During the 2021 Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits, Wisconsin, eagle-eyed viewers will have noticed some mysterious numbers embossed on the European team golf bags. Sitting beneath their name and the European logo, many wondered what these numbers signified.
Essentially, each member of the team was assigned a number denoting that they had become, in the case of Shane Lowry for example, the 163rd player to represent Europe in the matches. It was an idea inspired from other sports, including Rugby's British and Irish Lions, as well as the England cricket team.
The players were all assigned numbers during the 2021 Ryder Cup
Rory McIlroy certainly enjoyed the concept at Whistling Straits.
"We have this thing this week where we've all been given a player number, so there's been 164 players that have played for the European Ryder Cup team, or GB&I way back in the day," McIlroy said.
"So that's a pretty small group of players.
"I'm No. 144; I think Lee is No. 118. But then you just look at all the players before you, and you look at Bernd Wiesberger who's making his debut this year who's No. 164.
"It's a small collection of people that have played for Europe in the Ryder Cup.
"I think that's what brings us very close together, and that's been one of our sort of big focus points this week is just being here is very special and being part of a European team.
"Very few people can call themselves a European Ryder Cup player."
The European Solheim Cup team had their individual representative numbers subtly tucked inside their yardage books in 2021 and most likely placed them discreetly once again last week in Spain.
62 @LETgolf members have played for @SolheimCupEuro a very exclusive group,,I am honoured to be #18 a theme we used to great effect @GleneaglesGolf for @solheimcup #2019 inspired by @lionsofficial 🦁,,let’s go @RyderCupEurope 🤛🤛🇪🇺🇪🇺 @padraig_h pic.twitter.com/h5aQnN1JhzSeptember 22, 2021
Notably however, this year Captain Luke Donald has decided not to continue with the sentimental idea, at least in the form of the bags anyway, and the European team staff bags are simply embroidered with the players names and the European team logo.
This year the European bags no longer have numbers
Perhaps this is Captain Donald stamping his own mark on proceedings or perhaps he is simply trying to avoid anything that reminds his players of the record defeat last time round at Whistling Straits! If we uncover the reason, we will be sure to let you know…
-
Alfred Dunhill Championship Odds, Picks And PredictionsCheck out the Golf Monthly news team's picks and our selected bookmaker's tournament odds for the penultimate DP World Tour event of the calendar year
-
The Equipment Change That Gained Justin Thomas 10 Yards At Hero World ChallengeJustin Thomas produced a fine performance in the Bahamas partly down to a change of driver shaft that resulted in added distance off the tee
-
'Will The Teeing Ground Soon Be Referred To As The Starting Platform?’ - Why ‘All-Square’ Disappearing Doesn’t Sit Well With Me…Some traditional golfing vernacular seems like it might have had its day
-
14 Players Still Using Old Clubs At The Ryder CupMany tour professionals still use clubs from previous generations, but here are the 2023 Ryder Cup players still gaming clubs from pre-2019
-
When Was The Last Time The US Won The Ryder Cup In Europe?It's 30 years since Team USA beat their great rivals on European soil
-
Brooks’ Nike 3 Iron And Hovland’s FedEx Cup Winning Putter - My Ultimate Ryder Cup BagGear expert Joe Ferguson compiles his perfect golf bag from the players competing in Rome
-
Are These The Two Most Eclectic Bags At The Ryder Cup?There's a lot of interesting equipment at this year's Ryder Cup, but do these two players top the list?
-
Will Golf Balls Influence The Ryder Cup Foursomes Pairings?Will, and more importantly, should the captains consider which golf ball their players use when selecting who to pair up?
-
What Are The European Team Wearing At The Ryder Cup?Loro Piana features once again at the Ryder Cup, with the European Team donning the apparel for the 44th edition of the event
-
What Is Rickie Fowler's Net Worth?Find out what former Players champion, Rickie Fowler, is worth here
