The Ryder Cup

In 1927, Samuel Ryder, an amateur golfer from Hertfordshire in the UK, attached his name to a small golf competition between teams from Britain and the USA. He donated a gold cup and agreed to pay each player on the winning team the princely sum of £5 for their involvement. Every two years the competition was to be held between the two countries, with the exception of the years 1939-45 due to the second world war. After the terror attacks in New York on September 11th 2001, the tournament was put back one year as it was due to be held in the immediate aftermath, as a mark of respect.

Eighty three years after it's inception the tournament comes to Wales in just under a week's time, the first time the country has held this prestigious event. The last true, great untainted world class sporting event will pass through the Welsh valleys.

Golf has always had a high standing within sporting circles for the integrity of the game's running, the honesty and self policing of each player who takes up the game, both professionally and within amateur circles. So little scandal surrounds the ethics and ethos of the game that any misdemeanour is greatly scrutinised by the watching media. The game has untouchable moral standards that are so sadly lacking in almost every other major sport you could mention

The Ryder Cup today, stands out as the last true great, untarnished global sporting event. Each player on the team wants to be there. Not for prize money, not for endorsements but to take part in such a special event and to represent their country. The competition is not tainted by cheating, the course will not be decorated with a thousand different Corporate sponsorships or held up and delayed for the sake of viewing figures. Unlike so many of the big sporting events that take place in the modern media spotlight, there will be no cheating for financial gain or personal glory. Each of the 24 players who take part in this special event over the course of three days will be there to win, but to win with a clear conscience.

We have recently sat through the FIFA world cup in South Africa. After over 30 years of watching the sport, I have given up on football after that tournament. The cheating, play acting, harassing of referees by players to get their fellow professionals sent off. Feigning of injuries to waste time, diving to "win" free-kicks and penalties. Spain may have won the world cup but no one came out of this tournament as winners. It was a disgrace. Rugby has been rocked by the blood capsule incident recently, constantly plagued by accusations of eye-gouging and stamping. Baseball is regularly linked to doping scandals that ruin the credibility of the game, cricket is in turmoil after yet another betting scandal has been exposed by national newspapers. None of this touches the beautiful game of golf, especially The Ryder Cup

Of course, it hasn't been without incident. Anyone who saw the scenes at Brookline, Mass. in 1999 will forever remember it as one of the most controversial episodes in the history of this event. Justin Leonard holed a remarkable putt of around 45ft on the 17th to all but seal a US win, resulting in his fellow players, wives and some fans running on to the green in jubilant celebrations. Jose Maria Olazabal still had a shot to half the hole and thus extend the game to the 18th. The scenes were nothing in comparison to what you would see at the end of any important sporting fixture,but because this was golf it was different. It overstepped a mark in terms of etiquette and for years following the incident The Ryder Cup went through great pains to repair the damage this incident had done to its reputation.

There is no greater sporting event than this. Nothing comes even close to it. 24 elite sportsmen trying their hardest to rally the crowds and teammates alike to achieve victory. No personal glory, no ulterior motive. Each of the players on show could earn tens, hundreds of thousands of pounds/dollars playing golf on a sunkissed course somewhere in the world. But no, they are heading to the Usk valley in Wales in the first week of October where the weather at best will be described as chilly. They will be there for the honour of the Ryder Cup, the honour of representing their nation and winning that little gold trophy.

How many other top athlete would put so much time and effort into an event like this without any personal gain? Not many, I would hazard a guess. Roll on next Friday so this biannual event can once again take centre stage as THE greatest sporting event in the world