There will still be stars for European Ryder Cup team

Home > Gurgaon > There will still be stars for European Ryder Cup team
There will be golfers from non-EU countries on the European Ryder Cup team in September
Posted on
February 24, 2020
by
The Editorial Team in
Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

The way things are shaping up, there will for the first time be golfers from non-EU countries on the European Ryder Cup team for the match at Whistling Straits in September โ€“ and in saying that Iโ€™m not taking a punt on a debut for Norwayโ€™s Viktor Hovland, who helped his cause by just winning for the first time on the PGA Tour. Iโ€™m thinking Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood and more.

There will still be stars for European Ryder Cup team

Of course, although Boris Johnson was keen to proclaim that he had got โ€œBrexit doneโ€ on January 31, for the remainder of this year we, the United Kingdom, are โ€˜in transitionโ€™, effectively members of the European Union without having any say in the organisationโ€™s decision-making processes. Think of it as the equivalent of Padraig Harringtonโ€™s three captainโ€™s picks being at the discretion of his opposite number, Steve Stricker.


But what about down the road, the next one of which will lead to Rome in 2022? There will be no change; the flag with the yellow stars will remain the branding the team will play under. Now, before Nigel Farage chokes on his marmite sandwich (or should I wait a while to give that the chance to happen?), letโ€™s be clear that Keith Pelley & Co at the European Tourโ€™s HQ in Surrey have not gone all Sturgeonesque and declared independence for Wentworth. Rather, the situation is explained thus by Scott Crockett, communications director of the European Tour.

There will still be stars for European Ryder Cup team
Team Europe celebrate in Paris (David Davies/PA)

โ€œThe reason we will not [change] is because the flag does not solely represent the political entity of the European Union, it also represents the Council of Europe (CoE) as a symbol of the whole of Europe geographically. As the Ryder Cup has always been a geographical representation of the countries within the physical boundaries of Europe, not political ones, then there is no reason to change the flag we use. Players from Great Britain and Northern Ireland will still qualify to play under the CoE flag in 2022.โ€ Not forgetting Viktor, either.


Or Seve Ballesteros, for that matter. It should not be forgotten that it was down to the exploits of the late Spanish genius that when, after the 1977 match, it was finally decided that the Great Britain & Ireland team needed some reinforcements in order to be able to make a fist of it against the might of the United States, it was from continental Europe that help was sought rather than from, say, the Commonwealth. And the outcome of that? A four-decade history which shows the European team in the ascendant and โ€“ an utter rarity โ€“ an event at which about 20,000 Daily Telegraph readers will gleefully chant โ€˜Europe, Europe.โ€™ I tell you, our prime minister never heard that at a Conservative party conference.

So as the Ryder Cup heads towards its centenary in 2027 (albeit the matches are now staged in the even-numbered years), it seems that as well as the European team including golfing stars from the UK there will continue to be stars on the logo. From a partisan perspective in the short term, we have to hope our stars donโ€™t get striped by the Americans at Whistling Straits.


You can follow Robert Green on Twitter @robrtgreen and enjoy his other blog f-factors.com plus you can read more by him on golf at robertgreengolf.com

The Editorial Team Avatar

About The Editorial Team

The editorial team at Golf Today strives to provide readers with captivating content that celebrates the rich heritage and exciting developments in the world of golf. Their collective expertise and dedication ensure that Golf Today remains a premier destination for golf enthusiasts seeking the latest news, insightful analysis, and engaging stories from the world of golf.

Join the discussion

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Read Next

The R&A launches One Club membership initiative for golf fans worldwide

One Club is free to join and provides members with a comprehensive array of year-round benefits.
Wilson Golf introduces the next generation of award-winning INFINITE putters

Wilson Golf introduces the next generation of award-winning INFINITE putters

Golfers can unlock putting potential with alignment technology & premium look.

Mike Shannon interview

Ambassador / Uswingeyewear, Chief Putting Instructor TPC Sawgrass Tour Performance Center, Ponte Vedra, FL
Historic Showdown at The Masters

Historic Showdown at The Masters

The stage for the 2024 Masters Tournament is set, who will emerge triumphant?
magnifiercrossmenuchevron-downcross-circle
linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram