Expanding the Ryder Cup

[JYB]

I'm not sure if this has ever been suggested (it prob. has) but...

why not involve other continents in the Ryder Cup as well? Or perhaps do something like the World Baseball Classic, with each "continent" sending 12 players to play.

Basically, i'm saying to do a Ryder Cup with Asia, South America, Africa & Australia being represented as well.

If you don't have enough PGA players from those continents, bring the best available pros that are slightly under the PGA from them.

What do we think of this?

[N.V.M.]

sounds like more of a variation of the President's Cup.

[Surefire]

Or even the world cup of golf!

[Franco!]

I believe they were thinking of including South America in it on the American side.
So it'd be North and South America versus Europe.

[pjsnyc]

Meh - The Ryder Cup to me has always been an exhibition between the U.S.A. and Europe. I wouldn't change it.

[Smallville]

Ahhh the youth of today!

They've already changed it for us old guys.

[Surefire]

Meh - The Ryder Cup to me has always been an exhibition between the U.S.A. and Europe. I wouldn't change it.

Not true. It was originally GB and Ire v US, so it has already been changed once.

Just seen smallvilles post, so guess he is referring to this also.

[Dent]

I think it would lose its excitement and the rivalry between US and EU if they added more places to the picture.

That's what makes the tournament exciting is it is just 2 places battling it out. Year after year, it really never gets boring.

I think adding more places would be hard to keep track of who's who and what is going on throughout the tournament with every continent.

[Smallville]

Actually, if I am right on my thinking, it was ORIGINALLY U.S. vs Great Britain in 1925 or 1927 (the year before the first real competition, there was an exhibition match). Then after WWII Ireland was added. And in 1979 the whole of Europe was added. So actually, it's changed twice!

But in pj's defense, he did say "to me" which I think he meant as long as he can remember. Not that I was around for the beginning but for some reason I know (or think I know!) this.

[pjsnyc]

Not true. It was originally GB and Ire v US, so it has already been changed once.

I know...which is why I originally said "...The Ryder Cup to

me has always been..." Hint - I was born in the 80s Edit - Perhaps I shouldn't have included the word 'always'

[Surefire]

I know...which is why I originally said "...The Ryder Cup to

Me too!

Actually I associated the 'exhibition' and the 'to me' and associated the 'always been' and 'Europe v USA' and for some reason my brain kept these concepts apart from each other. I work in linguistics, so I'm used to spending all day breaking things down into concepts and patterns, and I think I did that with your post and ended up making my brain read it as something else. Back on topic, does anyone know what qualifies a player as European, is it physical location on the continent, or membership of the EU, or something else? E.g. Where does a Polish or Turkish (Poland being pretty new to the EU and Turkey not yet being members but wanting to join, however both physically being located in Europe!) player fit in?

[ERC7.5]

I'm not sure if this has ever been suggested (it prob. has) but...

Do this playing the current format vs each continent? Wouldn't that take about 6 weeks or so?

[pjsnyc]

Do this playing the current format vs each continent? Wouldn't that take about 6 weeks or so?

Actually, on 2nd thought, 6 weeks would be awesome!

[ERC7.5]

Actually, on 2nd thought, 6 weeks would be awesome!

Ok.....good point. lol