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| Luke Donald contributed two points to the whopping six gained by Zurich Capital at this year's Ryder Cup |
The stunning win by the European Ryder Cup team at Medinah Country Club ranks as one of the greatest sporting turnarounds of all time. This is a tournament where players wear their national colours, rather than those of their sponsors. But many financial institutions do sponsor golfers in their regular day-jobs. So which did best at Medinah?
There’s never been a Swiss player in the European team but there’s consolation of sorts in the fact that Zurich Financial was the top sponsor, with a whopping six points provided by Luke Donald’s two wins, Justin Rose’s three and Graeme McDowell’s one (the latter was aided considerably by partner Rory McIlroy, whose points gave Santander a grand total of three).
Europe’s Ian Poulter won four points, single-handedly placing Mutual of Omaha near the top of the leaderboard. Royal Bank of Canada also scored four points as their players as America’s Matt Kuchar doubled Donald’s points.
Troubled Barclays was given three points courtesy of housewife’s favourite Phil Mickelson. Putnam Investments also registered three points courtesy of the quirky, fidgety and hugely annoying Keegan Bradley and another fund manager – Aberdeen Asset Management – sponsors comeback king Paul Lawrie who provided a crucial point for Europe.
Bringing up the rear was Genworth Financial with no points courtesy of anonymous Peter Hanson, who is now possibly the most grateful man in Europe after his team mates pulled off the seemingly impossible.
And NYSE Euronext, Allianz and Scudder Investments also got to share a big fat zero thanks to Steve Stricker, who narrowly won the award for worst player on the US team from none other than Tiger Woods.