Lunch party grows into golf's premier event

STRAFFAN, Ireland, Sep 21 (Reuters) It was an idea born out of a ''little lunch party'' -- an attempt to create some friendly rivalry between British and American golfers nearly 80 years ago -- and for almost half a century remained low-key.

Now the Ryder Cup, which tees off tomorrow, is not only one of the biggest money-spinners in world golf but one of the highlights of the entire sporting calendar.

Some 40,000 spectators a day are anticipated at the K Club in Ireland for the 36th Ryder Cup, with the contest expected to turn some 10 million pounds (18.8 million dollar) in profit. Millions are expected to watch the three-day spectacle on television though the players will play for pride not prizemoney.

Informal matches between Britain and America began in the 1920s but it was in 1926 that British businessman and keen golfer, Samuel Ryder, decided to inject a friendlier note into proceedings -- and formalise the event.

''Why can't they all get to know each other?'' he said, according to golfing lore. ''I will give five pounds to each of the winning players, and give a party afterwards, with champagne and chicken sandwiches.'' The first official Ryder Cup was held in 1927 and the eight-man British team struggled to raise the 3,000 pounds needed for the journey by ocean liner to the United States, so limited was the public interest.

EXPANSION, SUCCESS For years the competition continued to attract scant attention -- a far cry from the growing interest in tournaments such as the soccer World Cup or the Olympics.

But expansion -- and a shift in the balance of power away from a competition the Americans dominated for so long -- has provided a major boost.

In 1979, the Anglo-Irish team brought the rest of Europe on board -- a decision that Ryder Cup director Richard Hills says spurred the contest's subsequent rise in popularity.

''I think it really has (boosted the contest),'' he told Reuters.

''I know the European Union are very proud that it's the one time that the countries unite under the stars (the European Union flag).'' But it was still not until 1985 that the tournament broke even.

Since then, profits have soared.

After years of almost relentless American success, European victory has also spurred the competition's development.

The Europeans did not win a single Ryder Cup between 1957 and 1983 -- although they tied in 1969 - but stopped the rot in 185 and have won four of the last five encounters.

With success has come the inevitable commercialisation of the event: the tent selling official Ryder Cup merchandising at the K Club is one of the biggest visible marquees on the course, while corporate hospitality suites dominate the best holes.

Some worry that with this, the competition has lost its original sense of friendship and sportsmanship. Ryder Cups in 1991 and 1999 were marred by bad feeling, with players sniping at one another and spectators heckling.

Asked if this is a valid concern, Hills said: ''It's a good question and is we're one we're cognisant of. It's something we review after every match and we look inwardly at ourselves (and ask) 'What have we got right, what have we got wrong?''' Teams too have been trying to re-inject the old sense of bonhomie. Both teams this year ignored injunctions not to sign autographs and took time to chat with fans at practice rounds.

Hills is confident the right spirit will be captured in Straffan: ''I think the Irish people are tremendous golf lovers and we're going to have a great match.'' REUTERS DH PM1824