⛳️ It's Ryder Cup Week Baby

Plus: Solheim Recap, The Concession, and more.

Author

The Shanks Gator
September 25, 2023

Good afternoon! Welcome to Shanks. It’s officially Ryder Cup week and we are ready to wear our most patriotic outfits and cheer on the good ole USA!

Trivia: The Ryder Cup was not played on consecutive days in 1951 at Pinehurst. Why was no golf played on Saturday?

Answer Below.

Here's what we've got for ya today:

  • Super Quick Recap: Solheim Cup

  • The Concession

  • Golf Shots Heard Round The World

  • Greens Used To Be Slower

  • Golf Thing We’d Buy If We Weren’t Broke

Quick Recap: Solheim Cup

Solheim Recap: David vs. Goliath

Team Europe retained the trophy in dramatic fashion on Sunday, with Carlota Ciganda out dueling Nelly Korda to secure the first tie in Solheim Cup history.

In case you didn’t know, yes, both the Solheim Cup and the Ryder Cup can end in a tie. (It’s only happened twice in Ryder Cup history.)

If you didn’t watch and just saw the results, a tie, you might be left thinking that the event was underwhelming… it was anything but!

Ciganda was the only player in the field from Spain, where the cup was being held. In front of the home crowd and the King of Spain himself, she was tied with one of the most accomplished players in the Women’s game.

On the 16th hole, Nelly Korda hit a beautiful approach shot. Ciganda responded with one of the biggest shots of her life. Nelly missed the putt, Carlota made hers. Europe 1 up; Spain, losing its mind.

They moved onto the 17th hole, where Ciganda closed the deal with another shot of destiny.

The Concession

Up above, we mentioned that there were two occasions where the Ryder Cup ended in a tie. The first time was the most significant. It’s widely held as the greatest act of sportsmanship in pro golf history.

We dug up an article from Golf Digest from a few years back that provides better context surrounding the historic moment.

Like, did you know, that despite the moment being widely celebrated, Ryder Cup captain Sam Snead was f*cking pissed?

“…some of Jack’s teammates were furious with him, U.S. captain Sam Snead being the angriest of all. And the real fanatics might know some of the arcana, like the fact that Jacklin’s putt was only about two feet, or that, far from a figure of pity, Jacklin was the reigning Open champion and posted a 4-0-2 record at that Ryder Cup, one of the best performances ever. Or that before Nicklaus’ famous act, it had been an incredibly tense Ryder Cup in which an actual fistfight nearly broke out on Saturday, and where 17 of the 32 matches went to the final hole. “

Golf Shots Heard Round The World

Golf Fact: Greens Used To Be Slower

Golf Thing We'd Buy If We Weren't Broke

Got a golf junkie in your life? This might be the gift for them. It’s a book that tells the history of the Ryder Cup through newspaper clippings.

These unique books are reproduced to near full tabloid newspaper size, including the recipient’s name and your message on the opening page.

That’s all folks! See you Wednesday.

Trivia Answer: Both teams attended a college football game.