The golf is on… 

In fact, the big golf event of the year, The 2008 Ryder Cup is taking place this weekend and is basically taking over the telly at home (my dad’s a big golf fan) and in work (pub). Right now the score is USA 5½ – Europe 2½ (but apparently, Europe have had a great start to their day). What amuses me though is the great sense of pomposity and grandeur that accompanies the tournament – particularly in the TV presentation of the event.

If you’re watching it on Sky Sports you may know what I mean when I specifically pick out their break-bumpers (the short RBS sponsorship clips that feature between the programme and the actual ad break) – which mention ‘classic’ moments or statistics from golfing history to the accompaniment of some incredibly over-dramatic and grandiose music – the same kind of music that accompanies the slo-mo replays of the more ‘iconic’ moments of the day.

It’s the kind of grand and majestic music that would almost make you think these guys must be superheros or something – and yeah, while we all know Tiger Woods can walk on water (see video), I now like to imagine that Padraig Harrington can fly, Nick Faldo has X-Ray vision and Miguel Angel Jimenez can shoot lightning bolts from his arse…

Nice thought… I guess. It’s not the first time the ads/promos/break-bumpers have had that extra touch of drama though… remember this, from two years ago? :

Finally – here’s a compilation of clips of the best of the Irish down the years at the Ryder Cup, to the backing of a (frankly woeful) version of “Alive-Alive-O”…

Sure – go on the Irish … but still… come on… It’s only golf, lads!