Twenty-four golfers competed for three long days at Kiawah Island and the whole contest came down to one six-foot putt
By Steven Pye for That 1980s Sports Blog
The 1991 Ryder Cup was never destined to end well for Europe. The bad blood began before a ball had even been struck at the Kiawah Island course in South Carolina. At the pre-tournament gala dinner, the hosts broadcast a 15-minute video showing the history of the competition. It was so one-sided in favour of the Americans that Ken Schofield, the boss of the European Tour, nearly walking out in protest. “The film was a joke,” reflected Europe captain Bernard Gallacher. “All they showed were Americans hitting shots.”
There was more to come. A local radio DJ revealed the phone numbers of the European players’ hotel rooms, encouraging listeners to call them in the early hours of the morning before the event. The “Wake Up the Enemy” campaign was a bit juvenile, but it helped set the mood.
