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1. Why the U.S. can’t win a Ryder Cup on the road…maybe
Our Gianni Magliocco places the blame on…insularity
“As far as myths go, the rumors that have circulated across Europe throughout the years over what percentage of United States citizens hold passports is a pretty good one. The number that broadcast was always so far under the actual reality, and it is now common knowledge that more Americans hold passports today than at any other time in their history. Still, the myth was evidence of how the rest of the world saw the United States as living inside its little bubble. While the insistence on declaring the winners of the Super Bowl and World Series as World Champions, despite both competitions only possessing sides from the United States, is another detail that supports the rest of the world’s view that the United States is an inward-looking country.’
“How does this insular culture pertain to this year’s failure at the Ryder Cup?…Well, earlier this year, The French Open was held at Le Golf National. A perfect opportunity for Team USA’s 12 members to play the course in tournament conditions, an experience that would undoubtedly have helped them when they arrived to do battle against Europe in September. How many of the 12 players turned up? One. Just one solitary member decided it was worth the effort to get on a plane, travel across the Atlantic ocean and spend a week in Paris getting accustomed to Le Golf National in championship conditions. That man was Justin Thomas, and funnily enough, he was the USA’s best performer over the three days of action in Paris, collecting four points for his country.’
2. They still don’t get it
The takes are hot on the the other side of the pond! Steve Scott at the Courier says the U.S. Ryder Cuppers continue to fail to understand what it means to be a team.
- “The difference is that the Europeans get the team dynamic, and the USA clearly still don’t. Tiger Woods returned to the team last week to record an 0-4 record, looking as unengaged and uncomfortable in the Ryder Cup as he ever has.”
- “Woods can’t even bring himself to wear the team uniform – I don’t blame him entirely for this as the US team clothier dresses them in the wost possible combinations of the world’s most successful colour scheme, red, white and blue.”
- “But Woods wore his waterproof trousers over his team uniform on both Saturday and Sunday when the temperature was edging towards 20 degrees. It’s a small thing but indicative that he is tolerated as a special case and isn’t a real team player.”
- “It’s not just the team. The US media encouraged the old hubristic attitude over the last two years that the Hazeltine win and the so-called TASKFORCE! was ushering in period of domination.”
3. DJ & BK dustup?
While details are lacking, multiple reports suggest best bros Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka nearly came to blows in the Ryder Cup team room.
- Golf Channel report...”The source of the friction was not known, and the dust-up was considered unusual because Johnson and Koepka appear to have a very close relationship. They often work out together at trainer Joey Diovisalvi’s Joey D Golf Performance Center in Jupiter, Fla.”
- “Johnson and Koepka partnered in the Saturday afternoon foursomes, when they lost to Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson.”
- “Johnson’s fiancee, Paulina Gretzky, was reported to have been close by when the alleged incident happened. One of the European players’ wives also was a witness, according to The Telegraph, which also said that “an insider” reported that she was “clearly shocked and upset by the nastiness, which was very threatening.”
4. A defense of Patrick Reed
Rather than being muzzled, Golf Digest’s Joel Beall argues we need more Patrick Reed.
- “…He seems to embody all the qualities associated with a nemesis. He has now called out Jordan Spieth, one of the most popular players in the sport, on multiple occasions this year. (It’s worth noting here, regarding Spieth’s “ego,” that Jordan was the only American player to watch Bryson DeChambeau in the final singles match after the Ryder Cup had been decided.) That the two have a backstory of a successful partnership is something out of a comic book.”
- “Reed’s also living up to his “top-five player” proclamation, winning golf’s most prestigious tournament yes but also placing second at the 2017 PGA Championship and nearly winning this year’s U.S. Open. He is only 28, with his advanced stats pointing to further improvement in the years to come. Those hoping Reed would shut up and go away will not get their wish for quite some time.”
- “You could argue, does golf need a villain? Well, the despised likes of the New England Patriots and New York Yankees have made for richer, fuller narratives in their sport. Same goes for athletes like boxer Floyd Mayweather and tennis player Lleyton Hewitt in individual games. “The more successful the villain,” Alfred Hitchcock once said, “the more successful the picture.”
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19th Hole2 weeks ago
19th Hole2 weeks ago
Shane
Oct 3, 2018 at 9:31 am
The responses to Walters post – just back up his point.
David Lehmann
Oct 2, 2018 at 1:30 pm
You can use this type of talk when you country ponies up ALL the back dues that you owe to the UN.!!!!!
Walter
Oct 2, 2018 at 10:40 am
“US team clothier dresses them in the worst possible combinations of the world’s most successful colour scheme, red, white and blue.”
LOL, ” The Worlds most successful color scheme, RED, WHITE and BLUE. Comments like this are part of the big picture problem with Americans. You guys need to get off your high horses and joint the rest of the real world and stop telling the rest of the world that you guys are the best at everything you do, because you’re just simply not. And the funny part about it is the rest of the world knows this but you guys don’t seem to. Everything Americans do they are world champions, even if it only exists in the USA, it’s like the USA is the WORLD and rest of the planet doesn’t count! It’s pretty obvious that Americans as a whole are stuck on themselves.
And you guys wonder why the rest of the world laughs at you and doesn’t really care for or like you most of the time. Hey I know lots great Americans but they get it, as a whole your country just doesn’t get it, period!
Scott
Oct 2, 2018 at 12:37 pm
Thanks for that valuable comment, Brit/Canuck/Aussie/Kiwi. You morons all spout the same talking points. It’s the world champion Commonwealth jealousy team. And you truly are “world” champions.
CG
Oct 2, 2018 at 3:56 pm
Hey Walter, how about we play each one of your countries individually? Or do we really want to go back to nobody else having a chance every two years?
freowho
Oct 3, 2018 at 7:22 am
The US has about 5 times the number of registered golfers that Europe has. Europe are still the underdogs. The US didn’t plan properly or pick their players properly.
DaveJ
Oct 3, 2018 at 9:51 am
“The Worlds most successful color scheme, RED, WHITE and BLUE.”
That quote was directly from a UK writer, not an American, so I’m not certain how it reflects poorly on the USA. Perhaps it was veiled sarcasm, but that certainly isn’t clear in the article.