Is the Ryder Cup Over-Hyped?

gormdubhgorm · 28-09-2014 08:38PM #1

Is the Ryder Cup over-hyped?

To me it seems to be getting more and more manufactured as a spectacle.
I am not sure it is as exciting as the media and participants portray it.

You now hear a lot words like "tradition" and "passion" bandied about.

Is it more then just a brand?

thewobbler · 28-09-2014 08:59PM

Yes it's overhyped.

The two biggest lies perpetuated in golf surround Ryder Cup golf:

1. That a captain has any influence on proceedings at all.

2. That a series of completely unrelated matches can somehow be affected by 'momentum'.

But at the same time it is terrific entertainment. Conjoined matchplay is by far the most entertaining form of golf to spectate upon, while watching our favourite pros do proper emotion is a rare and wonderful thing.

The single most important thing it has going for it is that the players buy 100% into the myths that surround it.

So yes it is overhyped. But it's still brilliant.

Ben1977 · 28-09-2014 08:59PM

More then a brand, the hairs on the back off my neck stood up when Rose and Gmac pulled their games back. The last time that happened, O'Gara slotted a drop goal over to win the grand slam.
It's the only golf event that divides the crown 50:50, just like football. The fans are involved which is unlike any golf tournament.
Of course it brings in big money to the area

unattendedbag · 28-09-2014 09:01PM

Sky sports will over hype it to sell subscriptions. That's a given. Other than that I don't see any other benefit as they don't allow any commercial sponsorship. It's a tradition and should be treated as such. I get excited for it because it's such a unique format and always more interesting than watching a weekly strokeplay competition. I also get just as giddy when the masters come annually.

meath4sam · 28-09-2014 09:03PM

Sky sports over hype everything, the ryder cup, the lions tour , super Sunday super Monday, transfer deadline day and the ashs.

bilston · 28-09-2014 09:04PM

How big of a deal is it in the rest of Europe? It's a big deal in Ireland and Britain but is it a big deal anywhere else. I can imagine there being a bit of interest in Spain, Germany and Scandinavia if not to the same extent as here, but I just can't imagine it being that huge a deal outside of these islands.

Or am I wrong?

bilston · 28-09-2014 09:07PM

meath4sam wrote: »

Sky sports over hype everything, the ryder cup, the lions tour , super Sunday super Monday, transfer deadline day and the ashs.

Well they have to sell subscriptions. To be fair they do raise interest in those events, particularly the Ryder Cup and Lions tours. The Ashes and most football have always been a big deal long before Sky came into the picture.

dan_ep82 · 28-09-2014 09:14PM

I don't think its over hyped for what it is, the Ryder Cup. But I think it makes the Masters etc look less important when they shouldn't be.

Dirty Dingus McGee · 28-09-2014 09:34PM

I enjoy watching Golf but to be honest I've never understood why the Ryder Cup gets so much hype as a television event.Its enjoyable to watch but nowhere near as good as a stroke play event in my opinion.There was far too much watching fellas approaching shots rather than taking shots this weekend.

The way Sky are going on you'd think it was bigger than one of the majors and I would say that for most pro's surely it would be miles down on their list of priorities.I nearly got sick when I heard Graham McDowell after the one in Wales saying the pressure he faced in the final singles match was much bigger than when he won the US Open.He can't have been serious can he.

Surely the pinnacle in an individual sport is winning events by yourself not with a thrown together team that doesn't really represent anything.At least the Americans are representing their country.

stylie · 28-09-2014 09:34PM

thewobbler wrote: »

Yes it's overhyped.

The two biggest lies perpetuated in golf surround Ryder Cup golf:

1. That a captain has any influence on proceedings at all.

2. That a series of completely unrelated matches can somehow be affected by 'momentum'.

But at the same time it is terrific entertainment. Conjoined matchplay is by far the most entertaining form of golf to spectate upon, while watching our favourite pros do proper emotion is a rare and wonderful thing.

The single most important thing it has going for it is that the players buy 100% into the myths that surround it.

