Ryder Cup 2012: 6 Reasons It's The World's Greatest Sporting Spectacle

2. Tiger vs Rory

Rivalries at the very highest level of sport are not unheard of. Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal, Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger, Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost, Ali and Frazier. They cover all the bases €“ differing styles, differing personas, differing public perceptions €“ but Tiger Woods and Rory McIlory have it all, not least being far and away the No.1 and No.2 in their sport, in terms of ability, prestige, and public attention. The young Northern Irish prince usurping the Californian-born King. The happy go lucky spirit, cheeky smile, curly hair of the son of Holywood, contrasting with the intense, brooding, single mindedness of the 14-time Major winner. The innocence of the current USPGA champion and the tainted history of the US side€™s enigma. But perhaps the greatest difference between the two golfers is that McIlory is very much a team player, whereas Woods has often let the unique challenge of the team environment affect his game. He failed to gel with whichever partner he was paired with, until finally finding a positive relationship with Steve Stricker. McIlroy is happy to play any role for the Europeans, although the world No.1 will be expected to be a leading points scorer. Fans will hope to see McIlory and Woods square off against each other at some point, but while the United States single out the Ulsterman as the man to beat, forgoing all others, Woods no longer holds any fear for the European team.