ryder cup analysis - home advantage

Westwood - two-time winner at the K Club.

By Dave Tindall

Home advantage is recognised as a major factor in many sporting events.

In golf it works on a number of levels. Familiarity with the course, weather conditions and the ability to read greens and hit off fairways that use a particular type of grass are all established factors.

But, in Ryder Cups, the mention of home advantage often refers to the behaviour of supporters.

Calling for shots from the opposition to end in sand or water is one thing but previous Ryder Cups have been marred with tales of orchestrated verbal abuse and even spitting.

There's also the story of Andrew Coltart's ball being stamped into the ground by fans in his Ryder Cup singles game with Tiger Woods at Brookline seven years ago.

So with the pressure so great on opposing players, has home advantage proved a significant factor in recent Ryder Cup history?

Here's a table of the last 10 Ryder Cups:

In the last 10 Ryder Cups, five have been won by the home side, four by the visitors with one tied.

Despite our opening comments, those results suggest home advantage is minimal although one factor that does seem to make a difference is familiarity with the course.

When America recaptured the Ryder Cup at the Belfry in 1993, five of the team had played there in the 1989 match which was tied and Ray Floyd had experience of the course from 1985.

And four of the 1989 team which tied had played in the heavy defeat in 1985.

By contrast, only two of the American team which lost at the Belfry in 2002 had played there before.

And although only two of the European 12 had played a Ryder Cup there, the course was familiar to the home side as it had been a regular European Tour stop, hosting the Benson & Hedges International for the previous three years.

Nine of the European 12 had played in all three of those events with Padraig Harrington, Paul McGinley, Colin Montgomerie and Phil Price all recording a top three finish.

Unfamiliarity with the course also seemed to play a part in 1997. When America lost at Valderrama it was the first time many of their 12 had even set foot on the course, never mind about playing a tournament there.

Tom Lehman is clearly concerned about his team's lack of experience at the K Club - none have played there in competition - and that was one of the reasons why the Americans came over in late August to see what they'd be facing.

By contrast, the Europeans know it well as it's hosted the European Open since 1995 - 10 times on the Palmer Course (the one used for the Ryder Cup) and twice on the Smurfit Course.

Even more importantly, there are plenty on Ian Woosnam's team who have flourished on the Palmer.

Lee Westwood is a two-time winner, Darren Clarke won there in 2001, Padraig Harrington has two runners-up finishes, Monty has a second and a third, Jose Maria Olazabal and Robert Karlsson have posted top four finishes, Paul Casey has only finished outside the top 20 once while Paul McGinley has a host of top 20s.

That's eight Europeans with positive memories of the K Club and that could prove decisive.