Ryder-The dramatic rise of the biennial team event

LOS ANGELES, Sep 15 (Reuters) The Ryder Cup is acknowledged as one of the greatest occasions in sport, a biennial source of high drama, fluctuating emotions and top-quality golf.

Twenty-seven years ago, however, the competition was a low-key affair in which the United States yawned their way to one victory after another over an outclassed Britain and Ireland team.

In 1979, the competition's rules were adapted and the US took on a 12-man team from Europe at The Greenbrier in West Virginia.

That year's result, a US victory by 17 points to 11, was in keeping with the tournament's tradition but the addition of Spaniards Seve Ballesteros and Antonio Garrido provided much-needed muscle and self-belief in the new-look team.

From the early 1980s, the depth and quality of European golf improved beyond recognition and the likes of Ballesteros, Nick Faldo, Sandy Lyle, Bernhard Langer, Ian Woosnam and Jose-Maria Olazabal have been in the vanguard of that renaissance.

In 10 of the last 11 encounters, the Ryder Cup could hardly have been more closely fought with Europe winning five matches, the Americans claiming four and one -- at The Belfry in 1989 -- tied.

In those 10 contests, only two were decided by a margin of more than two points in either team's favour before Europe romped to victory by a record-equalling 18-1/2 points to 9-1/2 in the most recent match -- at Oakland Hills two years ago.

SPORTING THEATRE Bottom line, though, the trans-Atlantic showdown event has often transcended golf to become sporting theatre of the most dramatic kind.

The Ryder Cup's unusual design, featuring three different playing formats over three days of competition, produces a roller-coaster ride of fortune and form for the teams.

Often the end result has been decided by the last singles match still out on the course on the Sunday.

The competition's history dates back to 1921 when Britain and Ireland comfortably won the first of two unofficial matches against the US at Gleneagles in Scotland.

The second match, staged at Wentworth in England in 1926, was also easily won by the home side. British professional Abe Mitchell and his US counterpart Walter Hagen convinced Samuel Ryder, an English golf enthusiast, to put up a trophy for future matches.

Ryder, the son of a Manchester corn merchant, was happy to oblige with a solid gold trophy worth 250 pounds.

The biennial team competition was born, with the first match taking place at Worcester Country Club in Worcester, Massachusetts from June 3 to 4, 1927. The US won by 9-1/2 points to 2-1/2. The rest, to coin a cliche, is history.

REUTERS MQA BD0935