September is always a busy month at the DP World Tour, with the Back 9 in full swing, and of course the iconic BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. But the big talking point this month will be the Ryder Cup, which heads to New York from 26-28 September.
The Ryder Cup’s evolution over the years to become one of sports’ pre-eminent entertainment spectacles has been staggering, and in my role as Chief Ryder Cup Officer at the European Tour group I’m lucky to have a front row seat.
So, what makes the Ryder Cup so special? And why does the event manage to break through into mainstream culture in a way that only a handful of sporting events can? I think the answer lies in a few areas.
Responsibility
Firstly, golf is an innately individual sport, but in the Ryder Cup players play for something bigger than themselves. That responsibility – to their teammates and their country men and women – invokes a level of emotion and passion that is beyond what we see at regular golf tournaments. Every putt holed and every hole won, invokes passionate celebrations. The highs are higher, and the lows are lower. It makes for a heady emotional cocktail that is must watch viewing.
The tribal nature of supporting a team – a country or continent – also means that casual fans are more invested. But the stats show that you do not need to be European or American to get swept up in the drama, with the last match in Rome attracting spectators from 40 different countries, and the 700million global TV audience came from over 100 countries. I think part of the reason it has global appeal is because the Ryder Cup’s format is easy to follow, even for non-golf fans. Holes and matches are either won, lost or tied.
Tradition
Finally, one thing I think the Ryder Cup does well is finding the right balance between tradition and innovation. The event has a long and storied legacy, with the games’ greats duelling it out in a spirit of healthy sportsmanship, and that link to history is ever present. But at the same time, the event has moved with the times and been adept at embracing new technologies that can get fans closer to the action, and new experiences on-site such as concerts that can attract a wider audience.
Eye on Adare Manor
In my duties overseeing Team Europe, I already have one eye on the 2027 Ryder Cup in Ireland at Adare Manor, which will be extra special as the centenary edition. We also announced the 2031 venue recently, with the Ryder Cup returning to Spain for the first time since 1997 with Camiral in Costa Brava, near Barcelona, taking on the hosting duties. Both nations have rich golfing pedigrees in the event, and both venues have undergone significant investment in recent years to become ideal Ryder Cup stages. Organising an event of the Ryder Cup’s scale takes thousands of people across a complex web of stakeholder groups, so we are already deep in planning mode.
Tough American Team
But back to New York, and we are under no illusions that winning on away soil will be tough, especially against a tough American team. To paraphrase Frank Sinatra – if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere – and those lyrics translate well to this match. New York sports fans, who are known for being loud and passionate, will create an intense environment but European Captain Luke Donald and his support team are making sure that the players are as prepared as they can be. Whatever the result, the 2025 Ryder Cup promises to be a thrilling watch.
Richard Atkinson
Chief Ryder Cup Officer at the European Tour group
