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Golf

The Ryder Cup

Medinah Country Club, Illinois

25 - 30 September 2012


This year’s Ryder Cup gets underway this month at the Medinah Country Club, Illinois, where Europe and America will battle it out for the prestigious Ryder Cup trophy.

Davis Love III, American Captain

Jose Maria Olazabal, European Captain

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The Ryder Cup, a great sporting event founded on prestige rather than prize money, initially included the best American and British golfing professionals. The first informal matches were played in 1921 at Gleneagles, Scotland. These games were played just before the 2,000 Guineas Match Play Championship, with the British winning 9-3.

Another unofficial match was played when Golf’s Governing Body, the R&A, made the decision to have qualifying rounds before the 1926 Open Championship. This meant that the American competitors had to arrive early. As this gave them plenty of spare time, they agreed to form a team for an unofficial match against the British at Wentworth Club. The British team soundly won again by 13 1/2 - 1 1/2.

Samuel Ryder was an English seed merchant and entrepreneur. Born in 1858, he was the son of a Manchester corn merchant and was educated at Manchester University. He later moved to St. Albans in Hertfordshire and formed the Heath and Heather Seed Company. His business quickly became very successful,

he made his fortune selling penny seed packets, and in 1906 his social standing was so high that he was elected Mayor of St. Albans. Before the matches at Wentworth, Ryder had hired the British star Abe Mitchell as his personal golf tutor. At the 1926 matches, Mitchell beat the reigning Open Champion Jim Barnes in the singles, and then along with George Duncan in the foursomes, beat Walter Hagen and Jim Barnes. It was after this that Duncan suggested Ryder should provide a trophy and encourage the organisation of matches on a regular basis. Ryder agreed and commissioned the design of

a gold chalice with his name, and a figure resembling Mitchell on the top. The cup was designed by Mappin & Webb Company and was worth £250.

The inaugural Ryder Cup was held a year later, in 1927, at Worcester Country Club, Massachusetts. This historic match was won by the American team, 9 1/2 - 2 1/2.

The first U.S. Ryder Cup Team was captained by Hagen, a charter Member of The PGA of America. Joining Hagen on the Team were Leo Diegel, Johnny Farrell, Johnny Golden, Bill Mehlhorn, Gene Sarazen, Joe Turnesa and Al Watrous. Mike Brady and Al Espinosa were named alternates.

The History of

The Ryder Cup

The first informal matches were played in 1921 at Gleneagles, Scotland.

The Ryder Cup, designed by Mappin & Webb Company.

Walter Hagen (left) and his caddy, Jimmy McDonald in 1926.

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The British Team was originally set with Mitchell as Captain, but unfortunately, he was suffering from appendicitis and had to remain behind. Ted Ray took over, and was joined on the team by Aubrey Boomer, Archie Compston, George Duncan, George Gadd, Arthur Havers, Herbert Jolly, Fred Robson and C.A. (Charles) Whitcombe. Ryder, the man who had the idea of selling seeds in little packets, had now sown the seed!

Ryder, who would serve two terms as Mayor of St. Albans, lived to see two Ryder Cup encounters on his home soil. He died of a massive haemorrhage, in London, on January 2, 1936, aged 77.

Ryder’s youngest daughter, Joan, was her father’s constant companion at all his golfing events. She witnessed all The Ryder Cups in Great Britain, and one in America, in 1983, when the U.S. edged the Europeans at PGA National Golf Club in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Joan Ryder’s final appearance at The Ryder Cup was at The Belfry in 1985. She called that edition of the matches “the most exciting ever.” Later that year, she died at her home in Sussex at age 81.

Europeans Join the Fight for the Cup

In 1973, The Ryder Cup was held for the first time in Scotland at Muirfield. The PGA of Great Britain altered its selection procedure by having eight players chosen from a year-long points system and four by invitation.

1979 marked a new chapter in the history of the Ryder Cup. This year saw the introduction of players from continental Europe. After years of U.S. domination, the tide started to turn. In 1985 Europe won at The Belfry for the first time, and two years later at Muirfield Village, the USA lost on home ground for the first time.

The idea came about as far back as 1971, when John Jacobs, the first Director General of The European Tour, saw that the golfing future lay in Europe. As The European Tour grew into a cosmopolitan mix of players from all nationalities, the logical step was to include these players in The Ryder Cup and change the matches to Europe versus America.

The changes in team selection procedure were approved by descendants of the Ryder family and The PGA of America. The major change was expanding selection procedures to include players from the European Tournament Players’ Division, allowing European Members to play on the team.

The move to include the continental players was a major step in upgrading The Ryder Cup. The U.S. had won all but one competition from 1959 to 1977, the exception being the match in 1969 at Royal Birkdale in Southport, England, which ended in a draw.

