The two team captains for the 2014 Ryder Cup: Tom Watson (left) and Paul McGinley. Picture: Richard Wilkins/Perthshire Advertiser

The Real Winner

Monday September 8 2014

As the Ryder Cup comes to Scotland later this month, the Very Rev Dr James Simpson reflects on the links between golf and faith.

I have never kept a golf diary. All I have are memories of special moments, exciting games and great golfing occasions in which I was privileged to be involved.

Without doubt one of the most memorable was the Ryder Cup held at the Belfry Golf Club near Birmingham in 1993, when I was invited to be the guest of the Professional Golfers Association and to say grace at the pre-Ryder Cup banquet.

My delight at being involved was increased when my son Neil, who at that time was Secretary of the Scottish PGA, was chosen to be one of the match referees. On the final day of the match, Neil had the responsibility of refereeing the game involving Payne Stewart, one of golf’s most charismatic figures.   Despite the immense pressure of the occasion, the Payne Stewart-Mark James match was conducted in the most gentlemanly manner. As on many other occasions, when Payne was involved, the game of golf was the winner.

David Feherty, now a well-known golf commentator, tells how in his singles match in Florida in 1991, he played probably the best golf of his life. He was two up with two holes to play against Payne. The American crowd were jostling and shouting as Payne and the caddies made their way to the 17th tee. Suddenly a lady marshall jumped out in front of David, who had fallen behind the others, and said: “Where do you think you are going?” Payne immediately stepped down from the tee. “Ma’am” he said, “I would love you to stop him, but he is actually playing and winning this match.” Putting his arm round David, they walked back up on to the tee.

Such respect has unfortunately not always characterised Ryder Cup matches. At that same match there was a lot of needle between Seve Ballesteros and Paul Azinger. When Azinger called Ballesteros the “king of gamesmanship”, Ballesteros responded by saying the American team consisted of “11 nice guys and Azinger.”

In sharp contrast to this what Jack Nicklaus did in the 1969 Ryder Cup will long be remembered in the annals of golf. On the final day he was paired with Tony Jacklin in the deciding match. On the 18th green, Nicklaus holed out, leaving Jacklin with a nerve-wracking short putt to tie the match. Bending down, Nicklaus removed Jacklin’s marker, declaring the Ryder Cup a draw.

When Bernard Langer, a golfer of deep Christian faith, was grilled by reporters concerning the putt he missed on the final green on Kiawah Island, a putt which cost Europe the trophy, he said, “From a Christian point of view, there has only ever been one perfect man, and we crucified him. I only missed a putt.”

In 1989 the Rev Bruce Gillingham invited Langer to attend his early morning service on the final day of the Ryder Cup. Langer suggested that instead they explore the possibility of holding the early service at the golf course. The service took place behind the 18th green with players from both teams attending. Samuel Ryder, himself a committed Christian, would have approved.

A Dornoch story highlights what the Ryder Cup can achieve for transatlantic goodwill. In September 1989 Sandy Matheson, Royal Dornoch’s best known caddie, caddied for an American who with two friends was golfing at Dornoch before going on to the Belfry for the Ryder Cup. Having a spare ticket, they invited him to accompany them - and two years later they sent him airline and match tickets, to make it possible for him to rejoin them for the Ryder Cup in Florida. It is my hope that such international friendliness, not jingoistic rowdyism or aggressive gestures, will characterise this year’s match.

In my ‘grace’ at the Ryder Cup banquet, I tried to reflect the hope and dream of Sam Ryder that, by this bi-annual match, goodwill would be promoted between the nations, and friendships fostered that would span the oceans, that good manners, sportsmanship and brotherly love would characterise such a great sporting occasion, that the game of golf would be the real winner.

As golf’s prestigious Ryder Cup comes to Scotland, the Very Rev Dr James Simpson reflects on the links between golf and faith.

This is an abridged version of an article from September's Life and Work. Subscribe