Sunday saw a thrilling conclusion to the Solheim Cup, and this week Europe’s men will look to make it a double by winning back the Ryder Cup from the US.

Both events work so well because they nail the fundamental components of a successful sporting product:

• Quality is assured through rankings-based selections. All of the men’s top 12 in the world rankings will play this week, and 5 of the top 10 women featured in Spain.

• Jeopardy is enhanced by the match-play format, which keeps matches close, and the relative unfamiliarity of playing in pairs. The underdogs at both events were and are both rated a healthy 45% to win.

• Connection is delivered through tapping into an authentic European-US rivalry that extends beyond golf and even sport.

This framework provides the conditions for great sport to thrive, and with it the opportunity to captivate fans old and new.