Golf, that maddening, completely bonkers sport, where people often travel alone to then go and sometimes play alone and occasionally drink alone after a round, doesn’t very often get turned on its head and become about us not I…
This week is one of those rare occasions. The plot? United States’ finest female golfers take on Europe’s best for the Solheim Cup. The script? Who the hell knows. But it’s one of the best events in sport let alone golf, because, much like the Ryder Cup, the sheer tension and drama of it all can become unbearable. Here’s Matt Cooper’s take on what happened last time, when Europe ended the USA’s three-event winning streak in the most thrilling fashion.
Not only that, it gives the world’s best golfers the opportunity to play for a team, which makes for the heightened emotion. Miss a shot in regular tournament play and the crowd gasps, commentators rattle through their notes to find the last time so and so hit a ball in a tree and the player in question stares blankly at their seven-iron or caddie.
‘Nevermind’, whispers fan to another fan, ‘There’s always that other player we like in with a chance of victory.’
Miss a shot in team play however, and coffees hundreds of miles away are spilt. Fans switch off the television and begin a spot of impromptu gardening. Some take to the range to ‘show that hopeless so and so how it’s really done’, others seek the comfort of their duvet.
Welcome to team golf. The pressure cooker of all pressure cookers.
‘Why would I want to watch this?’ you ask. The answer is because while there will almost certainly be heartbreaking moments, there are also moments of unparalleled bravery (on the golf course). Holing a six-foot downhill putt to win a major is one thing, only a few rejoice after the feat is achieved. Hole a similarly slippery putt to win the Solheim Cup for you, your teammates, your teammates’ dogs, your dog, your dog’s dog, that guy in the corner, his dog and another four million viewers, is quite remarkable given the pressure of failure.
And that is why the Solheim Cup this weekend is a must. Enjoy. And let your dog watch too.
rarelyonthefairway 