By Fabiprivate - Own work, Licence Ouverte, CC

The 2018 version of the Ryder Cup will be played 28 - 30 Sep on Le Golf National, a golf course in Guyancourt France, southwest of Paris.

The Ryder Cup, if you don't know, is a biennial men's golf competition played between two teams, one from Europe and one from the U.S. They alternate competitions between the U.S. and a European course.

The Ryder Cup started as a competition between Great Britain and the United States. The dominance of the U.S. led to a decision to include continental Europe in 1979. This was due, in part, to the popularity of Spanish golfers at the time, particularly Seve Ballesteros.

By Jonjamdar - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0

Now, I love competitions. Put me in a team game and I am all about it. No matter what team I am on, I want to beat the other team. Maybe that is why the players want to win. Maybe.

I understand the United States' side. You are playing for your country. But the European side is where I need some help figuring out things. They are not playing for their country. What would be the catalyst to want to beat the U.S? The players on the other side of the pond are too emotional for it to be a friendly competition. They want to win badly. Is it just a competition thing?

The original uploader was Europimp at English Wikipedia. - Transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons., CC BY-SA 2.5

If it was me, and I was a person in a European country, I would not care that much. I mean, playing for a continent? It just doesn't sit right with me, not to the extent that the players on that side seem to think.

I would be less enthusiastic playing for a continent, as in not at all. It is like saying you can't beat somebody up, so you invite the whole neighborhood to help you. How is that a source of pride?

Maybe I just don't understand. Maybe it is not about nationalities.

So, you of the european persuasion, chime in? What is the big deal to you? I really want to know. What is their motivation? It is not about money, as there is no prize fund. Do they just truly want to beat up the perceived golf bully? Maybe other people in other countries look to the U.S. government as a bully, and want to win against anything U.S.?

source: giphy
source: giphy

If it isn't any of the reasons listed, fill me in. I really want to know.