GUIDONIA MONTECELIO, Italy (AP) — The Americans have won more majors. The Europeans have won more Ryder Cups.
There’s really no connection, except that it might explain why the Americans always seem to be the favorite on paper, and Team Europe has more often left the Ryder Cup with possession of the 17-inch gold trophy since they were invited to this raucous party in 1979.
It doesn’t mean the Americans don’t care. That’s an insult to think otherwise. But an argument can be made the Ryder Cup means more to Europe as a whole.
“In America, it’s in our head. We desperately want to win,” Paul Azinger said. “But over there, it’s in their blood. It’s part of the fabric of their souls. It’s what they deem as the most relevant thing in their life.”
Consider the many Europeans whose careers were defined by the Ryder Cup:
— Ian Poulter, whose Ryder Cup legacy was cemented when he birdied his last five holes at Medinah in a fourballs match (Rory McIlroy was along for the ride) that sparked Europe to the greatest comeback by a visiting team. His career ended with a 15-8-2 record.
— Colin Montgomerie, who played in eight Ryder Cups and never lost in singles.
— Lee Westwood, whose 47 matches are tied for most with Phil Mickelson in Ryder Cup history (Westwood had one fewer appearance).
The obvious ones are Seve Ballesteros, the very embodiment of European strength, and Sergio Garcia, who has scored more points than anyone in history. What sets them apart from the others is they also won majors. But their passion was the Ryder Cup.
Who has been that guy for the Americans?
The consensus from those who played with him was Lanny Wadkins.
“It was a big part of my life,” Wadkins said.
He won his first seven Ryder Cup matches and ended his career with a 20-11-3 record. He famously hit wedge to a foot on the final hole in 1983 for a key half-point, later telling his captain, Jack Nicklaus, “It was only the most important shot of my life.”
This was six years after Wadkins won the PGA Championship at Pebble Beach in the first sudden-death playoff in a major. Wadkins lived for the Ryder Cup.
“Lanny was our last true Ryder Cup stud,” Azinger said. “There’s was nothing more in his blood than the Ryder Cup. Raymond Floyd was like that, too. But once it became less of an exhibition, it became Lanny’s thing. It went right into his blood.”
