The United States lost another Ryder Cup, and this really wasn’t surprising considering it was on foreign soil where the United States hasn’t won since 1993. What was different about this one, however, was the ease with which the European team came out. upper part. These Ryder Cups usually come down to the final matches on the final day, and that’s usually when Europe’s best find a way to win. This time there didn’t seem to be much drama from the start, as the US rarely threatened seriously.
So now that the results are in and the autopsies have started, I thought I’d add my two cents here, and that’s probably what it’s worth. Most of the reasons for the disappearance of the United States are difficult for me to accept. A lot of the Captain’s fault. Tom Watson, and I admit there were some odd decisions, like playing Phil Mickelson 36 holes on Friday and none on Saturday. But I am sure that whatever Watson’s decisions were, they would have drawn criticism. I have yet to see a losing captain get praised.
The way players are matched I think is pretty overrated. Good players generally play golf well and more often than not will beat players who are not as good. Sounds obvious, I know, but it all comes down to who the best players really are. The best players in Europe often outperform the best players in the United States, and the 2014 Ryder Cup was truly an example of that. The top four ranked European golfers had a combined 10-3-5; the top four Americans went 2-11-3. That’s a pretty lousy performance from the best players on any team, and there was no way the Americans were going to top that.
So why are our best players usually not only unable to carry our team, but unable to even defend? It is certainly not because they are not good golfers. They are and they have come in all scenarios. One of those four American players, Bubba Watson, has won two Masters titles, which is arguably the most difficult tournament to win each year.
I realize this is going to sound like psychological babble, but you could make a case for the fact that different players handle the pressures of the Ryder Cup differently. I speak here in general terms, but I have always thought that the best European players, including Nick Faldo and Colin Montgomerie, always seem to carry themselves with the most confidence. When Phil Mickelson was younger I thought so, but not lately. He and Tiger Woods, who of course didn’t play this year, have trudged across the field as if they had the weight of the world on their shoulders. Admittedly, that’s often what happens when you’re losing, but until top American players find a way to play to their ability like the Europeans do, I think we can look for more of the same.
