"2 Teams, 1 Cup" 2014 Edition

I have no interest whatsoever in any of the pre-Ryder Cup hype or the weeks-long buildup, but when the event actually begins I can't help but to watch with some interest.

It's hard for me to attach any kind of patriotic zeal to sporting events--I tend to watch with the disinterest of an extraterrestrial, coldly observing human behavior. Let's face it, the guys on the US team have more in common with the guys on the Europe team than they do with you, or me. But still, US vs. Europe is an interesting golf rivalry in that a clear pattern has emerged lately, in which the tormentor has become the tormented. Comeuppance, in a sporting context, is all in good fun.

Bow down to the crown

Team Spain, the reigning queens of matchplay [photo by Keith Allison, flickr]

The LPGA debuted a new event over the weekend, the International Crown. For those who missed it, this was a team tournament with the US, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, Sweden, Spain and Australia each fielding a team of their four highest-ranked players.

I wasn't particularly interested prior to the event, but it dammit if this didn't out to be some compelling TV golf. The big "2 Teams, 1 Cup" matches might be great in theory but in 2014 they might be a little too exclusionary, too 20th century, too old-world and bloodless to really fan any of the flames of rivalry, xenophobia, ugly pride and deep grudge-bearing that make inter-national team competitions in any sport so appealing.

Random Monday: Cup matches, a Legitimate Golf proposal

American caddie in foreground: "WTF girls?"

Anyone happen to watch the big "2 teams, 1 cup" aka "Golf Girls Gone Wild" aka "Solheim Cup" match this weekend?

Charley Hull, left, and Paula: only one of these ladies would escape this match with dignity intact.

I did and it turned out to be pretty compelling stuff, a triumph of guts and team solidarity over hometeam histrionics. The American squad was laid to waste, but in all likelihood the home audience wasn't too broken up about it. Not unlike the Russian spectators in "Rocky IV" a good portion of viewers was probably compelled to switch allegiances midway through the event and begin rooting for the classier European team.

Those who missed out missed out on the debut of the newest sensation in golf in Charley Hull from England. Those who did tune in witnessed a 17-year old hitting clutch shots with Titleist muscleback irons and rolling in big-time putts, all while maintaining a professional and deferential poise that put every one of her opponents to shame. Charley's 5&4 defeat of Paula Creamer in singles was arguably one of the highlights of the pro golf year. Afterwards she provided a charming and highly quotable reply when asked being nervous as a newbie playing in this event: “This is how I always look at golf: I’m not going to die if I hit a bad shot. Just hit it, and find it, and hit it again.”