18 thoughts, observations and predictions…
- Luke Donald was appointed Ryder Cup captain in the middle of utter turmoil for Team Europe and the DP World Tour. He did a brilliant job in every facet starting with flipping the format of Friday’s opening session. Superb in all departments.
- Zach Johnson let the team pick the team and his captains picks went 4-12-4. An atrocious winning % and Sam Burns, Rickie Fowler and Justin Thomas came up small. He has to own the decisions… which he will.
- The cries for less captains’ picks will come from American fans. I can only hope the PGA of America will resist reverting back to the old system. Trust the next captain and remember he is constructing a team not rewarding 12 all-stars.
- USA golf needs some new faces and voices inserted in the brain trust system. Furyk, Stricker & Love have all had their decades of inclusion. It’s time to give others time and a chance to contribute like Brandt Snedeker, Webb Simpson and Hunter Mahan.
- Tiger Woods has first right of refusal for every captaincy going forward until he decides to take the wheel. Bethpage seems logical and it is especially with a lot of guys he’s close to in their prime BUT Adare Manor in 2027 presents him with a chance to end the road drought and he’s close to the owners of the property.
- The next European captain may be its last, Luke Donald but the cleansing of LIV has started and in less than a year I expect the exiled to be returned to the system. There are simply too many worthy candidates if they are all eligible to give the post to Donald again.
- The Ryder Cup should always be thinking about ways to improve itself as a sports property. Its beyond time for the captains to be picking pairings together like the Presidents Cup. Its compelling and adds big time juice. Don’t shy away from confrontation, take it on. Now.
- Jordan Spieth was asked about the lay-off between the Tour Championship and the Ryder Cup and he said he’d ideally like a week or two. Expect the Tour and the PGA to configure the schedule in 2025 with less weeks between their last individual event and Bethpage.
- The European team now has three huge pieces in Rory, Rahm and Hovland. Add the steady Hatton, Fitzpatrick and Fleetwood and a potential star in Aberg and they will have a very capable group rolling into New York and they have made their BIG pivot.
- Max Homa is a star. He’s not a superstar because you have to contend in majors to be at the very small table that those players dine, and by 2025 he may have that box checked, but his appeal and his response to the environment make him a huge asset for the USA.
- The USA appeared to have several great pairings for the long haul, but the game can change that very quickly. While it appears Cantlay/Schauffele will still be viable Thomas/Spieth is now a question mark and all the other pieces are not tethered to anyone.
- Joe Lacava is a great dude and a universally respected caddy, but it appeared he suffered temporary insanity on Saturday night. Can only imagine what his player was subjected to all day BUT you cannot do what he did. Period.
- The USA team’s inability to hit the fairway on the first hole may have been a byproduct of nerves but the necessity to hit that fairway should have demanded a different approach from just ripping drivers with impunity.
- Scottie Scheffler is a great player, but his putter is an issue that may be remedied by Phil Kenyon, but him going winless in his last two team competitions is borderline implausible.
- The environment at a Ryder Cup is a departure for golf and most of it is great but there were some imbeciles in Rome and there will be more at Bethpage. The level of security and the explicit language on each ticket that will be grounds for removal MUST be a top priority. The place is a time bomb and I’m not exaggerating.
- Comcast/NBC needs to sell a redzone version of the Ryder Cup. There is an appetite for “featured groups” as a sellable piece to their coverage. People who invest in the Ryder Cup want all the shots and I mean all of them.
- Team Europe always treats the Ryder Cup like a complete and total privilege, and while the US team absolutely cares a great deal there is a mild undercurrent of obligation. Little things matter when everyone is pulling the sled, it has to be all privilege and zero obligation.
- Europe earned the win, USA golf has to own this loss starting with odd opening pairings on Friday morning, complete ineptitude in foursomes play and abject failure from the captains’ picks. Always a great show, the Ryder Cup is now on a five straight blowout result streak. Let’s hope that ends in two years, because Medinah is now a long, long time ago.