Ryder Cup: The lowdown

So the Ryder Cup is the greatest sporting show on earth?
Well, it's a subjective view perpetuated by those directly involved in staging and playing in the biennial transatlantic challenge. Not sure that the rest of the world's golf or sporting population would necessarily subscribe to the tagline.

So it's an honour and glory golfing death-match between team USA and team Europe that supersedes every other golf tournament including the Majors?
No. The Majors are much more important to the 12 millionaires from Europe who will be taking on the 12 American millionaires in the grounds of a five-star luxury resort.

The Gleneagles course is a worthy golfing canvas that epitomises the cultural and golfing delights of playing in Scotland, the self proclaimed 'home of golf' isn't it?
In a word, no. Scotland is rightly celebrated for its wonderful courses, in particular the links of St Andrews, Carnoustie, Troon and Kingsbarns, to name but four, all of which are eons ahead in pedigree terms of the Centenary course at Gleneagles.

So how come Gleneagles is staging the 40th Ryder Cup?
Without being too vulgar, money. You have to have a few quid to throw in the direction of the European Tour. The Ryder Cup generates vast sums for the host tour. Welsh billionaire Terry Matthews was reputed to have spent about £40 million, in bringing the 2010 Ryder Cup to Celtic Manor, including redesigning, the staging process and a 15-year commitment to underwriting the Welsh Open.

Wait, would Michael Smurfit (left) have had to do the same and have footed a similar bill when the Ryder Cup was staged at the K Club in 2006?
Not as much but many of the same criteria and costs were in place including underwriting the Smurfit European Open. The European Tour were certainly happy with the outcome as it generated €50 million in revenue and a €10 million profit.

So what about the Ryder Cup soundtrack, a bit of karaoke I believe?
You're referring to the first tee I presume. The players are serenaded with musical ditties that reflect their nationality for the most part. Expect an Abba medley when Henrik Stenson appears and perhaps something tasteful like Barbie Girl from Danish-Norwegian Eurodance powerhouse, Aqua, when Thomas Bjorn is in action. The Americans tend to prefer the catchy U-S-A, U-S-A (repeat ad nauseam).

What's the correct method of celebration when winning a hole/match?
There are a number of tried and tested options from a gentle fist bump to the full-on metrosexual hug. It's important for a golfer not to approach an aggressively celebrating team-mate when he is in the throes of putting-coital ecstasy. Co-ordination levels can be temporarily very low and there's many a player who has gone for a low-ish fist bump when his playing partner has chosen a high hand slap, resulting in a messy miss-miss cock-up.

What's with the players' attire?
Yeah there have been a few shockers over the years, from a pastels sensory overload to the beige autumn camouflage that so many middle-aged men find so appealing. The garb has included a nod to history and also the military (below) in the bid for sartorial nirvana.

Europe have won seven of the last nine contests. Is the event in danger of losing its lustre in becoming one-sided? 
No, because the Americans still have a formidable lead in the historical head-to-head. Oh, and more importantly the challenge match, generates wheelbarrows full of cash for the European and US PGA Tours.

Will you miss anything if you watch it on Sky Sports?
You're kidding aren't you? There'll probably be footage of the players asleep in bed.

Who'll win?
Europe are favourites but that means nothing generally as the Americans usually are and they have lost seven of the last nine matches.

Golf will be the winner?
Well the Visit Scotland officials estimate that staging the match will be worth around £300 million to the local economy so it suggests that they'll be the real victors when all the drama is over.