Weekly Read Fore! Things: Other Notable Ties in Team Competitions

The Solheim Cup just had its first tie, the Ryder Cup has had two.

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Fore! Things

1. For the first time in Solheim Cup history, the event ended in a tie, which means that Europe retained the Cup due to its 2021 victory in the event. The teams entered the final day tied at 8, then each proceeded to win five matches, with two ties. The U.S. needed another half point to regain the Cup.

2. History lesson: the Ryder Cup has ended in a tie just twice, in 1969 at Royal Birkdale and 1989 at the Belfry. Both instances were significant.

3. The '69 tie led to what has been known as "The Concession" as Jack Nicklaus conceded a par putt on the last green, meaning a tie in his match with Tony Jacklin and an overall tie in the match. The U.S. retained the Cup, but Nicklaus's act of sportsmanship meant that for the first time since 1957, the then-Great Britain & Ireland team did not lose the match.

Jack Nicklaus's concession to Tony Jacklin in the 1969 Ryder Cup is known as one of the great gestures of sportsmanship in golf. 

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4. The '89 tie saw Europe retain the Cup, a third straight in the series after winning for the first time in America in 1987. But the Americans, despite losing the Cup, rallied to win each of the last four matches on the course to salvage the tie.

Fore! More Things

1. The American team was expected to arrive in Rome via charter from Atlanta late Monday morning. Both captains, Zach Johnson and Luke Donald, were scheduled for an afternoon news conference at Marco Simone Golf Club.

2. The Ryder Cup will see the top 12 players in the Official World Golf Ranking and 16 of the top 20.

3. Rickie Fowler is the lowest-ranked American at No. 25 (20th SI World Golf Rankings). Nicolai Hojgaard is 81st (125th SIWGR) for Europe, which has six players ranked among the top 14.

4. There are four days until the first session of the Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf Club. The start to the 2024 PGA Tour season at the Sentry begins in 101 days. And the first round of the Masters is 193 days away.