Americans Can No Longer Do Golf Right. That's Brutal.

"The event goes back nearly 100 years. For much of that history, it was a friendly competition in which the American team would routinely crush their counterparts from Great Britain and Ireland. Everyone had a nice time. Since continental Europeans were added to the competition in 1979, the matches have not just become more competitive: Europe has been the stronger team despite having less talent on paper."

"This drives the American team crazy, and no amount of analytics, task forces, or team captaincy strategies have changed the dynamic. Since 1993, Europe has won four Ryder Cups on American soil. The Americans have won none in Europe. The American team's endless quest to change this dynamic and the Europeans' delight in regularly besting the boorish Yanks have helped the event grow in hype, size, corporate hospitality, and most importantly, revenue."

"It's the only meaningful golf event in which spectators are not just allowed, but encouraged, to boo and jeer the golfers they don't like. This brings in a certain element of what golf snobs-don't look at me!-might call irregular golf fans whose interest in the event lies in the jeering. With each successive Cup, the jeering has veered more into harassment, and then into bile-and yes, it seems worse on the American side."

The Ryder Cup is a biennial match between American and European golfers that alternates between American and European venues. The competition dates back nearly 100 years and became more competitive after continental Europeans joined in 1979, with Europe often outperforming despite less advertised talent. American frustration with Europe's success has driven attempts to alter outcomes while the event's popularity and revenue have grown. Spectators are encouraged to boo and jeer, attracting irregular fans focused on jeering. The jeering has escalated into harassment and bile, prompting some European players' families to decline attendance after 2021.

Read at Slate Magazine