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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

U.S. Or Europe? Golfing’s Best Will Be Tested In The Ryder Cup

The Ryder Cup has hit another critical turning point.

Like in 1979 when the team from Great Britian and Ireland was expanded to include all of Europe, like in 1985 when that European team ended a 28-year U.S. winning streak, this year’s matches will have an impact beyond who keeps the Cup for the next two years.

Beginning Friday at Oak Hill Country Club, a very experienced European team featuring the core group of players who won that breakthrough Ryder Cup in 1985 will take on an inexperienced United States squad that lacks a true superstar.

When the Cup is hoisted by the winning team on Sunday it will be clearer whether the heyday of Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo, Ian Woosnam and Bernhard Langer is behind them, and if Europe really has the depth of talent to replace them.

There will be some idea whether Colin Montgomerie is ready, willing and able to take over leadership of the European squad.

And maybe there will be a glimmer of insight into whether Corey Pavin, Davis Love or Phil Mickelson are ready to assume the pressures of being the No. 1 player on the U.S. team.

“It’s more a test of your character than your golfing ability,” Montgomerie said about the Ryder Cup.

But this year’s competition also will test whether Europe really has developed the kind of golfing ability to achieve lasting parity with the Americans or whether it was merely riding a transitory tide of talent that will pass when the careers of Ballesteros, Faldo, Langer (all 38) and Woosnam (37) enter serious decline.

Europe followed the victory in 1985 with another in ‘87 and kept the Cup with a tie in ‘89. But the U.S. has won the last two meetings.

“I think it is very important to the European tour that we win this one,” Montgomerie said. “There’s been so much buildup and if we lose again everything will go flat,” he said.

“We’ve not celebrated victory since 1987 and it would be nice to again.”

Montgomerie and Jose Maria Olazabal, who is injured and cannot play this year, could emerge as the No. 1 player in the world. And in that Europe may have more potential for the top player than the U.S. team.

The Americans have five rookies and no one on the team has played in five Ryder Cups. Faldo (9) and Ballesteros (7) have played in more Ryder Cups between them than the entire U.S. team combined (15).

xxxx Ryder Cup glance A look at the 31st Ryder Cup: When: Friday-Sunday. Where: The 6,902-yard, par-70 Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, N.Y. What: The biennial competition between 12-man teams from the United States and Europe. Format: Eight alternate-shot matches, eight better-ball matches and 12 singles matches, each worth one point for a total of 28 points. In a tie match each sides gets 1/2-point. The first team to get 14-1/2 points wins. In the event of a 14-14 tie, the defending champion keeps the cup. Prize: The Ryder Cup. There is no prize money.