Hazeltine Hosts 41st Matches: Ryder Ready to Rock

Hazeltine Hosts 41st Matches: Ryder Ready to Rock
Fans of the United States prepare for tee off prior to the morning foursome matches of the 2016 Ryder Cup at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota. Sam Greenwood/Getty Images
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CHASKA, MN—With a crowd of 45,000 people on hand for the final practice round and opening ceremony on Thursday the 41st Ryder Cup Matches are set to start this morning. The rousing festivities have now set in motion what could be an epic contest.

The opening included the likes of former Ryder Cup Captains and competitors Jack Nicklaus and Tony Jacklin. There was a special tribute to Arnold Palmer who passed away last Sunday. The Captains on both sides -- Davis Love III for Team USA and Darren Clarke for Team Europe -- paid homage to one another and the unique qualities that set apart the Ryder Cup from all other golf events.

The 41st Matches have returned to America’s heartland for the 3rd time in the last four outings when hosted in America. Hazeltine National is no stranger to top tier competition having hosted two US Opens and PGA Championships in the last 46 years along with several other national championships of one type or the other. The course is indeed ready and interestingly the routing of the layout was changed to provide for even more corporate tents and grandstands.

The enthusiasm for the American side is palpable. Four years ago at Medinah, outside of Chicago, the USA had a 10-6 lead going into the pivotal 12 singles matches. The Americans collapsed and Europe matched the greatest comeback in Ryder Cup history.

Former Ryder Cup captains Tony Jacklin and Jack Nicklaus speak during the 2016 Ryder Cup Opening Ceremony at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota. (Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
Former Ryder Cup captains Tony Jacklin and Jack Nicklaus speak during the 2016 Ryder Cup Opening Ceremony at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota. Streeter Lecka/Getty Images
M. James Ward
M. James Ward
Author
Ward is a member of the Golf Writers Association of America and Met Golf Writers Association. He has covered over 100 major championships and 12 Ryder Cup Matches. His golf acumen extends to architecture/travel, equipment, apparel, and general interest stories as well as in-depth interviews with the leading participants and influencers in the sport.
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