Golf has taken a battering in recent days and weeks with a relentless wave of big name stars exiting from the Olympics picture and potentially souring relationships with the wider sporting community.
In a well timed move however, the European Tour is beginning to repair the damage with a new campaign aimed at getting stars from the wider sports community to back the European team at the Ryder Cup which will take place after the Olympics and which does paint the sport in a more engaging light.
Wimbledon star and Olympic Gold medallist Andy Murray, TV presenters Ant & Dec, Olympic gold medallist Jessica Ennis-Hill and One Direction star Niall Horan are among those to send a personal message of support to Darren Clarke and the European team.
A new website – Pledge Ryder Cup – is launched today, allowing fans from across Europe to make their own pledge and write a motivation message to inspire Team Europe. The best of the messages will be hand delivered to Europe’s players in Hazeltine.
In his message, Andy Murray wrote of his love of The Ryder Cup, telling the team to “bring it home”, while golf fan Niall Horan added: “We’re all behind you. I can’t wait to be there to roar you on. C’mon Europe!”
Heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis-Hill said: “The Ryder Cup is always on in our house and I am really looking forward to watching Darren and his European team play out in Hazeltine. The team is shaping up to be very strong and hopefully we can keep hold of that trophy.”
Other famous names from the world of sport to send a motivation message include former England footballer Gary Lineker, Rugby World Cup winning coach Sir Clive Woodward, Olympian Dame Mary Peters and Formula 1 legend Niki Lauda.
Sir Clive Woodward told Team Europe that “great teams are made of great individuals – support each other and enjoy every minute”.
Support has also been received from cricketer Kevin Pietersen, jockey Frankie Dettori and former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel.
Racing legend Sir Anthony McCoy, seven time world snooker champion Stephen Hendry and Rugby World Cup winner Will Greenwood have also backed the campaign, alongside Alan Shearer, Ian Wright and Jamie Redknapp.
Billions actor Damian Lewis, TV presenter Jeremy Kyle and journalist Piers Morgan are some of the entertainment personalities to pledge their support, with Morgan calling on Europe to “spank the yanks”.
Darren Clarke said: “The American crowd at Hazeltine will be partisan – we expect that – and as captain I would love the whole of Europe to get behind us as we take up the challenge.
“I’m delighted so many high-profile people from across Europe have added their support and I call on golf fans to log onto the website and send their own message to Team Europe.
It’s likely that the pledges will be screened before being put up on the website but it’s a positive step to try gain some early traction in what is one of the busiest summers of sport in history, using social media and celebrity to good effect.
