Ryder Cup has power to divide, or unite, US during fraught and fragile times

As much as teasing out Scottie Scheffler’s chances against the fan favourite-turned-loyal opposition Rory McIlroy, one of the biggest challenges heading into these matches is figuring whether golf might have the power to unite a divided country.

AT STAKE: A detailed view of the Ryder Cup trophy

Often sports, at their best, are the purest form of competition. They offer a chance to pick winners and losers in showdowns between rival teams, countries, sometimes even worldviews, in an arena where the games are played for high stakes but, ultimately, not for life and death.

This week’s Ryder Cup is an example of that.