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Vivendi Trophy
Author: Ian Hudson 11/09/2011
September 2011: 15th - 18th European Tour: The Vivendi Trophy with Seve Ballesteros, St. Nom La Breteche,Paris,France.
The Vivendi Trophy is played in memory of Severiano Ballesteros. It is played to honour the man who knew how to develop and support the spirit of match play golf and all forms of the game.. The event takes place every two years, alternating with the Ryder Cup. This year's renewal is being staged at the St Nom La Breteche course 15 miles from Paris.
Following the success of the inaugural competition in 2009 this year's renewal again matches ten players from Continental Europe with players from Great Britain and Ireland. Each side has a non-playing captain and this year those roles are filled by Jean Van De Velde and Paul McGinley. The event, which was formerly called The Seve Trophy, takes place from Thursday to Sunday of this week.
The teams comprise the world's top five and the leading five players in the Race to Dubai. It's fair to say several of those qualified to play have declined the invitation which is a shame when you consider what Ballesteros achieved for the European Tour and the game of golf in general.
Players have busy schedules these days and this event is staged in the same week as the third event of the Fed-Ex Cup play-offs. Martin Kaymer, Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy amongst others have qualified to play but will not be appearing in France this week.
The format of the event is match play between the two teams of ten players. On each of the first two days there is a series of 5 fourballs which means everybody plays on these days. The third day sees a series of four greensomes and 4 foursomes. On the final day 10 singles matches are played so everyone is involved on Sunday.
As the Vivendi Trophy demonstrated this test is a unique competition. The French event should be an important step towards the Ryder Cup. Potentially it is a week to put strategies in place for the match against the Americans but the absentees means that objective will not be totally met.
Last year Great Britain and Ireland won the event by 16.5 points to 11.5. Six of those points were won by Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell, in singles and other formats, but neither of those players is appearing this week. The Britain and Ireland team won each session, except the singles on the final day.
The Vivendi Trophy and its predecessor, the Seve Trophy, has been staged six times in total. Continental Europe won the first event in 2000 but since then Great Britain and Ireland have won on each time it has been held. They have won the last three stagings by the same score, 16.5 points to 11.5 points.
The St Nom la Breteche course is the host club for the second successive year. The course has several water hazards, most commonly alongside the greens, and extensive bunkering so the greens are well protected. The fairways are narrow and tree-lined so accurate play from the tees and fairways is required to score well.
An analysis of some key statistics indicates contrasting arguments for both teams to win. Continental Europe actually have greater strength in depth. The total of world ranking positions reads 515 to Europe and 779 for Britain and Ireland. The highest ranked player competing this week is Lee Westwood at number two in the rankings.
Britain and Ireland players have played in a total of fourteen Ryder Cup matches, just one more than the Europeans. However Britain and Ireland players have won 55 points in the Ryder Cup (56%) while their opponents have won just 19 points (42%). Lee Westwood has a 62% winning record in the matches against the States, the best record of the 20 players competing this week.
In terms of tournament wins on the European Tour, Britain and Ireland players again have the best record, with 59 titles to 48. Westwood has won most (21) while Miguel Angel Jimenez has the most wins from the European side (18). Only Darren Clarke from either side has won a major championship and that was this year's open Championship.
The European team consists of seven players from the top 20 in the current race to Dubai standings while the opposition includes four players from those positions. The highest ranked player in the race is Westwood for Britain and Anders Hansen for Europe. Each player in the competition is no worse than 40th in these standings.
European players have a significant edge when it comes to year long statistics for hitting greens in regulation. The average position for their 10 players is 38 while the equivalent figure for Great Britain and Ireland is 57. Eight Europeans are currently in the top 50 for GIR and five British and Ireland players are in the top 50 for this discipline.
Players from Europe also score better in the key skills of total putts and driving accuracy. They have three players from the top 10 for driving accuracy and one more player than the opposition in the top 100 for total putts.
In conclusion, the Great Britain and Ireland team have the better overall record in the Ryder Cup. However the players representing Continental Europe have more strength in depth in the world rankings and are better equipped in terms of the key skills to score well on the event's host course.
Sportingways Golf betting tip
Continental Europe at 4/5 with VCbet