98Ag99Grad said:
So what in course setup favored Europe? The driving stats show very minimal difference in accuracy and a slight advantage in length to Europe. Green speed should also be nullified since most play in America.
Yea. They kept alluding it during the telecast and I thought it was kinda strange.
At Whistling Straits, our game plan was to force Europe to outgun our guys on a big boy golf course from 175+. I thought the Euro strategy this weekend would be to turn it into a short iron competition (like they did in France).
But when I thought about it more, it kinda made sense. Top to bottom, it's hard to say which team is better with long irons. We had an edge at Whistling Straits, but the teams that showed up at Marco Simone seemed to be much more evenly matched from that range.
To me, the setup was all about catering to Rory's strengths. The Euros knew Hovland was in form and playing like the best player in the world. They also knew Rahm would show up and lead like the fighting Spaniard that he is. If they could get Rory going too, it would be almost impossible for the Americans to overcome that.
Rory's weakness is short irons and wedge play. Luke basically eliminated that aspect of the competition this weekend. Genius IMO. He was an effing beast this week.
But even with Hovland, Rahm and Rory totally going off, we still competed very well against the Euros from Friday afternoon forward. I don't have that many second guesses in terms of who we brought and our strategy. No more than usual anyway.
Like others have said, this weekend was about the Euros big guns getting off the bus on Friday morning ready to ball out and ours needing a full round or two to get back into performance shape. The Euros prepped for this weekend like a major and they were ready to throw punches. Our guys eased into the weekend.
I was impressed with how Scottie, Cantlay, Xander and Morikawa bounced back at certain times on Sat/Sun. Cantlay singe-handedly kept us in it on Saturday. Scottie was a ball-striking god against Rahm. But it was almost too little too late.
We needed those four ready to play on Friday morning and they were not. Hopefully they learned a good lesson because I think the script is going to be similar in 2027. Those are our ball striking studs and we need them ready to play from the jump.
Max and JT should get auto-exemptions to every Ryder Cup indefinitely. Heart and soul of the team.
Scottie/Brooks - Don't take it personally if we ask you to play four ball only in 2027, although Scottie might deserve one more crack at foursomes with Will Z.
Rickie - See ya. Covid, whatever. You've played in three road Ryder Cups. You've had plenty of chances to bring it on the road. It's just not your thing.
Jordan - You're on notice. That was pathetic. New baby, whatever. I bet he would have found a way to prep if it was Augusta. Can't show up looking like that. He better SHOW UP at Bethpage (with his game and leadership) or, tbh, he can stay home too.
Burns, Wyndham, Harman - All showed me something. All fought hard enough to deserve another look in a couple years.
The thing I hate most about the Ryder Cup is that we have to wait another four years to get another crack at the Euros on their soil. We'll probably win at Bethpage in another seemingly unexciting cup. We'll be hungry, out for revenge, have fans/setup on our side. Blah blah blah.
But a win at home in 2025 doesn't mean anything for 2027. Plans need to be put in place going forward to make sure our guys get tournament reps leading up to 2027 and arrive on the first tee ready to fight.
