Ryder Cup (Golf, Part 2)
Like millions of others, I watched almost all of the Ryder Cup golf matches on television a week ago. Golf's team matches are different from most tournaments because golf is not usually a team sport. Normally, golf is one person versus the golf course. While we sometimes think about opponents, the best golfers will tell you to play the course. However we think about it, though, golf is usually an individual sport. When I think about golf I think that I'm my own opponent: I want to be the best I can be, given my skill, age, physical condition and mental attitude on a given day. For me, there are no other opponents, everyone else is a fellow competitor. Team matches change this slightly, because we worry more about results, we don't want to let our team down.
International matches are different also because it gives us a chance to see players we don't normally see play, to appreciate the skills foreign players bring, to enjoy our differences and applaud the sportsmanship of golfers at all levels.
Samuel Ryder donated the Ryder Cup to foster friendly competition between the United States and Great Britain and Ireland. Later, the Great Britain side was expanded to include all of Europe. This year's Ryder Cup included players from France, Spain and Sweden, as well as Great Britain and Ireland.. The expansion is part of the beauty of golf: People from all countries, all backgrounds, all experiences can play and enjoy golf. The idea of friendly international competition is consistent with the spirit of golf.
However, the last few Ryder Cups have troubled me and have seemed inconsistent with the spirit of golf I love and try to live. Some of the fans, both American and European, have begun to bring an ugly spirit to the matches. They applaud bad shots by the other team, they attempt to rattle players on the opposing team, they act like the matches are part of a war. Even some of the players exhibit unusual behavior for the Ryder Cup.
Golf teaches us about our fellow players but it isn't really about them, it's about ourselves: The self-knowledge we gain is the most important thing. Golf is not about winning, golf is about doing our best, hitting our best shots and seeing what that means in the final score. We all want to win but we should want to win by playing better not by gamesmanship. Rudeness and abuse shouldn't be part of golf (or life).
Let's appreciate the good shots of all players and sympathize with those who hit bad shots. Let's remember that at the end of the day it's our best efforts which are important, not how they compared to someone else's efforts. Let's do our best and not denigrate others' efforts or attempt to make others' lives more difficult. Let's not assume that our successes depend on others' failures. If we can live this lesson we'll be happier in golf (and in life).
10-4-99
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