Before the invention of hindsight it was clear that hosting of the 38th Ryder Cup in early October, weeks later than the traditional September date, in the Welsh Valleys on the banks of the River Usk brought potential hazzards. Sadly for Wales, and a decade of investment, this great golf event has fallen victim to the unfavourable weather and for The Celtic Manor Resort and all the associated parties the price paid for the later date may prove extraordinarily costly.
With play suspended again on Sunday matches on Monday are now inevitable according to European Tour Referee John Paramor which comes after the original format - four ball; foursomes of session one on Friday; Fourball and foursomes of session two and singles on day three – all became morphed in a gallant effort by the European Tour and USPGA to end the tournament on Sunday.
The result though was that some players had to finish their four balls on Saturday morning and then play their foursomes straight away only to start foursomes or four balls matches when the second session was completed on Saturday evening.
Although weather conditions on Saturday duly obliged - with stunning scenes of the Welsh Valleys - the play ended in the failing light of the evening with a lot of golf still to be played on Sunday. As early light broke on Celtic Manor on Sunday standing water on the eighteenth green brought about the suspension of play with the walkways for spectators now a serious concern ahead of the final matches.
Faced with the inevitable news play will now have to be completed on Monday.
For the Ryder Cup this will be the second most important change following the altered format which has clearly taken the nuances and tweaks of a Captain so long associated with the event. The natural sense of momentum that each captain can bring to the matches - or lose ahead of Sunday has been lost in wales.
The record margin at Brookline Country Club for Mark James European team that gave a misplaced sense of infallibility; the perilous balance at Valderrama on the Saturday night for Captain Ballesteros that left Europe at best hoping for a draw to retain the cup. Or to The Belfry in 2002 when the final day running order was the surprise the Captain Torrance pulled to win the match.
The choice of foursome pairings and the ability to rest players were all part of a Ryder Cup captain’s armoury and the telling signs of weakness or strength. The experience of Tony Jacklin, Bernard Gallacher, Seve Ballesteros, and Bernhard Langer all contributed to famous victories. Now for Colin Montgomerie all that has been diluted with the changed running order.
The rain now has now also limits the function of Monty to just trying to keep his players fresh amidst another extensive rain delay.
In 2005 the PGA in United States created The FedEx Cup with a view to bringing a season end play off to golf offering huge prize money. This year the FedEx Champion, Jim Furyk won eleven million dollars at East Lake in Atlanta in the final play off, The Coca Cola Tour Championship. As the event was run in late September the Ryder Cup date had to be accommodated later in the calendar.
Although Valhalla was hit by Hurricane Ike that swept through parts of Kentucky in 2008 such weather was freakish and similar to the bizarreness of Hurricane Gordon that hit the K Club in the 2006 Ryder Cup. How beer it was madness to believe that Wales could deliver a week of sunshine in early October when decades of forecasts would have suggested the likelihood of a hurricane or a deluge.
A Ryder Cup in Northern Europe on those dates would be akin to suggesting the FedEx Cup be played in Anchorage, Alaska during the same month for the event.
The idea would not have been entertained.
