Imagine the Ryder Cup being played in Girona.
Wait, no—don’t imagine it. It’s happening. The Ryder Cup is coming to PGA Catalunya! And I’ll tell you why I’m beyond excited. We’ve got to make this the greatest Ryder ever—but not just that.
It has to leave a mark, like Valderrama did back in ’97.
I know the place. I volunteered at the PGA in Caldes. Spanish Open 2014—Jiménez won it. You won’t believe this, but even back then, in volunteer meetings, there were whispers that the Ryder had to come here sooner than later.
They were already fighting for it in Girona. That was 2014.
Now here I am, writing a golf newsletter... and they go and award us the Ryder Cup. That's a sign! Isn't it?. Sure, there’s still a long way to go.
But hey—there’s also a lot to get done.
We better do it right. No screw-ups. Speaking of screw-ups—smooth segue, right?—one common issue in these massive events is... portable toilets.
Here’s a good one:
At the 2002 Ryder Cup in The Belfry (UK), Billy Foster—yes, Seve’s former caddie, and then on Darren Clarke’s bag—urgently had to hit the loo. Portable one. Right by the course.
He hops in. And mid-business, realizes something tragic.
No paper. None. Zilch. Nada. No toilet paper, my friend. What does Foster do?
He scurries into the next stall where there was paper. What could possibly go wrong? Well—someone enters the first stall.
Guess who?
Tiger Woods.
At the 2002 Ryder Cup, Tiger Woods ends up in the next stall with no toilet paper. Top-level competition...
Foster, reading the situation like a subtle break on a tricky green, rolls up about 20 sheets from his stall, crouches down, and passes them under the door to the other side.
While doing so, he whispers:
- Europe, one up!
We’ll do it right. I’m confident. The toilet paper’s on us.
Have a perfect Thursday.