American Ryder Cup rally falls just short

Tragically, the U.S. Ryder Cup team failed to deliver a win on home soil at the legendary Bethpage Black golf course in New York, in the 45th playing of the Ryder Cup matches. With 55,000 fans walking the fairways and in corporate hospitality suites, there were high hopes for the U.S. team, especially after the dismal losing performance in Rome two years ago.

The Ryder Cup matches, each team with 12 players, span three days. On both Friday and Saturday there are four matches (two against two) of foursomes (alternate shot) in the morning, and four matches of fourballs (better ball) in the afternoon. On Sunday there are 12 singles matches.

Points are awarded with one point for a win and ½ point each for a tie. Total points are 28, with 14 ½ to win the cup, and 14 to retain the cup from two years earlier.

The result of the 16 matches from Friday and Saturday was the Europeans 11 ½ and the Americans 4 ½, meaning the U.S. team found themselves in a deep, deep hole. This was exactly the case after the first two days in Rome in 2023 and the same on home soil in 2004 at Oakland Hills, where the U.S. trailed 11 to 5 from foursomes and fourballs drubbings.

The U.S. team was captained by Keegan Bradley who had two PGA Tour wins this year, and considered being a playing captain, but opted to not play. One of the differences on the teams was that there were several rookies on the American team, whereas 11 of the 12 golfers on the European team played in Rome in 2023, while Luke Donald was the returning captain. That’s a big advantage in experience.

The advantage on this year’s Ryder Cup favored the Americans, so the pundits said, because Bethpage Black (affectionally called “The Peoples Country Club”) has the well-earned reputation of being so formidable that it can overwhelm even some of the best professional golfers.

A large sign for the Black course warns golfers that they dare not set foot on black unless they are very “skilled” golfers. Add that to the raucous, rowdy New York crowds who make every attempt to overwhelm visitors. The home Ryder Cup team is entitled to set up its course in a way that tends to fit its players the best. That backfired.

Bradley decided to cut the rough down (to about three inches), thereby shortening the fangs on Bethpage Black. “Obviously it wasn’t the right decision,” Bradley admitted. Many episodes of vulgar and ugly behavior by the New York fans only fueled the fire of the Europeans. And then there’s the matter of the Americans getting paid $500,000 each to play (with $300,000 designated to charity), with the Euros playing for fee, hammering away to the media about the “mercenary” Americans.

To their credit the Americans almost pulled off what would have been the “miracle at Bethpage” if they had won two more of the single matches on Sunday. They did win 8 ½ of the 12 singles match points and ended up losing the cup 15 to 13.

They showed heart and spirit – they certainly didn’t quit. Scottie Scheffler is now 3-6-3 in his 12 Ryder Cup showings. The Euros have won 11 of the last 15 Ryder Cups. When the Americans won 19 to 9 in 2021, I thought we had cracked the code. Back to the drawing board.