For all the comments about culture and team bonding, players who come into the Ryder Cup on a roll, etc., the facts are that: (a) the recent results have been determined far more by who is at home and golf course set-up than culture, and (b) until this year, the biggest difference in Ryder Cup play between the two teams has been how the bell cows of the respective teams have played. Of the last 8 Ryder Cups, the home team has won 7, and the 8th, the so-called "Miracle at Medinah" came not because the Americans couldn't bond as a team or play partnership matches (the U.S. led 10-6 after partnership matches), but rather because the U.S. collapsed in singles while playing for themselves. Further, from 1997 (when Tiger came onto the scene, and the U.S. began dominating world rankings) to 2018, the difference in the performances of the two teams stemmed almost exclusively from how top 3 ranked players on each team performed relative to each other. Over that period, the top 3 ranked players on each respective U.S. team were a combined 64-81 (44.1%) while their top 3 European counterparts were 84-61 (57.9%). That's a 20 point swing. The total difference between the 2 teams over that period (which included 8 U.S. losses in 11 competitions) was 24 points.
Obviously, the U.S. totally dominated this week, and this time, the top 3 ranked U.S. players coming in (Johnson, Morikawa and Cantlay) were 12-1, while their European counterparts (Rahm, Hovland and McElroy) were 5-9. With a very young, and seemingly connected team, there is talk of a decade or more of U.S. dominance. I hope that's the case. However, this year having come directly on the heels of a 17 1/2-10 1/2 shellacking in Paris, and with the Cup matches travelling to Rome in 2023, I need to see another match or two before I'm convinced. The Europeans are going to set up their course the way it was set-up in 2018--guys like Bryson, who beat Whistling Straits into submission, may not be as comfortable next time around. The good news is that some of the younger Americans--Morikawa, Cantlay, Schuffele, Thomas and Spieth in particular--have games which can thrive in those types of set-ups. Meanwhile, the Europeans are coming into a new cycle without clear prospects (other than Hovland and Rahm, and possibly Fitzpatrick, who has been overwhelmed on the two American Ryder Cup courses he has played on, but is much more suited to European set-ups) of who their next young brigade will be.
If you like golf, nothing beats the Ryder Cup for sheer entertainment. Looking forward already to the next go-around.
Obviously, the U.S. totally dominated this week, and this time, the top 3 ranked U.S. players coming in (Johnson, Morikawa and Cantlay) were 12-1, while their European counterparts (Rahm, Hovland and McElroy) were 5-9. With a very young, and seemingly connected team, there is talk of a decade or more of U.S. dominance. I hope that's the case. However, this year having come directly on the heels of a 17 1/2-10 1/2 shellacking in Paris, and with the Cup matches travelling to Rome in 2023, I need to see another match or two before I'm convinced. The Europeans are going to set up their course the way it was set-up in 2018--guys like Bryson, who beat Whistling Straits into submission, may not be as comfortable next time around. The good news is that some of the younger Americans--Morikawa, Cantlay, Schuffele, Thomas and Spieth in particular--have games which can thrive in those types of set-ups. Meanwhile, the Europeans are coming into a new cycle without clear prospects (other than Hovland and Rahm, and possibly Fitzpatrick, who has been overwhelmed on the two American Ryder Cup courses he has played on, but is much more suited to European set-ups) of who their next young brigade will be.
If you like golf, nothing beats the Ryder Cup for sheer entertainment. Looking forward already to the next go-around.
