Presidents Cup, Ryder Cup, now we need a Kings Cup
November 20th, 2011 by Doogs
The Presidents Cup 2011 has been run and won. Team USA was as imposing on the course as it was on paper. Despite playing on foreign soil, a local crowd and all the weather Melbourne could throw at them, the USA players held strong and reflected their dominance in the World rankings. Team International were in no way disgraced, and a number of games could easily have swung the other way.
Despite the dominance of the USA in the Presidents Cup, the format is compelling, competitive and provides a whole new angle and venue to watch the best golfers in the world play team matchplay golf. With the US also playing Europe in the Ryder Cup, which has been the scene of epic battles over the years, there is now a missing piece to the team matchplay puzzle. A competition between Europe and the Internationals.
Lets give this mythical event a working title of the “Kings Cup”. Such an event would be logistically tough to squeeze into the tight timelines of the professional golf calendars but let assume that all could be in one place at one time.
A fictitious Europe team based on current rankings would be as strong as the US with 9 players within the top 25 in the world, and the best 4 golfers! Ive gone with Bjorn and Clarke for Captains picks. The International team stays relatively unchanged but Ive swapped Senden and Oosthuizen for Els and Allenby, sorry Big Easy and Rob. It offers some tantalising matchups and world class golf.
| International | Rank | Europe | Rank |
| Scott | 7 | Donald | 1 |
| Day | 8 | McIlroy | 2 |
| Schwartzel | 13 | Westwood | 3 |
| KJ Choi | 15 | Kaymer | 4 |
| Kim | 24 | McDowell | 14 |
| Ogilvy | 38 | Rose | 16 |
| Yang | 43 | Garcia | 18 |
| Baddeley* | 47 | Casey | 21 |
| Ishikawa | 49 | Poulter | 25 |
| Goosen | 51 | Karlsson | 29 |
| Oosthuizen | 37 | Bjorn* | 32 |
| Senden* | 44 | Clarke* | 36 |
- Captains picks
Of course, the first event would need to be played in Melbourne. Royal Melbourne is the obvious choice, though Kingston Heath would be as suitable a venue. Bring on the Kings Cup!
I think it’s a great idea. There’s some wonderful match ups there as well.
This type of event would provide a great turn up for the crowds wherever it is held.
The scheduling would be the biggest problem because at present the President’s Cup and Ryder Cup are played in alternate years.
When would the ‘Kings Cup’ be played?
I love this post and agree whole-heartedly!
I’m quite new to golf (only a couple of years in but loving every second of playing and viewing) and have really enjoyed the variety that the Presidents and Ryder Cups provided when compared with the standard stroke play competitions.
My dad and I were discussing something similar the other day but instead of just the 2 regions playing, looking at the possibility of a tri-series; almost like a world cup sorta thing. The conversation concluded without looking at the logistics of it in any detail but it a cool concept and something I’m sure I’ll think about again!
Keep the great posts coming! Love ya work Doogs