So yes it is overhyped. But it's still brilliant.

Really, the captain makes no influence ? complete rubbish, remember Faldo, and Hal Sutton as captains?
And when one player is in the zone, starts putting wins on the board it lifts the pressure of guys in matches around him, you can call that momentum it lifts the players around him

Norfolk Enchants_ · 28-09-2014 09:56PM

gormdubhgorm wrote: »

Is the Ryder Cup over-hyped?

To me it seems to be getting more and more manufactured as a spectacle.
I am not sure it is as exciting as the media and participants portray it.

You now hear a lot words like "tradition" and "passion" bandied about.

Is it more then just a brand?

All commercially driven sport is overhyped, that's sorta how it works and that's been the case more or less for the last 10 years or so for all sports you see on TV.
Is this really news to you?
It doesn't have to mean it is isn't entertaining though.

cairny · 28-09-2014 09:58PM

Prize money- €0

thewobbler · 28-09-2014 10:09PM

stylie wrote: »

Really, the captain makes no influence ? complete rubbish, remember Faldo, and Hal Sutton as captains?
And when one player is in the zone, starts putting wins on the board it lifts the pressure of guys in matches around him, you can call that momentum it lifts the players around him

I'll flip your first comment on its head. People always talk about Faldo and Hutton. So in the 20 odd Ryder cups we've had since Europe came on board, only 2 captains are alleged to have made a difference, and both a negative one.

Honestly, take a step back and analyse what you've seen this weekend and tell me how and what happened as a result of McGinley'a guiding hand.

As for momentum. As a player, you're playing a match, not an event. Sergio holing from 30 feet on the next green has no bearing at all whatsoever on how Hunter Mahan plays his game against you. It's that simple. Momentum is imagined in these tournaments. If you were to to go the World match play and handpick half the players to be 'your team', you'd see similar swings in your 'momentum' throughout.

Norfolk Enchants_ · 28-09-2014 10:09PM

cairny wrote: »

Prize money- €0

Endorsements and Subscriptions to Rupbert Murdoch=Bazillions
Merchandising etc. to Euro and US tours=Mega bazillions

Immediate prizemoney=no, but players know what side their bread is butter on.

cairny · 28-09-2014 10:20PM

Norfolk Enchants_ wrote: »

Endorsements and Subscriptions to Rupbert Murdoch=Bazillions
Merchandising etc. to Euro and US tours=Mega bazillions

Immediate prizemoney=no, but players know what side their bread is butter on.

Euro Tour is in dire straits overall, Ryder Cup bails it out, Tour makes a loss in non RC years. Of course it's a huge commercial event, what sports event isn't?

Players don't take a cent though (200k charity donation fee aside). Deserve credit for that. Easy to be cynical.

Norfolk Enchants_ · 28-09-2014 10:43PM

cairny wrote: »

Euro Tour is in dire straits overall, Ryder Cup bails it out, Tour makes a loss in non RC years. Of course it's a huge commercial event, what sports event isn't?

Players don't take a cent though (200k charity donation fee aside). Deserve credit for that. Easy to be cynical.

That's not cynicism though, that's the reality of it, it is in their own interest to make a success of the RC, and to be fair that's what they have done by doing and saying all the right things.

Senna · 28-09-2014 10:45PM

Dirty Dingus McGee wrote: »

nowhere near as good as a stroke play event in my opinion.

Aw come on, what were you watching, it wasn't the Ryder Cup. There's probably 100 stroke comps on every year between Europe, US and winter tours, how many of them were close to the RC, some of the majors even end up a boring one horse race. The RC format provides 3 days of entertainment and its the format and change from the usual stroke that makes it more appealing.

Dirty Dingus McGee · 28-09-2014 10:49PM

Senna wrote: »

Aw come on, what were you watching, it wasn't the Ryder Cup. There's probably 100 stroke comps on every year between Europe, US and winter tours, how many of them were close to the RC, some of the majors even end up a boring one horse race. The RC format provides 3 days of entertainment and its the format and change from the usual stroke that makes it more appealing.

