You have to be pretty flexible in this writing business. There have been occasions down the seasons, for instance, when circumstances have led to the Tuesday column being composed, crafted or hastily cobbled together in a variety of places, from airport departure lounges to trains, motorway service stations, cafes, libraries, hospital waiting rooms, speakeasies, the poop deck of a galleon on the high seas and a monastic retreat.
I’m making one or two of those up, but you get the general idea.
Anyway, the venue for the creation of today’s prize winner was a little nook in a children’s nursery where my one-and-a-bit year-old son is on a settling in week.
The new environment and sensory overload generated the odd sob while a couple of reassuring cuddles and a few comforting coochie-coos were administered.
As for the young ‘un? Well, he was as happy as Larry, despite watching his faither going through the agonised ritual of churning out these back page haverings next to an oversized, stuffed bloomin’ Gruffalo.
At least these tots and toddlers will now be well-versed in the Solheim Cup. The eagerly anticipated transatlantic tussle takes place in Virginia this weekend with Europe aiming to create a bit of history by becoming the first side to keep hold of the trophy for the fourth time in a row.
Last year’s compelling 14-14 draw – the event returns to a biennial staging after this week’s showdown – kept the treasured clump of Waterford crystal in the European trophy cabinet following those outright wins of 2019 and 2021.
It was the first tied match since the Solheim Cup came into being back in 1990. Team Europe had been 4-0 down after the opening session on the first day and the gallant, never-say-die manner of their battling draw prompted the kind of giddy reaction you’d get when you gulp down half a bottle of Prosecco on an empty stomach.
The home side’s elation, of course, was in stark contrast to the USA deflation. They didn’t lose but it felt like they did as Europe celebrated retaining the cup amid a riot of popping corks. All of this prompted the question: should there be some form of tiebreaker to determine an outright winner?
Stacy Lewis, the American captain, was asked in the immediate aftermath about it and, while mindful of the history and traditions of tied matches in golf, stated that she would be in favour of a decider.
Lewis reiterated her desire to have a winner declared during a chinwag with the media at last month’s AIG Women’s Open.
To be honest with you, I’d never even given this whole tied lark a second thought. It’s not as if it’s a regular occurrence in team golf, after all.
As we mentioned earlier, last year’s share of the spoils was the first time it had happened in the Solheim Cup. In the Ryder Cup, there have been only two ties, in 1969 and 1989.
That draw in ’69, of course, was famous for the noble concession on the 18th green by Jack Nicklaus as he gave Tony Jacklin his short putt in one of the great acts of sportsmanship.
"I don't believe you would have missed that, but I'd never give you the opportunity in these circumstances," said Nicklaus of his honourable act which ensured the contest ended 16-16. Sam Snead, the US captain, was fuming. He wanted the outright win.
In the Walker Cup, there has been just one drawn match and that was way back in 1965. In the long history of the women’s Curtis Cup, meanwhile, only three meetings have ended tied with the last coming 30 years ago.
In the eyes of some, though, the idea of a draw is as archaic as the stovepipe hat and a way of finding a winner should be devised for the benefit of spectators and TV.
“Ties leave a bad taste in my mouth,” said the American Ryder Cup player, Max Homa, with a statement that sounds like he’s just tried eating various accoutrements that are hanging up in his wardrobe.
Homa, Lewis and others have suggested a play-off involving one or two players from each side. Yes, I suppose it could make for absolutely nerve-shredding viewing but if both teams have already battled and scrapped to an epic draw, there will be hardly any nerves left to shred. Then there’s the distinct possibility of an extra-holes showdown being hideously anti-climactic.
After all the draining parrying and jousting over three days of fourballs, foursomes and singles in a Ryder or Solheim Cup, some kind of play-off simply wouldn’t reflect the competition. Imagine having to pick one or two players to decide an outcome? And imagine the reaction to those who lost?
In this bewildering age of online imbeciles, crackpots and cranks, the player/players who lost the Ryder/Solheim Cup would no doubt attract the same kind of unhinged bombardment that gets unleashed on footballers when they miss their penalty in a shoot-out.
Level-headed middle ground, calm reason and gracious acceptance is not a defining trait of the modern world.
If one team has won the cup, then they have earned the right to retain it with a draw. It’s up to the other team to win it back. It’s really quite simple. Even the bairns at the nursery could understand it.
