What the Ryder Cup says about the human need for connectivity

The Ryder Cup is beloved by golf professionals and fans alike. It’s the sense of belonging that all humans are hardwired for that makes it so special, says Jonny Reid. We should thank God for the gift of team sport

Thomas Bjorn won his first professional golf tournament at the age of 25. After he finished his interviews, took photos with his trophy, went back to the locker room and then stepped outside to leave, he recalls: “I just stood there thinking, ‘Is that it?’…I felt empty. It was my first victory on the tour…it was the biggest dream of my life. But then you are alone. I felt flat. I realised that what you really want is not just a win for yourself, but for something bigger, you want to share it.” 

Team Europe retained the Solheim Cup last week and the Ryder Cup is under way in Rome. We’re in the middle of a very odd two weeks in the world of golf. Unusually, all eyes are not focussed on individual players (or the money) but on the teams they are playing for. It’s team golf season and the everyone loves it.  

But why is it that these professional sportspeople - who are individually driven for all but two weeks a year - enjoy being part of a team so much?