There’s More To The Ryder Cup 2014 WAGs Than Meets The Eye

Our friends over at Eurosport got it completely right in their column: ‘Ryder Cup WAG parade is pointless and patronising.’

There’s so much more to the wives and girlfriends at the Ryder Cup 2014 in Gleneagles than simply being… well, wives and girlfriends.

One’s an actress, one’s a cancer survivor, one’s an Olympian and one is a former pro golfer – yet for six days every two years, they are known simply as ‘WAGs’ and just expected to just stand there looking pretty.

Here’s why they can hold their own with or without their famous husbands.

TEAM EUROPE:

Englishman Ian Poulter’s wife KatiePoulter was working as a nurse before the couple met in the ‘90s and holds a Bachelors and Masters degree in Science.

Graeme Mcdowell’s wife Kristin Mcdowell (née Snape) is an interior designer – they actually met when Graeme hired her company to make over his house!

Justin Rose’s wife Kate Rose (née Phillips) is a former international gymnast and competed for England in the early ‘90s. She's also the President of a foundation that helps 'feed and educate children in need.'

Sergio Garcia’s partner Katharina Boehm is a keen German golfer. She was the Bavarian Junior Girls Champion and took part in the European Ladies Championship.

Sam Torrance’s wife Suzanne Danielle is an actress and dancer who has appeared in Carry On films and on the West End.

Team captain Paul McGinley’s wife Alison McGinley is a former professional golfer who played for England on the Ladies European Tour.

Henrik Stenson’s wife Emma Stenson is a talented skier and also played golf for her university team in South Carolina.

Of course, one person who won’t be supporting from the sidelines is tennis ace Caroline Wozniacki.

The 24-year-old was engaged to World Number 1 Rory McIlroy but he called things off in May, days after the couple sent out wedding invitations.

He’s now rumoured to be dating receptionist Sasha Gale from a small town near Belfast.

TEAM USA:

Phil Mickelson’s wife Amy Mickelson is a former cheerleader for the Phoenix Suns. The couple have been married since 2006, and she’s a breast cancer survivor, having undergone treatment in 2009.

Jim Furyk’s wife Tabitha Furyk co-founded The Jim & Tabitha Furyk Foundation, which helps underprivileged families.

Bubba Watson’s wife Angie Watson is a former professional basketball player who represented Canada at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney and enjoyed a stint in the Women’s NBA.

Hunter Mahan’s wife Kandi Mahan (nee Harris) is a former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader (the cream of the crop in the cheerleading world).

Matt Kuchar’s wife Sybi Kuchar is an accomplished tennis player and the couple often play doubles together (when they’re bored of golf).

Jimmy Walker’s wife Erin Walker is an accomplished US showjumper and runs the Twitter account @tourwifetravels.

Jordan Spieth’s 21-year-old girlfriend Annie Verret has a business degree at Texas Tech (she's also the youngest of them all).

See, we told you they were more than just WAGs.

[11 Things You Didn't Know About The Wimbledon WAGs]

[World Cup WAGs Without Make-Up]