It’s been a long time since the Americans won the Ryder Cup on European soil. Long time. So much so that the story of the conquest of Belfry led by Captain Watson can be found in history books that have been gathering dust for 30 years. This victory dates back to the fall of 1993.
Since then, the American machine has failed six times on the Old Continent. In total, she suffered three bitter setbacks, including at the K Club in Ireland in 2006, at Gleneagles in Scotland in 2014 and at the Golf National de Paris in 2018.
Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth attended the American defeat at the Golf National de Paris at the 2018 Ryder Cup. AFP
More recently, these last two European warp waves sound like rusty rattles to American ears. Especially for Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler, who suffered defeats there.
Of the dozen players wearing U.S. colors this week at the Marco Simone Golf Club just outside Rome, Italy, six weren’t even born the last time America won in Europe. Among the others, only Brian Harman could have a vague memory of it, when he was almost seven years old.
Things from the past
But with a stunning 19-9 home win at Whistling Straits two years ago and a core virtually intact, the Americans are focused on this 44th edition of the Ryder Cup.
In hostile territory and on soil as hostile as Europe, where the noisy spectators passionately display their blue and yellow colors, the big favorites lose their shine.
The captain of the 2023 American team, Zach Johnson. AFP
“It’s difficult to win outside your comfort zone and against a team that has always been great at home. It’s that simple,” noted American captain Zach Johnson, pointing to the elements that stood against his team, including the support of the crowd.
“The European Championships are solid and talented,” he added, respecting the opponents in this biennial competition. And they rely on a deep focus. This year is no different than any other.
“I know the history and am aware of it. What I can testify is that my boys are ready to overcome the difficulties that come with playing in Europe and take on the challenge. The teams of the past are the teams of the past. This team represents the 2023 team and sees a new opportunity. »
A surprise on Sunday?
The European team is amputated by veterans who have played important roles in the last two decades due to the guerrilla warfare that has plagued professional golf and is looking to the future.
However, captain Luke Donald’s line-up features four talented new additions such as Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm and can stand out from the pack if the cards are played well from Friday to Sunday. Several of the team’s twelve members had a good season, especially Viktor Hovland and Rahm.
Could the underdogs, humiliated at the last tournament, pull off an upset by derailing the powerful American engine?
Nothing is impossible.
An old recipe
Especially since Captain Donald will retain part of the recipe for success by relying on the available analytical data.
The captain of the 2023 European team, Luke Donald. AFP
He has already revealed his colors by choosing to compete in the “Foursomes” format, which he believes better suits the reality of his training. The Americans have dominated the European Championships in this style of play since 1979, scoring 86.5 versus 81.5 points.
Donald wants to get started and collect valuable points. The last time the European Championships took the lead in the first session was in 2006, at home to the K Club. During this break they only led three times at the end of the first day.
Before the nerve-wracking twelve individual games on Sunday, 16 points are at stake. It’s best to avoid deep gaps even when playing at home.
To understand everything about the Ryder Cup
Ryder Cup 101
United States versus Europe
12 players on each team
3 competition days (Friday to Sunday)
28 games in total
No extension hole
Winning a game is worth 1 point
For a game that ends in a draw, each team receives 0.5 points
The first team to reach 14.5 points wins the Ryder Cup
If the tournament ends in a 14-14 tie, the defending champion team retains the trophy.
3 game formats in match play format:
Foursome: Each of the two teams (USA and Europe) plays a single ball on each hole. The golfers take turns until the ball falls into the cup. The tee shots are hit alternately, with one teeing off on even holes and the other on odd holes. The team with the lowest score wins the hole. If both teams score the same number of points, the hole remains tied.
Four-ball: Each golfer from the two teams (USA and Europe) plays his ball in the same foursome. So there are always four balls in play on each hole. Each team records the lower score of the two players on each hole on the card. The lowest score wins the hole. If the lowest score is tied with the opposing team, the hole remains a draw.
It’s simple: In every game, a player from the American team competes against the European team. The player with the lowest score wins the hole. If the number of points is the same, the tie remains.
