3 Ways Presidents Cup Beats Ryder Cup

In today’s world, we collectively tend to remain inside the bubble of now. Whatever is happening currently is often the most something, the biggest something, the greatest something.

Well, I’m not going to do that.

On the eve of this week’s Presidents Cup, it would be irresponsible to suggest that this biennial competition trumps that other biennial competition, the Ryder Cup.

From the tradition to the rivalry, the battle between the U.S. and Europe outshines the festivities we’ll witness this week.

BUT…

(You knew a big BUT was coming.)

… there are a few ways in which the Presidents Cup beats the Ryder Cup.

I’ve been writing some semblance of this piece for two decades now, elaborating on how and why Little Brother can land a few jabs in the sibling rivalry against Big Brother, but on the eve of this week’s festivities at Royal Montreal, they’re worth revisiting once again.

This one might not be bigger or greater, but in some ways it does have a little more. 

More Golf

Early iterations of the Presidents Cup had every player from each team competing during the first two sessions. In fact, that remained true through the 2013 edition of this event.

If you were on a roster, you were playing golf Thursday and Friday.

That changed less than a decade ago. There are now only five matches during each of the first two sessions, which means two players from each team will have a day off.

It’s a not-so-hidden secret that this alteration was made to help the International side, which usually doesn’t have the same depth toward the bottom of the lineup as its American counterpart.

Even so, it still beats the Ryder Cup, which only plays four matches in those opening sessions. 

More Days

Now this one is admittedly less about the desire of fans and more about those who run these events. The Ryder Cup lasts only three days, giving it a marathon-not-a-sprint type of feel, as opposed to the Presidents Cup, which stretches its proverbial legs over four full days.

As a consumer of the product, squeezing all of these matches into a three-day period lends itself to more excitement, but I’ve always been surprised that the Ryder Cup hasn’t followed the lead here and expanded to four.

After all, these events are all about turning a profit and an extra day of competition would mean an extra day of television revenue and ticket sales and concessions and everything else that goes with the territory.

Again, I’m not necessarily advocating for such a move; I’m just amazed it hasn’t happened yet. 

More Strategy

I saved the best for last here, as this sole quality of the Presidents Cup provides for a ton more drama than the Ryder Cup.

At the latter, team captains make pairings for the first four sessions and place them in order, from 1 to 4. The names are revealed and whomever corresponds in this ordering plays against each other. Same thing for the 12 singles matches on Sunday. 

If you want to see, say, Scottie Scheffler against Rory McIlroy, well, cross your fingers and hope that your 8.33% chance comes through.

On the other hand, the Presidents Cup is like all the best things combining middle-school gym class and your fantasy football draft, as the captains go back and forth, matching up their players against the opponent.

This format has famously resulted in some tremendous matches, including the last time this event was held at Royal Montreal back in 2007, when current International captain Mike Weir asked for a chance to play Tiger Woods in singles, then defeated him in front of the home crowd.

It all leads to more strategic decision-making for the captains and more entertainment value for the fans, as we have a better chance of seeing the matches that everyone wants, something which hopefully rings true once again this week.