I prefer watching stroke play (on TV) because it is almost un-interrupted watching of shots being taken.

There was far too much watching fellas looking at the ball over the last 3 days (nothing the TV companies can really do about it).

I wasn't criticizing it for being a match play event I was just saying that as TV spectacle I enjoy the big stroke play events more.

captbarnacles · 28-09-2014 10:52PM

It's ridiculously overhyped. I was waiting for Ewan Murray to describe it as a "famous win" and he didn't disappoint. Europe were heavily favoured by the bookies and had more of the top ten players and playing at home but it's still a famous win? C'mon.

Rikand · 28-09-2014 10:54PM

Dirty Dingus McGee wrote: »

I prefer watching stroke play (on TV) because it is almost un-interrupted watching of shots being taken.

There was far too much watching fellas looking at the ball over the last 3 days (nothing the TV companies can really do about it).

I wasn't criticizing it for being a match play event I was just saying that as TV spectacle I enjoy the big stroke play events more.

Ah now I know you're just trolling.

Nobody feed this one

Dirty Dingus McGee · 28-09-2014 10:56PM

Rikand wrote: »

Ah now I know you're just trolling.

Nobody feed this one

Trust me I'm not trolling.

My opinion is hardly that controversial.

cairny · 28-09-2014 11:04PM

Norfolk Enchants_ wrote: »

That's not cynicism though, that's the reality of it, it is in their own interest to make a success of the RC, and to be fair that's what they have done by doing and saying all the right things.

Huh? That's almost a dictionary definition of cynicism.

Tobyglen · 28-09-2014 11:04PM

thewobbler wrote: »

Yes it's overhyped.

The two biggest lies perpetuated in golf surround Ryder Cup golf:

1. That a captain has any influence on proceedings at all.

2. That a series of completely unrelated matches can somehow be affected by 'momentum'.

But at the same time it is terrific entertainment. Conjoined matchplay is by far the most entertaining form of golf to spectate upon, while watching our favourite pros do proper emotion is a rare and wonderful thing.

The single most important thing it has going for it is that the players buy 100% into the myths that surround it.

So yes it is overhyped. But it's still brilliant.

I think I'll go with the fact that every pro mentions how important momentum means for point 2. I very much doubt you have played team sports if you think momentum doesn't exist. In almost every sport at every level- If you're going for a league etc and your rival loses then it has a big affect on your game psychologically.

Regards point 1, Captains job is hugely important and you're badly missing the point if you think otherwise. See Mickelson's comments earlier as an example, see Faldo's disastrous captaincy in 2008 when he alienated many of the players with his embarrassing comments.

Senna · 28-09-2014 11:19PM

Dirty Dingus McGee wrote: »

I prefer watching stroke play (on TV) because it is almost un-interrupted watching of shots being taken.

There was far too much watching fellas looking at the ball over the last 3 days (nothing the TV companies can really do about it).

I wasn't criticizing it for being a match play event I was just saying that as TV spectacle I enjoy the big stroke play events more.

What's the term they use for the current generation needing constant gratification and short attention span?

Only joking:)

Hijpo · 28-09-2014 11:48PM

Do you think its hyped up beyond the levels of the players?

I got the impression the USA play it more like a friendly grudge match where as the TV make it out to be massively important war.

Looking at the USA players they seemed pretty flat, as if they were only there because they had to be.

osarusan · 29-09-2014 01:41AM

I prefer watching regular tournaments. It's a tension-filled event to watch, but lots of things I don't like about it.

In the last decade or more the media around the event seems to build it up as a war and grudge more than used to be the case. This brings out some unpleasant stuff from fans and players alike. I hate seeing fans cheering bad shots by members of the opposing team.

We've had Paul Casey going on about how he hates Americans. Complete disrespect like we saw at Medinah.

I noticed yesterday that some of the putts that weren't conceded were shorter than I've ever seen before.

There's something ugly about it now.