The first Ryder Cup using the expanded European selection format, was played at The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, in 1979. The first two Europeans

to make the team were both Spaniards, Severiano Ballesteros and Antonio Garrido. Ballesteros went on to become one of the most successful players in The Ryder Cup’s history. He has a record of 20 wins, 12 losses and five halves, in eight Ryder Cup appearances.

The European Tour, offered a huge variety of types of golf courses, different climates and cultures. This has helped to produce players of unprecedented durability. Playing throughout Europe has given them the necessary technique and confidence to deal with all course situations. The Ryder Cup has grown to become one of the most compelling events in world sport!

Abe Mitchell Ted Ray

Samuel Ryder with his daughter Joan.

George Duncan (right) is presented with the Ryder Cup by Samuel Ryder in 1929

Severiano Ballesteros


In the early 1920’s a group from Chicago’s Medinah Temple had a dream to create a country retreat. They wanted to build the best country club in North America with a 54-hole golf complex and a variety of other recreational activities. They selected several plots of land in an area then known as Meacham, in northern DuPage County.

They brought in Tom Bendelow, a world-renowned golf course architect from Scotland to design the golf courses. In 1926, their dream was fulfilled and they enjoyed their first round of golf at Medinah on course number 1.Construction on the second course was completed a year later. Both of these courses have hosted a number of amateur, professional, and Chicago District Golf Association events. Course number 3 was originally designed for Medinah’s ladies and was completed in 1928. Bendelow’s layout only lasted for three years, and a major redesign took place in the early 1930’s.

The clubhouse was planned and designed by Richard G. Schmid. He had a flair for blending the classic lines of Byzantine, Oriental, Louis XIV, and Italian architecture characteristic of many Masonic structures. Schmid’s design gave Medinah’s clubhouse the taste, style, and elegance still evident today.

A complete restoration and remodelling of the clubhouse was completed in 1997, and at the same time, fine art conservators cleaned and restored all the interior frescos, murals and decorative stencilling. A new golf shop, and shooting lodge were also built.

Over the years, changes have been made to the three golf courses. A re-design of the third course, by golf architect, Rees Jones, was completed in 2002.

Major events held here include three Western Opens, two U.S. Opens, a Senior U.S. Open, and two PGA Championships. When the 2012 Ryder Cup competition is held at Medinah, eighty-eight years after the club’s founding, it will mark another crowning achievement in Medinah history.

Medinah Country Club

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The Ryder Cup is a clash that is now regarded on both sides of the Atlantic as a Major. Players on both teams have taken a year to qualify for a place. The USA qualification system ended at the US PGA Championship, won by Europe’s Rory McIlroy by an impressive eight shots. A win that takes him back to the top of the world rankings. In the American system, the top eight automatically qualify from their rankings, then the captain, Dave Love III gets to pick four others in early September. The eight qualifiers are Tiger Woods, Keegan Bradley, Jason Dufner, Zach Johnson, Matt Kuchar, Phil Mickleson, Webb Simpson and Bubba Watson. The American team has three rookies; Keegan, Webb and Jason. Matt and Bubba will be playing their second Ryder Cup, but their first on home soil. Only Phil – 9 times, Tiger – 6 times, and Zach – 3 times, have any real experience. Because of this, I am sure Davis will pick Jim Furyk and Steve Stricker to bring some valuable experience along, with Hunter Mahan who is in great form, and the exciting Rickie Fowler.

Europe’s qualification finished at the Johnny Walker Championship at Gleneagles. Europe’s qualification system is different from America’s. The top five European’s from the Money List, and top five world ranked players who are not in the Money List automatically qualify. Going into Gleneagles, eight were guaranteed their place. They are Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Graeme McDowell, Paul Lawrie, Francesco Molinari, Luke Donald, Lee Westwood, and Peter Hanson. Martin Kaymer is ninth, and it will take something amazing for him not to get in. The tenth spot could go down to the wire between Serg Garcia and Ian Poulter. But I am sure captain Jose Maria Olazabal, will choose the one who misses out as one of his two picks. The other pick will be between Padraig Harrington and Nicolas Colsarts. I think he will go with Harrington. Olazabal has named Thomas Bjorn, Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley as vice captains.

So Europe’s team will be flying over the pond as the most experienced team ever sent, and probably slight favourites in what is already shaping up to be yet another titanic match. It would be great if, come Sunday, it came down to the last match, and that match was between Rory and Tiger. What a finish that would be!

What are we in store for at this year’s Ryder Cup?

