The Ryder Cup is one prestigious trophy that's also one of the most unique in the world. It is won through the Ryder Cup Matches, the golf event that happens once every two years between the best professional golfers of USA and those of Europe. This tournament rakes in huge profits from viewership and sponsorship, just like any other international pro golf competition. However, in this particular event, absolutely no prize money goes to the winning team, just the Ryder Cup. It's all for the victory and pride of the team.
The first official Ryder Cup competition was held in 1927. An English businessman and golf enthusiast named Samuel Ryder decided to sponsor a competition that would feature British and Irish golfers against the Americans. Ryder had a gold cup made by Mappin & Webb, a noted silversmith company in England. It was worth 100 guineas (a little over GBP 100 today) at that time. He donated this gold cup as the competition's trophy and named it after himself. Thus, the Ryder Cup was born.
The dominance of the USA in the event for consecutive years led to the decision of including other European golfers to the exclusive team of British and Irish players. In 1979, the rising golfers from Spain, Seve Ballesteros and Antonio Garrido, joined the new Team Europe. Although Team USA still prevailed that year, the efforts of Team Europe paid off in the following years to the present. Since 1979, Team Europe has won 8 times, while Team USA, 7. In one competition, the two teams ended up in a tied score, resulting to Team Europe retaining the trophy.
Going to the 2012 Matches, Team Europe holds the title and looks forward to hanging on to it for another two years, at least. To determine their players for the coming competition, the top 5 players on the Ryder Cup European Points List will automatically qualify for the team. The top 5 players in the Ryder Cup World Points List would also be included. Lastly, Jose Maria Olazabal, Team Europe's captain for the year, will pick 2 more players to complete their 12-man lineup.
On the other side of the tournament, Team USA will be made up of the leading 8 players in the Ryder Cup World Points List and 4 players to be chosen by Davis Love III, their team captain for the 2012 competition.
Team Europe and Team USA will battle it out again in the greens to see who'll take home the gold trophy that represents the victory and pride of the team. To be held at the Medinah Country Club in Illinois, USA, the 2012 Ryder Cup Matches is set to attract the Europeans, Americans and golf enthusiasts all over the world once more to watch this illustrious sporting event.
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