MyPeopleDrankTheSoup · 29-09-2014 01:46AM

i like it but it needs to be every 4 years, not 2. imagine the lions every 2 years, we'd be well sick of it.

thewobbler · 29-09-2014 07:14AM

Tobyglen wrote: »

I think I'll go with the fact that every pro mentions how important momentum means for point 2. I very much doubt you have played team sports if you think momentum doesn't exist. In almost every sport at every level- If you're going for a league etc and your rival loses then it has a big affect on your game psychologically.

Regards point 1, Captains job is hugely important and you're badly missing the point if you think otherwise. See Mickelson's comments earlier as an example, see Faldo's disastrous captaincy in 2008 when he alienated many of the players with his embarrassing comments.

Seeing as you positioned my comments as badly informed from a lack of experience, I suppose I should mention that I played Gaelic football and soccer competitively for over 20 years, and have managed teams in both sports.

I know what right well momentum is. It's a collective awareness on an almost spiritual level that sees teammates up their game and cut out mistakes.

It happens all the time in GAA.

But golf ? I'm sorry, you're mad if you buy into this nonsense. At Ryder Cup level every one of the 24 players is capable of going on a 6-hole birdie streak and ending the contest there and then. If that happens to you or your opponent, it really doesn't matter one iota what is happening in the other matches. If I'm playing Bubba and standing on the tee on a short par four and news filters through that Garcia has made a 30-footer or made a mess of his match, does that affect my strategy? No it doesn't, Bubba is going for that green either way. If I'm coming up 18 and need a half for the match, am I going to try something extravagant? No event anywhere else on the course is going to change the strategy there either. And so on.

GreeBo · 29-09-2014 08:18AM

thewobbler wrote: »

I'll flip your first comment on its head. People always talk about Faldo and Hutton. So in the 20 odd Ryder cups we've had since Europe came on board, only 2 captains are alleged to have made a difference, and both a negative one.

Honestly, take a step back and analyse what you've seen this weekend and tell me how and what happened as a result of McGinley'a guiding hand.

Far more than 2 captains have made a difference, you dont remember any positive comments about Ollie for example?
Well take a look at the comments by eveyone in blue, they all seemed to think that McGinley played a part.
The lads in red also seem to think that the captain played a part, comparing Watson to Azinger.
Though maybe you have a better insight than the players I guess...

thewobbler wrote: »

As for momentum. As a player, you're playing a match, not an event. Sergio holing from 30 feet on the next green has no bearing at all whatsoever on how Hunter Mahan plays his game against you. It's that simple. Momentum is imagined in these tournaments. If you were to to go the World match play and handpick half the players to be 'your team', you'd see similar swings in your 'momentum' throughout.

So these guys dont look at the leaderboard and see that their team is in trouble or their team is doing well?
Come off it. You cant seriously think that they dont look at the scoreboard and feel pressure/relief based on what it tells them?
Of course you see swings in momentum, how is that proving your point?
Sergio holing a 30foot putt sends up a European roar that you hear in your match, Mahan hears it too.
He also see's another bit of blue on the board, and see's GMac pull back a win and he starts to tighten up. Just look at the previous Ruder cup, you dont think momentum played a part there?

Boskowski · 29-09-2014 08:29AM

It is overhyped due to Sky. They do it with everything. They overdo it to a degree where it's beginning to take away from it rather than add to it.
I thought the same of the opening and closing ceremonies. Maybe not overhyped but overly formal. It was a chore rather than fun. As lovely as she is I thought Di was poor and very much script and it was all just a tad too grand and formal.
It's a golf tournament ffs not the meeting if our great leaders to sort out world peace or something.
It's still grand though wasn't terrible or anything. Just a bit cringe at times.

GreeBo · 29-09-2014 08:37AM

This years was the most informal by far.
However I think they need to remove the speeches from everyone bar the two Captains.
I really dont think we need to hear Di say how welcome everyone was and how great blah de blah, its like a wedding where the old man goes on and on, its expected to some degree but people really just want to get on with the boozing.

Is the Ryder Cup Over-Hyped?

Is the Ryder Cup Over-hyped? 79 votes

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