Columnist Peter Benton: U.S. has the goods to retain Ryder Cup

Peter Benton

Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2002 | 9:11 a.m.

Peter Benton's golf column appears Wednesday.

The 34th Ryder Cup, often referred to as the golf world's greatest team event, gets under way Friday over the 7,118-yard, par-72 Brabazon Course at The Belfry in Sutton Coldfield, England.

It is obvious that both captains, Curtis Strange (U.S.) and Sam Torrance (Europe), have insisted that the game this year be played in the spirit Sam Ryder (who inaugurated the Cup in 1927) would have wanted -- fiercely competitive and yet totally sportsmanlike.

Format for the 12-man teams will be match play, including foursomes (two-man teams playing alternate shot), four-ball (two-man teams playing better ball) and singles (18 holes of match play). The order of play during the first two days (foursomes or four-ball) is determined through mutual agreement of the team captains.

Twenty-eight points are up for grabs and since the Ryder Cup changed in 1979 from USA vs. Great Britain and Ireland to USA vs. Europe, most of the matches have been close and/or hard fought.

The United States won 17-11 in 1979, 18 1/2-9 1/2 in 1981 and 14 1/2-13 1/2 in 1983.

Then in 1985, over the course being played this week, Europe finally came through, winning 16 1/2-11 1/2. Since then the competition has been fierce with both sides winning three times and one draw.

You may recall that the last Ryder Cup, won 14 1/2-13 1/2 by the U.S., ended in controversy after some American players and their wives celebrated Justin Leonard's huge putt that halved his match with Jose Maria Olazabal.

It is difficult to imagine the U.S. not retaining the Cup, as on paper, it is the far stronger team. This was further confirmed in last week's American Express Championship played in Ireland and won by Tiger Woods. The American contingent finished far stronger than the European players, and unless something strange occurs, I believe our boys will bring the Cup back home without too much trouble.

Torrance was eloquent and sincere when he said: "All of us, players and spectators alike, are the stewards of golf's traditions and the way in which we behave and conduct ourselves here will influence how others -- golfers and non-golfers alike -- see and judge the game."