. Personal differences have to be put aside, and egos in check! How about a Brooks and Bryson pairing?!

Now, I appreciate that our chant of ‘USA…USA…USA!’ may be a little uncreative, however it is our duty to drown out the tedious European ‘Ole…Ole…Ole!’. Being an away Ryder Cup means we are in the minority, so get plenty of rest beforehand and warm up your voice. We are going to need it!

If you make the trip over then you have to get up extremely early on day one and get a seat in the stands at the first tee. This is where you will experience the best atmosphere of all. The singing and chanting from both sets of fans in anticipation of the players coming out is something totally unique in golf.

For example, back in 2010 at The Celtic Manor in Wales, Jim Furyk had just won the lucrative $10m FedEx Cup, and when he came onto the tee a section of fans started chanting ‘Come on Jim, lend us five bucks…come on Jim’. The interaction between the fans and these multi-million dollar stars is priceless.