THE WINNING RYDER CUP TEAM-TEAM USA- EUROPE AFTER LOSING THE CUP. ______________________________________________________________________
THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy or connect on LinkedIn or Facebook. With PGA of America President Jim Richerson at the Ryder Cup.
IT WAS JUST TIME…
BUT NOT JUST to win the Ryder Cup, but to do it in convincing manner.
As Sunday moved forward at Whistling Straits, it became apparent that Team USA didn’t want to “just win” they wanted to win big.
Because it was time to put up, 19 or 20 points on the board. Because it was time to keep Europe in a point total of single digits.
For almost 20 years, it’s not only been Team Europe winning most of the time. But Team USA getting pounded and leaving the question of what next, and how do we stop the European momentum. How does the USA not have to come from 4 points behind on Sunday to win. How does it keep from losing 4 point leads on Sunday, like it did at Medinah. Should the PGA of America have to form a task force to figure out how to get the Ryder Cup right ?
The feeling in the small Wisconsin community of Haven, was that it was time, right here right now to put the feeling of-oh wait next in Europe’s court. Make Europe finally deal with the issues that the USA has been dealing with for the last few decades.
With the 19-9 win handed out by Wisconsin native and Team USA Captain Steve Stricker’s 12 players, there is a sense that it was mission accomplished. Word was that even the injured Tiger Woods sitting in Florida was telling the Stricker-12 as much.
After his match was over, Patrick Cantlay made it clear he wanted a big Team USA score put up. Because the word was that someone, maybe Jordan Spieth was making sure the team knew what the records were in point totals. Bryson DeChambeau told me that while he respects Sergio Garcia, he really enjoyed beating him. Then making a statement by driving the first green, and sinking his eagle putt for a quick 1 Up lead.
When the dust settled, it was Team Europe having to look in the mirror. They must now face the challenge, of where do we go from here.
But what was apparent, was that the veterans on Team Europe all know what the next steps are going to have to be. Because when the main interview session was over, credit Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter for hanging out and doing media scrums on the clubhouse patio. They were also very candid with the their answers, and tipped their cap or golf visor in the direction of the Americans.
Rory McIlroy said the Americans now have players buying into what the Ryder Cup is all about, something that hasn’t always been there in recent years. Ian Poulter said that Team USA made it’s youth movement this year, and that Europe would now have to do the same before Italy. Lee Westwood said that he would be turning 49 soon, and left an image that spelled out, I’ve probably just played in my last one of these. But it’s not likely the American’s have seen the last of Poulter or Westwood. They will be captains and or vice-captains for years to come.
But finally it’s time for the European’s to be in the boat the American’s have been stuck in several times. The shoe is now on the other foot as both sides look forward to Italy in 2023.
THE CARDS fell the right way for PGA of America President Jim Richerson. Richerson worked at Kohler for over 10 years as it’s Director of Golf. So to come back to Wisconsin as the President of the PGA, Ryder Cup week was quite a homecoming. Richerson would have been vice president of the PGA, had the Ryder Cup been played in 2020.
After 4 years with Troon Golf in Arizona, Richerson take’s over as General Manager at Riviera Country Club in California. Richerson will help take the club through it’s PGA Tour event the Genesis Invitational. Then prepare the club for it’s likely hosting of the golf competition in the 2028 Olympic games.
CLICK HERE to hear our interview with PGA of America President Jim Richerson.
The week of golf continues with the Illinois PGA Players Championship at The Knollwood Club in Lake Forest. I’m back with a wrap-up of the Illinois PGA Sections final major. RS