“The 2027 Ryder Cup is so important. It must be the opposite of Bethpage Black”

In September 2027, the 46th Ryder Cup matches will begin at JP McManus' splendid Adare Manor in Ireland's sporting heartland.

- Bill Elliott

It will also be 100 years since the first matches were played at Worcester Country Club, Massachusetts. And these centenary matches in '27 are almost certainly the most important ever to be staged. At least for me they are.

Walter Hagen was the playing captain of that USA team and the Great Britain side were trounced, winning just 2½ points of the 12 available before, probably shamefacedly, drowning their sorrows during the six days it took them to sail back across the Atlantic. However, everyone shook hands and chatted amiably while wearing jackets and ties before that departure.

So it took at least three weeks out of their lives for the British team to play in those first matches. This was too long for obsessive businessman Samuel Ryder to be away from his St Albans HQ, but he was delighted his Ryder Cup schtick had started and that it was clearly encouraging good relations between 'us and them'.