With the Ryder Cup Matches starting precisely one month from today, on September 30, yesterday was the beginning of the Ryder Cup Trophy Tour, a 5,000-mile, 15-stop, 12-city excursion for the 4-pound, 17-inch-tall statue.
Along with visits to noted golf facilities such as Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisconsin, the trophy also will appear at a number of college-football and major-league baseball games before arriving at the match venue, Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota, on September 23.
In kicking things off, Team USA captain Davis Love III appeared on the “Today Show” yesterday morning—putting with host Carson Daly, who is John Daly’s cousin—as well as unveiling the Ralph Lauren-designed Team USA uniforms and conducting a press conference at New York’s midtown Hilton Hotel (above).
Fans who show up at Trophy Tour stops will be able to take their picture with the cup, putt on a replica of Hazeltine’s 7th hole, and take a Ryder Cup trivia test as well as play other games. And along with a website, there is a special Twitter hashtag, #WeAre13, so named because Team USA wants the fans to be their “13th man.”