Winning is all that counts at Ryder Cup, until it isn't

ROME : Last week’s dramatic Solheim Cup finale brought the concept of “retaining the trophy” into sharp focus at the Ryder Cup and produced mixed feelings among the players wrestling with how a draw can effectively be a win and a loss.

The 14-14 scoreline in Spain, the first draw in 18 editions of the women’s event, meant that, as holders, Europe retained the trophy. Since the Ryder Cup began in 1927 there have been only two tied matches.

However, the celebrations often start once the defending champions reach the magic 14-point mark where they are guaranteed to retain the trophy, even if they go on to win.

The first draw came in 1969 when Britain ended a run of five successive defeats by forcing a 16-16 tie at Royal Birkdale courtesy of Jack Nicklaus’s famous concession of Tony Jacklin’s final putt. The U.S. duly retained the title, and then won the next seven too.

In 1985, having expanded from “Britain and Ireland,” six years earlier, Europe finally stopped the rot with their first victory since 1957.

There followed a series of terrifically close matches but only in 1989 at The Belfry did one finish level at 14-14 with Europe retaining the title having led 14-10 only to lose the last four singles.

Cricket and boxing, where a defending champion is announced as "still...." after a drawn title fight, are among the few sports where a draw favours the holder.

“I was watching the Solheim Cup last week and obviously there were huge celebrations when Europe got to 14 and retained the Cup and I thought to myself, ‘jeez, they are celebrating a lot for a draw’, Rory McIlroy said this week.

"And then I go back to Medinah in 2012 and we went ballistic when we got to 14 as well. I love 14-all - whenever we’ve won the last one. It’s part of