Unique fans and ambience create new beautiful game

Caddie's View: They used to call the big round-balled game "the beautiful game". Well, there was only one beautiful game this week in Ireland and that was golf. Europe enjoyed an emphatic victory and I suppose it is easy to get on the Ryder Cup euphoria wagon, but the fact is the Europeans played the most beautiful golf.

One could be forgiven for thinking that Europe rules the golfing world. Of course, on the Ryder Cup scale, with three victories in a row they do. With statistically the best players coming from the American team it should have been a tighter contest with the Americans ultimately prevailing.

So how did it all happen and how did the bookies know, judging by their pre-tournament odds, it would be so predictable? I was pretty sure America were going to win before it became fairly obvious on Saturday evening they were not.

The pre-event American boot camp in Kildare three weeks ago when the Americans flew over for a two-day team-building exercise was a worrying statement of intent which concerned me greatly as a European.

I thought that finally the Americans had got the hang of the whole camaraderie thing and that was what was going to tip the balance in their favour.

Tom Lehman seemed to say and do all the right things ever since his appointment as American captain. He was diplomatic from the word go. In comparison, his European counterpart Ian Woosnam was almost invisible in the preamble to the event.

As a player, Lehman gave himself a chance of making his own team in a playing capacity. Woosnam did not threaten to make his team as a player. But in the end Woosnam must be congratulated for his low-key leadership and sound decision making.

The fact is if it was purely a contest of pre-event diplomacy and planning Lehman was the unanimous victor. Of course, it is the quality of golf that won the 36th Ryder Cup.

There must be an argument now that we should all forget about the lead up to the 37th edition and just let it happen. We should not speculate wildly about form or skill, because it has little bearing on what happens during a week of team competition.

The reason I say this is we all base our predictions on four round events. This is what determines the world rankings and the Americans had the three best players in the world on their side. For some unknown reason they do not perform anything like they do in regular tournaments.

The reality is this competition is played over 18-hole matches in which any of the 12 on each side can beat any of the 12 on the other. The other important factor is 16 of the points on offer are from the fourball and foursomes formats, which, of course, rarely feature in professional golf. If there have to be forecasts, it is time to take heed of this fact.

I do believe this is as pure a game as the world has to offer. There has been a litany of scandals over the year in sports ranging from formula one to horse racing, to cricket and, of course, soccer.

Golf has not suffered from this malaise and anyone who visited this great spectacle at Straffan, whether for the practice rounds or for the main event, would surely agree it was a very special sporting event and as a result, a very memorable social event.

I sat in the bleachers on the first tee yesterday to watch the last match head on their way. With the sun beating down and illuminating the tightly-cropped teeing ground which was neatly framed by advertising hoarding, it certainly did not look like a golfing arena.

The whole set-up of the venue was such that each shot that was hit seemed to be within its own separate setting. Scott Verplank arrived on the tee and received a very warm applause. When Padraig Harrington arrived on stage the noise of the welcome made my face tingle.

The last two combatants practised their back swings and follow throughs, got their clubs out and started some warm up swings. The crowd chanted 'woooooo-ooahh' , like when the goalkeeper runs up to kick the ball out. The chant brought broad smiles to each player like they were both surprised and warmed by the crowd's enthusiasm.

They assured the players they wouldn't chant when they hit their shots for real. I have been to almost every other golf event in the world and having been at The K-Club last week I now realise why the Ryder Cup drums up such enthusiasm amongst both players and caddies.

It was truly a unique golfing experience. This was not golf as I once knew, it is a new game with new people and a whole new wonderful attitude.

Just as the spirit inside the ropes was warm, friendly and very competitive, it was reassuring to see and hear the courtesy and encouragement to both teams from the other side of the ropes.

They were there firstly for the golf and secondly to show their allegiances.

Golf spectating in Ireland is both patriotic and respectful. It is for me the new beautiful game.