If I had to pick out the sporting event that I’m looking forward to the most in 2023, it would probably be the Ryder Cup.
You could actually say that most years but with all the LIV stuff in the background, this one just has even more layers to it.
I’d be amazed if any of the LIV players were chosen on either side but that’s probably more of an issue for America than Europe.
The likes of Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Henrik Stenson and Sergio Garcia had probably played their last Ryder Cup anyway.
They’ll be missed as potential vice-captains but that’s not such a big deal.
There are more, younger Americans who would have qualified automatically, you would think.
Luke Actually.
Merry Christmas!
#RyderCup | @LukeDonald | @McIlroyRory pic.twitter.com/koTNl6r1XG— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) December 23, 2022
Everything seems to have gone quiet as far as big-name LIV defectors is concerned but that will probably change when the golf season starts gaining momentum after the Masters.
And it wouldn’t surprise me if we see a women’s tour being formed and maybe a senior’s one as well.
Then a mixed team event to rival the Ryder Cup would be a gap in the market LIV could well look to fill.
It feels strange to not have any new year sporting goals to set.
I’m sure I’ll come up with a time I want to beat in my first London Marathon but that can wait!
It’s been a bit strange watching the Perth Masters take place on my home ice of the Dewars Centre this week.
The competition has got such a rich history going back generations.
I’m part of the organising committee these days and I’ll keep doing my bit to promote it.
With Pete Loudon and Dave Hay driving things forward, it’s in safe hands.
Watching my brothers compete for the first time in three seasons has been a bonus!
Glen and Thomas have been playing in the Perth Super League but this is their first Tour event since they finished up with British Curling’s funded programme.
The Masters always has a nice blend between Scottish teams (Jackie Lockhart is competing and Ewan MacDonald is curling with his son) and internationals ones.
It’s not just about preserving events in this country.
For me, there’s a definite shift towards more and more competitions in Canada these days and it’s important that Europe has a busy calendar.
That will mean the top teams supporting competitions when they’re not clashing with Grand Slam ones.
Looking at curling 2023 in general, seeing which new teams gel and which ones break-up is going to be where the big interest is.
Everybody starts out after an Olympic cycle with big dreams and high hopes but it will be over the next year or two that we’ll see who is emerging as the powerhouses.
Niklas Edin hasn’t made it over to Perth and his latest comeback from injury will be another big story.
It feels like he’s had about 10 of those comebacks over the years and I’m pretty sure he’s going to give it another go, despite knee surgery.
He remains the dominant figure in curling – certainly in the men’s game – but there’s no guarantee that even an athlete of his calibre, who has done it all many times over, will be the same force as he used to be.
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