1) Ryder Cup Part I – Europe hope to make history at Hazeltine this weekend by helping themselves to a fourth successive Ryder Cup victory. You could fill several days with lip-smacking tasters to the big event, but here goes …
USA! USA!! USA!!! hope to stop the rot and recapture their dominant form from Valhalla in 2008, when they won with plenty to spare, rookie Anthony Kim setting the tone by putting Sergio García to the sword, while a bit of needle from the locals did them no harm either. Don’t worry though, they’re much more restrained these days. Obviously no US-based Ryder Cup is likely to pass without Brookline resonating, even though 17 years have implausibly flown by since the bitter events that changed the nature of the contest forever.
When it comes to breaking losing streaks, Europe’s 1985 showing at the Belfry takes some beating, capped off by the arcing putt and iconic ‘tache combo from Sam Torrance to end a US stranglehold on the event that had dated back to the late-1950s. The previous non-US victory: Great Britain at Lindrick in 1957, led by an extremely dapper Dai Rees.
2) Ryder Cup Part II – Official and sadly all-too-brief highlights here from 1981 at Walton Heath, 1983 at PGA National, 1987 at Muirfield, 1989, 1993 and 2002 at the Belfry, 1991 at Kiawah Island, 1995 at Oak Hill Country Club, 1997 at Valderrama, 1999 at Brookline, 2004 at Oakland Hills, 2006 at K Club, 2008 at Valhalla, 2010 at Celtic Manor and 2012 at Medinah. We’ll let you argue among yourselves whether this compilation of the “Greatest Ryder Cup matches of all time” tallies with your own memories. That said, there’s plenty to enjoy in this footage of Seve Ballesteros keeping the crowd’s “ooooh” reflex busy in 1995, while Tiger Woods enjoys the heck out of an eagle in 2004. And as this is the first running of the event since we lost Christy O’Connor Jr in January, make time for that 2 iron from 1989.
On to two years ago at Gleneagles: Ian Poulter chips in, while Rory McIlroy and García pull a couple of sizeable rabbits from their caps on their way to nabbing an unlikely half in the day-one foursomes. Final word, though, to Jamie Donaldson’s phenomenal second shot on the 15th to seal victory, followed by his bravura blanking of a giddy Paul McGinley as he makes he way to the green. Rory goes off a bit prematurely too, mind.
3) Arnold Palmer: In Memoriam, as remembered by Jack Nicklaus, Samuel L Jackson, Lee Trevino, who recalls playing with Palmer in his last competitive round, and some rare footage of his 1960 US Open triumph.
5) On Wednesday it was exactly 20 years since Frankie Dettori gave the rest of the field at Ascot the vidiprinter treatment.
6) Tottenham won a match in the Champions League this week. It doesn’t quite seem as fun as it used to be though …
Highlights from last week’s blog
1) Soundbite gold from Munenori Kawasaki, then of the Toronto Blue Jays, as he explains how he’s going to keep cramp at bay.
2) OUCH corner: Beau Hossler tears his labrum hitting an iron with plenty of course still to play in the semi-finals of the NCAA Championship. He somehow managed a birdie-par finish to take the match, despite dislocating his shoulder four times on the last three holes.
3) Behold: Tchoukball. Simply bounce the ball on a trampoline and avoid having it caught outside the D by an opponent. Cue plenty of cackhanded juggling and variously dismayed expressions.
4) Don’t try this at home corner: how to barrel-roll in a kayak without spilling your beer.
5) Unexpected drama in the stands at the Yankees v Red Sox game, as man planning to propose to girlfriend drops the engagement ring and can’t find it. (SPOILERS: mild peril, contains happy ending.)
Spotters’ badges: Vesuvial, chestnut52, GrahamClayton, fmgazette, nnngola
