Ryder Cup Week

The Ryder Cup is a tradition unlike any other. The best players from The USA and from Europe face out in a 3 day match play event. The world’s best go toe to toe with the hopes of bringing the Samuel Ryder Trophy back home. This year will probably be one of the best Ryder Cups we’ve seen in a long time. Not only did we have to wait an extra year due to Covid-19 but the drama and tension that has been building has been electric. Between the Brooks and Bryson drama, Whistling Straits the host course, who was snubbed off the team, and the looming fact that Team USA, who is much more talented on paper seems to constantly lose to team Europe. First and foremost I want to deep dive into each team. 

For Team USA we have 8 of the top 10 players in the world in Patrick Cantlay, Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson, Harris English, Tony Finau, Collin Morikawa, Xander Schauffele, Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth, Daniel Berger, and finally Scottie Scheffler lead by captain Steve Stricker. As for Team Europe’s roster, they have Paul Casey, Tommy Fleetwood, Tyrell Hatton, Shane Lowry, Viktor Hovland, Sergio Garcia, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Ian Poulter, Jon Rahm, Lee Westwood, and finally Bernd Wiesberger lead by Pádraig Harrington.  Now on paper, this team should absolutely dominate Team Europe, however, Team Europe has something Team USA doesn’t have and that is that they actually act like a team. Unlike Team USA who acts like a bunch of individuals, Team Europe pushes each other and works together because after all, this is a team event. 

 The major problems that Team USA will face this week is what to do with Brooks and Bryson. Although they have been seen talking and joking, nobody is really sure what is going on. The only thing we do know is Brooks has openly stated that he doesn't quite care about the Ryder Cup. Personally, I would like to see those two play together so they only lose 1 point and not screw up any other matches. Another problem that will hurt team camaraderie is that the rest of Team USA doesn’t like Brooks or Bryson. Pairing them up with anybody else but each other would lose more points for Team USA. On the flip side, if the rest of Team USA blocks out the drama they could pull off an incredible win on US soil. 

As for Team Europe, they are the closest knit team. They have been pushing each other and building one another’s game and that is the difference maker. On top of that, they have Ryder Cup legends on their team. Sergio Garcia has the most Ryder Cup points, more than all of Team USA combined. Team Europe also has Ian Poulter who historically is one of the greatest Ryder Cup players Team Europe has ever had. It will be interesting to see how some of the younger guys on Team USA face off against Ryder Cup legends who are no strangers to taking down the game’s greatest. On top of that Team Europe also has Jon Rahm who knows how to win against anybody. 

Now with all the looming drama, on Team USA it begs the question, should different players have been picked, should Stricker have taken Reed instead of Scottie, should he have asked Brooks to WD? Personally, I’d take Scottie over Reed any day of the week. Reed was sick, and just not at his top game and Scottie was trending in a much better direction. With regards to Brooks, Stricker was in a tough spot Because Brooks qualified through the top 6 in points so there was virtually no way Stricker could keep him off the team without a valid reason. On top of that and Brook’s comment, it forced Stricker to talk to him and make sure he’s on the same page. Hopefully, their conversation made an impact and got Brooks in a proper state of mind to work and play as a team with the rest of Team USA. With all that being said I still believe Team USA will win. 

Come Sunday afternoon I do believe they will win, but it won’t be easy. They really have to work for this and bring their absolute best games to Whistling Straits because If they don’t Team Europe will make quick work of them and it will be over before it starts. (Mike)

There will be remarkable golf on display as many of the worlds best will be at The Ryder Cup. Every Ryder Cup a few plays separate themselves and are dominant in their matches. This week I think Collin Morikawa will be that guy for the United States. It is his first appearance in the event, but I do not think that really matters for him. He is already a two time major champion and I think he will put on a ball striking clinic around Whistling Straits. Hopefully, Stricker puts Morikawa out there enough, but I think if the USA wanted to ride a guy to victory, Morikawa is a safe bet. For Team Europe, I expect that guy to be Tommy Fleetwood again. He was that guy in Paris going 4-0 when paired with Molinari. Although Francesco will not be at this year’s cup to repeat their Paris magic; I think whoever is paired with Tommy will have success and I would not be surprised to see Tommy go 3-1 this weekend. If Team Europe wants to have a chance this week it needs to rely on guys with past success like Tommy Fleetwood. 

There is much to be said about Whistling Straits as a golf course. For starters, there are so many lakefront holes that are worth the price of admission alone. I remember my first time there and I could not believe how blue the water was, how many holes were right along the water and how special of a place Whistling Straits was. Whistling Straits is a Pete Dye gem. I think part of what makes The Straits so cool is that it is accessible to the public. A course that has opened multiple major championships and now a Ryder Cup being open to the public is something I wish we saw more of in The States. As for the course highlights, the par 3’s are all unique and present different challenges. The lake breeze will surely come into play this weekend as well as some well placed bunkers, some undulating greens, and a boisterous crowd will provide for some great entertainment on all of the par 3’s. Something about the course that does not get talked about enough to me is how great of a finishing two holes the course has. Seventeen is the picturesque par three and then eighteen is a split fairway with a green that has trouble if you miss. I think they provide great challenges and do not give the golfers any let up as they finish. Hopefully, a lot of the matches make it that far because those are easily two of my favorite holes on the whole course. 

I think the United States avenges the disaster that was Paris in 2018 and gets it done this week. I think Europe will keep it close because they always find a way to make the timely putt, especially Poulter. Ultimately, the United States has eight out of the top ten golfers in the world. There are some team chemistry issues for sure, but it would be quite embarrassing if this group of talented golfers is not able to pull off a victory. I think it will come down to the final two or three singles matches and as a fan, that is all we could really ask for. I cannot wait to be there in person to cheer the USA on to victory!

I know it is Ryder Cup week, but Max Homa’s Sunday performance to win the first event of the 2021/2022 season deserves some praise. In a tournament that was there for the taking, he went low Sunday to pull away from Mav as he made a crucial error on 17 that ended any chances someone had of beating Max. Max has now won three times on the tour and it seems like he is going to win a handful more in the coming years. It will be interesting to see if Max can be in contention for the Ryder Cup team in 2023. Mike and I are both huge Max fans so we will be rooting hard for continued success for Max. (Tyler)