The Ryder Cup’s opening two days were characterized by a focused European Team and a rival that was unable to match Europe’s intensity and execution due to a lack of preparation.
On the opening day, the United States lost every game they played and trailed by an unprecedented margin. The inquiries immediately increased. It was necessary to find explanations for such a perplexing failure from a squad that had been so successful just two years prior.
Was the U.S. Team lacking the close kinship that Europe has traditionally had despite being referred to as a “boy’s club” because of the relationships among its members? Is the layoff excessively long? Should there have been more competition after the TOUR Championship? Perhaps it was the travel itinerary, the travel analytics, or the unidentified illness that U.S. Captain Zach Johnson mentioned during his news conference.
For the first day and a half at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club, the United States appeared unmoored for whatever reason, whether it was jet lag, rust, or the unpredictable nature of golf. There weren’t enough fairway hit or putts made. Neither fairways nor putts were made in sufficient numbers. As opposed to this, Europe seemed to summon its typical home spirit and energy, with the only emotion present being that of the home team relishing a rout.
In the wee hours of Saturday night, the US finally summoned a response. The question now is if it was too little or too late going into Sunday’s Singles match.
A motivated U.S. Team claims the momentum that has been absent from a week in which the scoreboards have been drenched in blue, despite Europe holding a five-point lead.
“Team Europe is one of the best teams in the world, and they have been performing well. The majority of the past two days have seen them outperform and outplay us. Just to conclude the night a bit better than we did the night before is good.” United States Brian Harman who won two of his matches on Saturday said.
On Friday, Europe salvaged three ties and kept the United States winless with two birdies and an eagle on hole 18. The most electrifying moment in American history occurred on Saturday at Marco Simone’s long par-5 last hole, which also served as the center of the week’s biggest controversy.
Patrick Cantlay made the final putt for the Americans of the day, holing a 40-foot birdie putt on the last hole. It turned a game in favor of the Americans for the first time all week, and it brought the squad within five points after it appeared that Sunday would begin with a record deficit. Not only is this U.S. Team inspired by its comeback, but also by reports that it was a split team.
With a deficit of 10.5 to 5.5, the U.S. still needs an extraordinary Sunday to win back the Cup. A team has never come back from a five-point disadvantage in the 12 Singles matches of the Ryder Cup. The requisite 8.5 points required by the U.S. would match the most ever earned in Singles.
However, the U.S., once feckless, now seems committed. An uninspired opponent is now a motivated one.
“We’ve spent the entire week on a mission. Tomorrow, we’re going on another mission.” Cantlay said.
When it was reported on Saturday that Cantlay was not sporting a hat in a quiet protest against players not being paid to compete this week, the audience mocked him and he was repeatedly interrogated about it. After Cantlay’s putt on hole number 18, supporters waved their hats in return, and the U.S. Team reciprocated.
Rory McIlroy and Joe LaCava, Cantlay’s caddie, got into a heated argument on the 18th green when McIlroy complained that LaCava was too close to him as he lined up his putt. Prior to being bundled into a vehicle by teammate Shane Lowry, McIlroy was then seen yelling at someone in the parking lot.
“Ryder Cup is always passionate,” remarked Luke Donald, the captain of the European team.
The emotional outpouring on Saturday has been the most extreme this lopsided Ryder Cup has seen, and it adds drama to what might otherwise have been a very unimportant Sunday when Europe’s winning margin would have been the only issue left to be resolved. It still has a significant advantage.
European Captain Luke Donald declared, “We’ll go out there with 12 men.” “We have 12 players”, Johnson retorted. “Twelve points are ours. Every player on my squad, I think, has a chance to score a point.”
After winning its first session of the week, the United States moves on to Singles. It only won one of the first 12 games of the week, but it won three of the four games on Saturday. Sam Burns and Collin Morikawa, a surprise combo, won 4 and 3 before Max Homa and Brian Harman won their second match of the day.
The United States also had a chance to sweep, but Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth’s miserable week persisted after they blew a lead in the third match.
Cantlay’s birdies on the final three holes prevented his team’s disadvantage from expanding. With two holes to go, he and Wyndham Clark trailed Matt Fitzpatrick and Rory McIlroy by one stroke. However, after the other three players in the group missed the 17th green, Cantlay’s tee shot found the pin at 8 feet and he converted the putt. That prepared him for his crucial putt on hole 18.
“Momentum is a fairly powerful deal,” said Johnson.
It will be interesting to see if this is enough to make a historically significant comeback in a match that has grown eventful very quickly.
