BY: RORY SPEARS ASSISTANT EDITOR AND LEAD WRITER

Another Ryder Cup and another loss, that makes three in a row. The USA needs to have a fresh approach on how to play the Ryder Cup.

What’s concerning that the talk of today is that, Phil Mickelson answered a question honestly instead of giving some politically correct answer and is now being taken to task for it.

Personally I like the open and honest answer, it’s refreshing. Too bad more golfers or athletes don’t answer the same way, regardless of the fall out. Mickelson is not the problem here, the guys who didn’t win a point and barely got 1 or so because of a couple halves are.

You can make the argument the USA didn’t have it’s best team. Because Dustin Johnson, Jason Dufner and Tiger Woods weren’t there. But there is no reason to believe that the outcome would be any different. Woods losing record speaks for itself, and Johnson and Dufner haven’t steamrollered the Euro’s either.

So what happens now, does the PGA quickly bring back Paul Azinger the hero of Valhalla in 2008. We will hear about the Pod system now for a while. While some in Minnesota might want local hero Tom Lehman to get a shot as the next captain, I’m not sure that’s in the cards. Will Steve Stricker get his shot in 2020 at Kohler, maybe not if there is another loss or two by then.

Perhaps Mickelson should be the captain, it’s puts the bullseye right on him. Maybe that’s what the USA needs, maybe Woods can be the vice-captain. There is a team for you. It’s been said for years that the Euro’s have more at this event, and that their liquor cabinet is always much more empty than the Americans. Perhaps Team USA should drink up a little more, bottom’s up.

Then again a little more action between the guys in 2016 when games and bets are made during PGA tour weeks, maybe some foursome games might work. Hazeltine 2016 should be an interesting time, but things will be much interesting before then like later this year when the new captain gets picked.

THE FALL TRIP..I have started the fall trip. It will go from Chicago to Long Island and back, over two weeks. The first stop is the French Lick Resort in Southern Indiana and home of the 11th USGA State team Championship. All of the players have finally arrived in spite of the air traffic woes from the mess in Aurora.

Today was a stop at Sultans Run GC a course that has been being managed of late by the resort, but that seems about to change. The course is in Jasper about 25 miles from French Lick, and worth the drive. The final green has waterfalls behind it, and Donald Trump didn’t even put them in.

I’ll be checking in from time to time. Stay tuned. The Jack Nicklaus boyhood golf course is up next, it has a senior open on tap for 2016. It’s nice to be on the road again, so far the weather is great hope it stays that way. Keeping my fingers crossed as I follow my own advice, I am out playing, you should as well.

RS