Ryder Cup Blog
Greetings Golfers,
As I warned you last week, Marty Lass and I are continuing our semi-annual Ryder Cup battle … using words instead of golf clubs (or fists).
Marty is defending the European team and has the floor:
Why Team Europe wins the Ryder Cup…
First and most importantly, I want to be clear that I certainly want Team USA to win the Ryder Cup! I think they have a great captain and team and hope they are celebrating big at the end of the competition.
This however is my stance on why the Euro’s take the cup back overseas….
Ryder Cup Experience. Some people will downplay this, but the European players combined have 38 Ryder Cup appearances vs. 12 appearances by the Americans. This will certainly help them in keeping the heavy ‘home field’ crowds at bay and not bothering them in the competition. The salty veterans will show the young bucks how to maintain composure…
Heavy Underdogs. The Euro’s thrive on this. On paper, there isn’t a snowball in hell’s chance they can win. Watch out.
Whistling Straits. Great venue: not really an ‘American course’ (i.e. Hazeltine) so I don’t feel the course itself has a home-field advantage.
WGC Match Play. Earlier this year in the WGC Match Play, the 12 Europeans had a combined 18-13-5 record in the ‘group stage’ matches while the 11 Americans who played (Koepka was injured) had a combined 13-12-8 record. The World Rankings are based primarily on stroke-play events, not many match-play formats used (which is the Ryder Cup).
Intangibles. Lee Westwood back in 2016 couldn’t make a putt if the cup was the size of a Frisbee. Since then, he has a new love in his life and she caddies for him, and no more missed 2-footers! Rory and Sergio since the last Ryder Cup now have kids. This will help them make playing golf in the Ryder Cup a bit more relaxed, no pressure, having some fun.
Win or lose, the European team will have fun, which alleviates some of the pressure. When the Americans win, it is fun. When they lose, not so much (and the finger pointing begins…).
When it’s all said and done, the team that can manage to win the last three holes consistently (making a few crucial putts) will win the Ryder Cup.
- Marty Lass
Thanks Marty - well done!
However, the Europeans will not win the Ryder Cup.
This American team is just too strong.
I know, I know … Europe has won 9 of the past 12 Ryder Cups … and they are more experienced than this American team. I get it.
But, since 2008, American Ryder Cup rookies have gone 40-29-17.
Maybe it’s not about experience.
Match-play is different from medal play. Medal-play rewards patience. Match-play rewards aggression and optimism.
As much as I like Webb Simpson … I like that Captain Steve Stricker picked Scottie Sheffield and Daniel Berger.
Stricker needs a fresh, exciting team. He has enough weirdness with DeChambeau and Koepka … he didn’t need Patrick Reed.
Look at the talent on Team USA: Collin Morikawa, Xander Shauffele, Patrick Cantlay, Justin Thomas, Tony Finau.
Yeah - Jon Rahm is ranked #1 in the world. Yet, the next 9 are on this American team.
And, it’s on American soil.
Sorry Marty - it won’t even be close.
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com