It’s no surprise that Ryder Cup golf’s recent history is one of home defeats. Since 2014, 5 consecutive matches have left the away team crushed and most of the away team captains have received quite heavy criticism.
The role of away team captain is equivalent to being thrown into the lion’s den, and this year at Marco Simone, after another annihilation, a question was asked on Sunday:
What will happen What if Luke Donald, who produced such a magnificent piece of work in Rome and enjoyed the complete trust of his players, took over the reins in 2025 at Bethpage Black?
That certainly seems reasonable.
If the problem is that it’s difficult to win on the road, wouldn’t it be more helpful to have a captain with real Ryder Cup experience than to have a captain who’s stepping into the fire for the first time? When you think about it, golf is one of the only team sports where the leader of the team starts exactly one match.
This wouldn’t make sense in baseball, basketball, or soccer, so why does it make sense here? At least that wasn’t a shame: the away team couldn’t have done worse, right?
Again, is being captain for once part of what makes the Ryder Cup so special? Does that mean there are fewer opportunities for longtime veterans, including European LIV defectors, to return soon? By trying to make it even more of a professional event, are we losing the spirit a bit?
This is one of two cases heard this week on the Local Knowledge podcast in our first episode of Golf. The second part also covers the topic of the Ryder Cup:
Should the DP World Tour be deprived of the right to choose a host venue when the Cup is held in Europe to minimize possible financial and event incentives take place across several locations? Historical links of courses such as St. Andrews and Royal Birkdale, instead of soulless resorts? Or will it be a financial death sentence for the DP World Tour?
With a judge presiding and two lawyers defending the case, we attempted to settle the matter once and for all. Check out the podcast below or wherever you listen.
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