Histrionics part of Ryder Cup folklore

THE younger generation may have gained the impression that the misbehaviour which marred the 1999 Ryder Cup at Brookline was the first sign of trouble in a competition launched by wealthy British seed merchant Samuel Ryder back in 1927 to foster good relations between the people of the United States and Britain.

It succeeded in meeting Mr Ryder’s ideal, at least for a few years, not least because the Americans won most of the time and, anyway, their public hadn’t cottoned on to the idea.

They didn’t seem to notice when Britain (no Irish or continentals in those days) captured the trophy at Moortown, Leeds, in 1929 and at Southport & Ainsdale, Lancs, in 1933. Apart from those two blips, they had things pretty much to themselves and even the introduction of Irish players in 1947, the first contest immediately after the war, failed to check the imbalance.