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The video shared on social media points out that 164 men have
represented Team Europe in Ryder Cup play while 5,780 people
have climbed Mount Everest, 570 have been to space, 445 have won
the soccer World Cup and 225 have claimed golf majors.
"I've always known that being a part of the Ryder Cup team is
very difficult, but I didn't know that only that little amount
of players have made it," Sergio Garcia told reporters on
Tuesday at Whistling Straits.
"So that showed you how difficult it really is. That's why every
time I'm a part of a team or the rest of our team mates, that's
why we give it the respect that it deserves, because it's so
difficult to be a part of it."
The opening line of the video states "In life, the joy of
numbers is that they always amount to something" and goes on to
include several former players reciting the number of where they
fit in Team Europe's historical timeline.
"It's a small collection of people that have played for Europe
in the Ryder Cup," said Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy, who made
his Ryder Cup debut in 2010.
"That's what brings us very close together and that's been one
of our sort of big focus points this week - just being here is
very special and being part of a European team. Very few people
can call themselves a European Ryder Cup player."
The video was shown to the 12-member European team on Monday by
captain Padraig Harrington in a bid to put in context the rarity
of taking part in the event.
Stitched on the golf bags belonging to the European players
competing this week is a number unique to them that signifies
where they fit on the historical timeline.
"You have a far greater chance of going into space or climbing
Mount Everest than you have (of) representing Europe in the
Ryder Cup," said Lee Westwood, who will tie Nick Faldo's Team
Europe record when he makes his 11th Ryder Cup start.
"We've all got numbers. Mine is the smallest number (on this
team), obviously, 118. But yeah, it's something to be very proud
of, being able to pull on the clothing with the European team
crest on it," added the Englishman.
(Reporting by Steve Keating; writing by Frank Pingue in Toronto;
Editing by Ken Ferris)
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