Organisers act quickly to change format
The Ryder Cup has had a lot of changes of format since it was first played in 1927 – and this weekend sees another.
But while organisers have been praised for coming up with a way to finish at Celtic Manor tomorrow – possibly – and still playing for 28 points, there are bigger issues that need addressing over the event’s future.
Seven hours was lost to rain yesterday and without altering the remaining sessions the first match on Welsh soil was bound to spill into Monday.
It still will if the weather interferes again, as it well might, but on the other hand it could be one of the most dramatic two days in the history of the competition.
The overnight score is 0-0 because not one of the four opening fourballs managed to finish, but now comes the catch-up.
Once the session is over all 24 players rather than the usual 16 will be involved in foursomes.
After that will come two more foursomes and four fourballs – nobody sitting on the bench again – and once that finishes tomorrow morning hopefully the 12 singles will follow as scheduled.
“We don’t have a good forecast for Sunday,” said European Tour chief executive George O’Grady, “and if that happens we will roll into Monday, keeping the singles sacrosanct whatever happens.
“We feel it’s our obligation to do everything we can while maintaining the integrity of the match to finish on Sunday.”
Inevitably, it was pointed out having the match in the Usk Valley at the start of October was surely inviting trouble.
In four years’ time at Gleneagles the planned date is even later, but after the problems this week there are bound to be talks to see what can be done.
The main difficulty is the US Tour schedule and what works for television networks there, but the Ryder Cup is now so big that some critics will settle for nothing less than a move to much earlier.
Joe Steranka is the chief executive of the Professional Golfers Association of America, which runs the Ryder Cup at their end but does not run the Tour.
“We have spoken to the Tour as recently as this morning,” he said last night.
“I spoke to (commissioner) Tim Finchem about a number of things, which include the schedule for the Ryder Cup.
“We are earlier when we play at Medinah (in Chicago) in 2012 and the 2012 season is the last season in the current television agreement for the US PGA Tour.
“They have pledged to work with us on dates in their new television agreement that can give us again the best week that all of the players would be available for the Ryder Cup.
“We know that is preferably earlier than it is this year.”
The bad news for the fans at the course yesterday was that there will be no refund because only four hours’ play was possible.
The best that the organisers could offer them was to keep their tickets and look out for “opportunities” on European Tour events next season.
Morning: Four fourball matches
Two players from each team play their own ball and use the best score on each hole against their opponents.
Afternoon: Four foursomes matches
Two players on each team again combine, but this time playing just one ball between them and hitting alternate shots.
12 singles matches are contested.
Morning: Four fourballs
The rain delays means Friday’s fourball matches will have to be completed on Saturday morning.
Morning/afternoon: Six foursomes matches
Instead of the standard four foursomes matches, six will be contested, meaning all 12 players on both sides will feature rather than eight.
Afternoon/Sunday: Two foursomes matches and four fourball matches
To maintain the overall format of eight foursomes, eight fourballs and 12 singles matches, the third session will feature two foursomes and four fourball matches.
12 Singles matches completed.
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