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

6. Unpredictability

Because this kind of event only happens every two years, it is very difficult to predict what will happen. Players can enter in great form, or struggle to keep the ball in the golf course, but with a special atmosphere and a rare kind of pressure, players can react differently. Looking at the individual Ryder Cup records of the two sets of players, it would appear the Europeans can handle the situation better. 8 of the 12 have won more points than they have lost, while only Zach Johnson can point to a similar record for the US team. This is no surprise when one considers Europe have won 4 of the last 5 Ryder Cups. However, despite that, the bookies make the US slight favourites, no doubt because they will enjoy home advantage. The course has also been set up to benefit the longer hitters on the US side. --- In a sport that does not naturally stir feelings of national identity, the Ryder Cup creates a kind of competition that is unique, not just to golf but in any sporting arena. With Europe bickering over deficits and bailouts, and the United States sees the country split down party lines, the Ryder Cup unites. Other events may attract more viewers, more sponsors, more headlines, but for one weekend every two years the eyes of the sporting world will be on the Ryder Cup