What is the Ryder Cup?
The Ryder Cup is a trophy given to the winning team of a golf competition between the United States and Europe. Originally beginning as a tournament between America and Great Britain, the competition has expanded to allow representation by other European nations, in the hope of leveling the playing field. Since the Ryder Cup began in the 1920s, the rules and regulations regarding the tournament have been in a constant state of flux, yet the match remains one of the most highly regarded competitions in the golf world. After World War One, the idea of a friendly United States versus United Kingdom golf competition was suggested by several people, before being officially started by a British merchant named Samuel Ryder. Ryder is something of a golf legend himself, having become an accomplished golfer after picking up the game at age 50. According to most historical accounts of the Ryder Cup, Samuel Ryder attended one of the early versions of the competition and offered suggestions, later
The Ryder Cup is a biennial golf event contested by teams representing the USA and Europe, with the host venue alternating between the two. The Cup is named after Samuel Ryder, a St Albans seed merchant, who donated the trophy for the first match held in Massachusetts in 1927. The 38th Ryder Cup will take place at the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport from October 1-3, 2010. The Celtic Manor has staged the Wales Open, a major event on the European Tour, since 2000 and has invested £16m in developing The Twenty Ten Course and Clubhouse especially for The Ryder Cup. The next Ryder Cups will be in 2012 in Medinah, Illinois, USA and the next European host will be Gleneagles, Perthshire, Scotland in 2014.