Hourly
Friday – 8 games
Session A: Foursome (from 1h30)
Session B: Fourball (from 6:30 a.m.)
Saturday – 8 games
Session C: Foursome (from 1h30)
Session D: Fourball (from 6:30 a.m.)
Sunday – 12 games
Singles (from 5:35 a.m.)
*Quebec time
Training
UNITED STATES
Patrick Cantlay
29 years
2. Presence (Q)
Overall balance: 4 games – 3 wins / 0 defeats / 1 draw – 3.5 points
Xander Schauffele
29 years
2. Presence (2021) (Q)
Overall balance: 4 games – 3 wins / 1 defeat – 3 points
Scottie Scheffler
27 years old
2. Presence (2021) (Q)
Overall balance: 3 games – 2 wins / 1 draw – 2.5 points
Max Homa
32 years old
Recruit (Q)
Brian Harman
36 years
Recruit (Q)
Wyndham Clark
29 years
Recruit (Q)
Brooks Koepka
31 years
4. Presence (2016, 2018, 2021) (SC)
Overall balance: 12 games – 6 wins / 5 defeats / 1 draw – 6.5 points
Justin Thomas
30 years
3. Presence (2018, 2021) (SC)
Overall balance: 9 games – 6 wins / 2 defeats / 1 draw – 6.5 points
Jordan Spieth
30 years
5. Presence (2014, 2016, 2018, 2021) (SC)
Overall balance: 18 games – 8 wins / 7 defeats / 3 draws – 9.5 points
Rickie Fowler
34 years old
5. Presence (2010, 2014, 2016, 2018) (SC)
Overall balance: 15 games – 3 wins / 7 defeats / 5 draws – 5.5 points
Colin Morikawa
26 years
2. Presence (2021) (SC)
Overall balance: 4 games – 3 wins / 0 defeats / 1 draw – 3.5 points
Sam Burns
27 years old
Recruit (SC)
captain:Zach Johnson
Captain’s assistants : Fred Couples, Jim Furyk, Steve Stricker, Davis Love III, Stewart Cink
EUROPE
Jon Rahm
28 years old (Q)
Spain
3. Presence (2018, 2021)
Overall balance: 8 games – 4 wins / 3 defeats / 1 draw – 4.5 points
Rory McIlroy
34 years old (Q)
Northern Ireland
7. Presence (2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2021)
Overall balance: 28 games – 12 wins / 12 defeats / 4 draws – 14 points
Victor Hovland
26 years old (Q)
Norway
2. Presence (2021)
Overall balance: 5 games – 0 wins / 3 defeats / 2 draws – 1 point
Matt Fitzpatrick
29 years old (Q)
England
3. Presence (2016, 2021)
Overall balance: 5 games – 0 wins / 5 defeats – 0 points
Tyrrell Hatton
31 years old (Q)
England
3. Presence (2018, 2021)
Overall balance: 7 games – 2 wins / 4 defeats / 1 draw – 2.5 points
Robert MacIntyre
27 years old (Q)
Scotland
Recruit
Tommy Fleetwood
32 years old (SC)
England
3. Presence (2018, 2021)
Overall balance: 8 games – 4 wins / 2 defeats / 2 draws – 5 points
Shane Lowry
36 years old (SC)
Ireland
2. Presence (2021)
Overall balance: 3 games – 1 win / 1 loss / 1 draw – 1.5 points
Justin Rose
43 years old (SC)
England
6. Presence (2008, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018)
Overall balance: 23 games – 13 wins / 8 defeats / 2 draws – 14 points
Ludwig Aberg
23 years old (SC)
Sweden
Recruit
Nicolai Hojgaard
22 years old (SC)
Denmark
Recruit
Sepp Straka
30 years (SC)
Austria
Recruit
Captain: Luke Donald
Captain’s assistants: Thomas Björn, Nicolas Colsaerts, Edoardo Molinari, Francesco Molinari, José Maria Olazabal
*F: Qualified / SC: Captain selection