Last night’s conclusion to the Ryder Cup saw one of the greatest comebacks in sport with Europe overturning what was at one stage a six point deficit to retain the cup with a Martin Kaymer putt in the penultimate match and then win it by 14.5 points to 13.5 after Tiger Woods missed his putt on the 18th against Francesco Molinari.
It was a gripping evening as the 12 singles matches ebbed and flowed.  One of the undoubted stars was Justin Rose who scored three birdies in the last three holes to defeat Phil Mickelson.
Rory McIlroy secured his match though Graham McDowell was one of only three Europeans to lose his match.
The celebrations afterwards were of interest given recent comment about nationality and whether or not the two stars from Northern Ireland would play for Ireland or Great Britain at the next Olympic Games.  There were plenty of tricolours in the crowd but as flags of England, Italy, Germany, Belgium and Spain were tied around shoulders, McIlroy chose the flag of Northern Ireland and McDowell maintained his neutral stance by wearing the blue and yellow stars of the EU.
However those decisions play out over the next three and a half years, a greater decision on the format Golf will adopt in Rio 2016 will hopefully be influenced by the events of the weekend.
The sport, like tennis, will enable global millionaire stars to compete and it may need an innovative format to lift itself out of the golfing calendar already punctuated by major tournaments.
A straight 72-hole stroke play tournament will do little to attract non golfing fans while a team element such as we witnessed these past few days certainly would.
The attraction for the players of participating as a team was clearly seen and expressed throughout the Ryder Cup and the modified format of team play and single Matchplay could yield a greater reward for the sport, greater drama for the global audience and a better debut appearance at the Games.
Even teams of two, or possibly three could play a foursomes game in the morning and singles in the afternoon with 16 teams generating five rounds of action for those who make it through to medal matches at the business end.
Given Ireland’s high profile in the sport, perhaps this may be a project for Pat Hickey to take on in his new elevated position within the International Olympic Council.
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