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In team events like these the convention whereby the holders retain the trophy if the scores are equal means a draw never really means a draw.\u00a0There is always one happy team and one sad one at the conclusion.<\/p>\n
But when you think about it, what happened at the Solheim Cup was intrinsically unfair. Why should Europe have\u00a0needed 14 points for the trophy and the US 14 and a half points?\u00a0It is like a sprint final where one athlete runs 100m but another only has to cover 95m to win gold.<\/p>\n
Europe had a built-in advantage from winning the previous Solheim Cup. The same in reverse applies at this week\u2019s Ryder Cup. The US have a smaller target to hit than Europe to take the cup back with them across the Atlantic.<\/p>\n
It is a legacy benefit which should not exist. What relevance should a different American team beating a different European team on a different continent two years ago hold? None.<\/p>\n
Cricket has the same issue. This summer\u2019s Ashes ended – thanks to the Manchester weather – in a 2-2 draw but it was Australia who retained the urn because of a previous success in a different time and place.\u00a0It really shouldn\u2019t follow.\u00a0<\/p>\n
DON’T MISS: <\/strong> Test cricket is unique in its longevity and it would probably have been overly savage to ask Stuart Broad and Pat Cummins to settle a series with a bowl-off at a stump after 25 days of to-and-fro. Perhaps drawn Ashes series should simply see England and Australia share custody of the urn for a year each.<\/p>\n But there is no reason why golf should not use a play-off to decide its short and sharp showcase team events in the way it happily does for individual tournaments every week of the year. Perhaps the DP World Tour and the PGA of America are reluctant because of what ended up happening at that 2003 Presidents Cup.<\/p>\n Darkness descended\u00a0with Woods and Els still inseparable after three play-off holes and the trophy was shared. But\u00a0that would not be a problem in Rome where, even if the Ryder Cup goes to the final group on Sunday, there would still be two hours of light left for a shoot-out.<\/p>\n The Ryder Cup is one of sport\u2019s most compelling narratives – golf to hold you spellbound even if you don\u2019t like golf – but it is missing a trick with its ending.<\/p>\n
Ryder Cup star has ‘a chip on his shoulder’ after leaving rude fan red-faced[QUOTES] <\/strong>
US Ryder Cup star Brooks Koepka has ruthless response to LIV Golf question[RESPONSE] <\/strong>
Meet Europe’s Ryder Cup weapon batting off ABBA questions and wowing McIlroy[FEATURE] <\/strong><\/p>\n