By Robbie Butler
Those of us from Europe that stayed up to watch the wonderful display of golf (primarily displayed by Team USA) woke up disappointed in Monday morning. During the course of the week, golf headlines collapsed as people moved on from last weekend's event at Hazentline National. Much of this week has been domianted by talk of BREXIT, the potential trigger of Article 50 in the Treaty of the European Union, and the collapse of the pound sterling on world markets this week.
It got me thinking. I wonder did Brexit have any impact on the team spirit or togetherness of Team Europe? The last number of decades, Team Europe has become known for the bond between players, team spirit and sense of believe. Team USA has often been criticised in the past for lacking this same team spirit.
The single matches on Sunday saw twelve Europeans compete against Team USA. Five players were from mainland European countries all in the EU. These were Belgium, Germany, Spain and Sweden. Six players were from England (five were born there while Justin Rose was born in South Africa but moved to England as a child). One (Rory McElroy) was born in Northern Ireland.
The table below presents the points won, matches played, and points per match of the players from Brexit (Red) and non-Brexit (Blue) countries. McElroy (Green) is a special case. While the Brexit referendum passed, a majority in Northern Ireland rejected the proposal in June.
Those of us from Europe that stayed up to watch the wonderful display of golf (primarily displayed by Team USA) woke up disappointed in Monday morning. During the course of the week, golf headlines collapsed as people moved on from last weekend's event at Hazentline National. Much of this week has been domianted by talk of BREXIT, the potential trigger of Article 50 in the Treaty of the European Union, and the collapse of the pound sterling on world markets this week.
It got me thinking. I wonder did Brexit have any impact on the team spirit or togetherness of Team Europe? The last number of decades, Team Europe has become known for the bond between players, team spirit and sense of believe. Team USA has often been criticised in the past for lacking this same team spirit.
The single matches on Sunday saw twelve Europeans compete against Team USA. Five players were from mainland European countries all in the EU. These were Belgium, Germany, Spain and Sweden. Six players were from England (five were born there while Justin Rose was born in South Africa but moved to England as a child). One (Rory McElroy) was born in Northern Ireland.
The table below presents the points won, matches played, and points per match of the players from Brexit (Red) and non-Brexit (Blue) countries. McElroy (Green) is a special case. While the Brexit referendum passed, a majority in Northern Ireland rejected the proposal in June.
The European score in the Singles Matches on Sunday reads EU 4.5 - 0 Britain and Northern Ireland.
Of course, this is not the reasons for this. Pieters, Cabera-Bello, Garcia, Stenson, and Kaymer played exceptional well on Sunday and were deserving of their points.
The most efficient Team Europe players over the course of the three days were rookies Cabera-Bello and Pieters. This is probably a first for Team Europe and even the Ryder Cup.
Let's hope this is just a blip, in what has been a remarkable two decades for Team Europe, and that the trophy will return once more to these shores following the event in Paris in two years time.
Of course, this is not the reasons for this. Pieters, Cabera-Bello, Garcia, Stenson, and Kaymer played exceptional well on Sunday and were deserving of their points.
The most efficient Team Europe players over the course of the three days were rookies Cabera-Bello and Pieters. This is probably a first for Team Europe and even the Ryder Cup.
Let's hope this is just a blip, in what has been a remarkable two decades for Team Europe, and that the trophy will return once more to these shores following the event in Paris in two years time.
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