On the eve of the 45th Ryder Cup, a historical question is worth asking. Who is the golfer who sits atop what is perhaps golf's most famous trophy?
The answer may come as a surprise. It's English golfer Abe Mitchell, who isn't exactly a golfing legend like his contemporaries Bobby Jones, Walter Hagen, Harry Vardon, or Gene Sarazen.
But he was the mentor and golf teacher of Samuel Ryder, a wealthy English businessman and golf enthusiast who would go on to create the Ryder Cup.
Ryder greatly admired Mitchell and wanted his talent to be recognized internationally
Ryder Cup, trophy
When the first Cup was held in 1927 in the United States, Samuel Ryder had planned for Abe Mitchell to captain the British team. But Mitchell fell ill with appendicitis shortly before the start and was forced to withdraw from the tournament. He went on to compete in three Ryder Cups between 1929 and 1933.
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As a token of his gratitude, Samuel requested that the gold statuette placed atop theCup trophy depict Abe Mitchell, his friend and teacher.
Thus, since 1927, Abe Mitchell's likeness has graced the cup held by Europe.
The Rules of Golf are a set of standards and procedures by which the sport of golf should be played. They are jointly written and administered by the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, the governing body of golf worldwide, except in the United States and Mexico, which are governed by the United States Golf Association. An expert committee composed of members of the R&A and the USGA oversees and refines the rules every four years. The latest revision took effect on January 1, 2016. Amendments to the Rules of Golf generally fall into two main categories: those that improve understanding and those that reduce penalties in certain cases to ensure balance. The rulebook, entitled "Rules of Golf," is published regularly and also includes rules governing amateur status. In Italy, the Italian Golf Federation is responsible for overseeing competitions by enforcing the rules issued by the R&A, ensuring that these rules are observed by clubs, associations, and their members, and managing the resulting sporting justice, protecting their interests abroad.
