A Ryder Cup first tee shot to remember

I don’t think I’m as boring as just producing a column whining about media transport to the Ryder Cup.

It was an integral part of my morning though, and its complete incompetence came within minutes of preventing me from witnessing the first tee shot of the 2023 event.

Our shuttle bus scheduled for 6.20am arrived at 7.00am which gave me little to no chance of seeing Scottie Scheffler get the event underway.

This was after the earliest coach scheduled at 5.20am failed to show up at all.

If you lined up Usain Bolt next to me at the entrance to the course, I wouldn’t have been beaten to the first tee box. I mean that.

What I arrived at was a grandstand full of colour and noise. Ryder Cup crowds aren’t for everyone, but it’s a sight I won’t forget and a buzz I can still feel.

Many people had been there for hours by the time I huffed and puffed my way to the side of the teeing area.

As Scheffler put his ball down and limbered up to strike it, one idiot shouted “You stink Scottie,” while another one did a loud, ironic sneeze.

This is why Ryder Cup crowds aren’t for everyone, and it put me on edge for the next three groups that were to come.

There were boos for Brian Harman, but I sensed this was mostly light-hearted from the UK fans after the outstanding American turned The Open Championship into a procession.

Rather weirdly, there were more isolated and off-handed shouts during the silence before Europe’s tee shots than the USA’s tee shots.

I thought this crowd was on the blue and gold side? Some of them certainly overstep the mark and do more harm than good.

But let’s brush the negativity to one side.

There’s no question of the Ryder Cup’s big-event feel with some of golf’s most significant figures standing around me

Under-fire PGA chief executive Jay Monahan was sharing a joke with his acquaintances just a few steps away, while six-time major-winning legend Sir Nick Faldo was also mingling in the vicinity.

As the match of Shane Lowry, Sepp Straka, Collin Morikawa and Rickie Fowler waited to play, Viktor Hovland caused incredible scenes on the 1st green.

The FedEx Cup champion chipped in for birdie which caused Lowry to celebrate 450 yards behind him, as if it were his own shot.

Very much the jubilance and relief of a man who wasn’t about to hit his pair’s first tee shot. Straka tried to remain as focused as possible.

I’ve previously spoken of my disdain for the Ryder Cup Guardians and my angst hasn’t waned since arriving at Marco Simone.

But there were some chants, not from them it must be said, in the 1st grandstand that I quite enjoyed.

A group of Irish fans sang “He’s on the tee, Lowry, Lowry” to the tune of Zombie by The Cranberries.

Credit where it’s due – that made me chuckle.

The final match between Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood and Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay got underway and that was that.

The 44th Ryder Cup had started, so we can finally sit, stop over-analysing it and watch what happens.

Did you watch the Ryder Cup first tee shot and what are you making of the Ryder Cup foursomes on Friday? Tell us on X!

Matt Chivers

Now on the wrong side of 25, Matt has been playing golf since the age of 13 and was largely inspired to take up the game by countless family members who played golf during his childhood.

Matt is a member at Royal Cinque Ports in Deal playing off a 5 handicap, just a pitching wedge away from his hometown of Dover where he went to school and grew up. He has previously been a member at Etchinghill and Walmer and Kingsdown in Kent.

Having studied history at the University of Liverpool, Matt went on to pass his NCTJ Exams in Manchester a year later to fulfil his lifelong ambition of becoming a journalist. He picked up work experience along the way at places such as the Racing Post, the Independent, Sportsbeat and the Lancashire Evening Post.

Matt joined NCG in February 2023 and is the website’s main source of tour news, features and opinion. He has reported live from events such as The Open, the Ryder Cup and The Players Championship, having also interviewed and spent time with some of the biggest names in the sport.

Consuming tour golf on what is a 24/7 basis, you can come to Matt for informed views on the game and the latest updates on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour and LIV Golf.

What’s in Matt’s bag: Cobra LTDx LS driver, Cobra LTDx 3-wood, TaylorMade P7MC irons, Ping Glide 4.0 wedges, Odyssey putter.