Tiger Woods

Rory McIlroy

Justin Rose

Keegan Bradley


The Players

Keegan Bradley

Rory McIlroy

Phil Mickelson

Francesco Molinari

Jason Dufner

Justin Rose

Webb Simpson

Luke Donald

Zach Johnson

Graeme McDowell

Bubba Watson

Lee Westwood

Matt Kuchar

Paul Lawrie

Tiger Woods

Peter Hanson

TEAM EUROPE

TEAM USA

© 2012 Callaway Golf Company. Callaway, Callaway Golf, the Chevron Device and RAZR Fit are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Callaway Golf Company. Golf Digest and the Hot List logo are the property of Conde Naste Publications. 110391

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menslifestylespain.com september 2012 21© 2012 Callaway Golf Company. Callaway, Callaway Golf, the Chevron Device and RAZR Fit are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Callaway Golf Company. Golf Digest and the Hot List logo are the property of Conde Naste Publications. 110391

SIMPLE ADJUSTABILITY THAT MATTERS.

™INTRODUCING THE

Built from the most advanced materials in the world, it’s the rst driver to incorporate meaningful adjustability without sacri cing performance. Which at Callaway, is one feature we’ve never been willing to compromise.

DECEMBER 14, 2011. ÁLVARO QUIRÓS DRIVES 310 YARDS ACROSS THE FOUNTAINS OF BELLAGIO IN LAS VEGAS. CALLAWAYGOLF.COM SCAN CODE FOR MORE

™INTRODUCING THE

UK RAZR Fit 210x297 SP v3.indd 1 13/02/2012 16:08


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Different gripping methods for puttingThere is no right or wrong way to grip a putter, below are several techniques.

With so many to choose from, the best advice is to fi nd one that is easy for you to line up, feels right and looks good.

WHICH PUTTER?

The length depends on which putting method suits you.

WHICH LENGTH?

There is no correct or incorrect way to grip a putter. This is a Reverse Overlap, as used by Tiger Woods and Tom Watson.

REVERSE OVERLAP

In this Reverse Grip, put your left hand below your right. This is a popular method as it stops the bottom hand taking over.

REVERSE GRIP

The Claw is a method which a few pro’s, including Sergio Garcia, are now using.

THE CLAW

Use the Langers Grip before converting to the long.

LANGERS GRIP

If you’re not getting on with the conventional methods, try the Long Putter, or Broomhandle, with your top hand at your chest.

THE LONG PUTTER OR BROOMHANDLE

.....Or, as Torrance does - from the chin. The Belly needs to be fi tted to your measurements, with the butt end anchored to your belly.

THE BELLY

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Personally, I don’t think that you can ban something that has been in use for some 20 years now. The argument is mainly about the Belly Putter, and the anchoring of the butt end firmly into the body, but it’s only in the last year that this argument has come to light with four of the last six Majors having been won by somebody using a Belly.

So the arguments put forward to ban it are that the anchoring of the butt end is not in the spirit and tradition of the game. Also, it is considered an aid used to help those with putting problems overcome their nerves. Those in favour of it staying say, and rightfully so, that if people do not approve then they should have been outlawed from the off, not 20 years later. The traditional argument is a joke in my opinion, as how can traditionalists say to ban these putters because it’s not in the tradition of the game, yet allow what has been without doubt the biggest improvement in golf over the last 25 years; metal woods! For the metal headed drivers, fairway woods and rescues are the biggest changes in the world of Golf. I am sure that there are players on both tours whom if you gave them a permission headed driver, they wouldn’t hit the course! Certainly metal woods have added 20% more distance and a lot more accuracy, but traditionally they were made from wood!

An interesting statistic is that out of the world’s top 20 putters, not one of them is using a Belly or Long putter!

Personally I am in favour of the game moving forward for the good of all. If golfers no matter what standard they are, find using a Belly or Long putter helps them to better and enjoy this great game then let them. I am sure not everyone agrees but until golf’s governing bodies makes a ruling then this debate will continue.

Belly Putts... In or Out?There’s a big argument raging in the world of Golf. Should Belly and Long putters be banned or not? Now before I have my say, I’ll own up to the fact that I have been using a Long putter for about 10 years.

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Practice makes the perfect putt!

Bradley Smith A PGA qualified professional for 36 years.

Qualified for the senior open championship at Carnoustie 2010. Available for individual, group and playing lessons.

Email: [email protected] Mobile: 0034 600 345 882

Whatever practice method you are using, make sure you get your eyes as near to over the ball line as possible. A simple test is to take your address position, then drop a ball from between your eyes. It should hit the middle of the putter!

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It is always important to get the speed right. Another great drill is to place 4 tees at different distances and putt the ball to each of them.

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Putting is all about practice. A good practice is from 3-6 ft around the clock, especially if there is a slight slope.

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A great practice drill is to make a corridor and putt straight back and through, keeping the face square to the target.2

Belly Putts... In or Out?

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