In golf, comforting myths tend to become accepted wisdom. So, Jack Nicklaus has never missed a crucial putt and Europe’s Ryder Cup victory is owed to the players who have bonded over dinners and delays at airports. The 71st green of the 1977 Open, and any veteran European team member will confirm that neither statement is true.
Over the years, there has been a lot of animosity in the European team room. People who were not only not friendly but also spent the entire week at each others’ throats. The blue and yellow team had a lot of camaraderie but the Ryder Cup wasn’t a trip with friends. Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo and other European legends would have had a hard time finding more than a handful of teammates to defend them in a barroom fight.
The unity that existed within Europe’s team was rooted in a common goal, not in warm relationships. The continent’s biggest stars were often treated with disrespect on the PGA Tour. They found unity in a common objective: to kick the opponent’s arse. The bonds between players were organic, and not pre-packaged to be on the team. The U.S. team misses the point by trying to mimic what those peddling hackneyed nonsense claim is the secret of Europe’s success.
Harmony is not unwelcome. Discord is clearly better than harmony in a high-stress team room. However, it’s not essential. In many sports, teams have benefited from including troublesome personalities. The 44th Ryder Cup in Rome next month will test this idea.
Seve Ballesteros and Tony Jacklin, on the left, celebrate Europe’s first Ryder Cup victory in America in 1987, at Muirfield Village, Dublin, Ohio.
Players who did not receive a captain’s selection from Zach Johnson this week are limited in their right to complain. The players who didn’t receive a captain’s pick this week had a limited right to complain. Despite the criticisms, each of Johnson’s selections is valid. Several of the metrics used to second-guess are in any case questionable. Like current form. What’s “current” if the matches are still a month off? Or past Ryder Cup performances. Financial advisors will tell you that results from 24 months prior do not predict anything for the next month. ZJ, who was 5-and-0 in Whistlingstraits for ’21, would have chosen DJ.
The reasons behind Captain Johnson’s decisions can still be questioned, even though his choices are justified.
After the announcement of the final U.S. Team, I received a message from a European veteran who was surprised at the non selection of Keegan Brad. His two PGA Tour wins this season were more than any other of the six men selected. He wrote: “When you have a proven Ryder Cup competitor in good form, that should be enough.” Bradley’s comment to Todd Lewis of Golf Channel suggested that he believed his omission was due to clubbiness. “I have always been an outsider but I’ve tried to get close to the guys I’d thought would be in the team.” I feel that moving forward, I will have to qualify automatically for the Ryder Cup.
Johnson’s comments at the announcement reinforced this perception, where popularity was repeatedly mentioned as a factor that was important. Sam Burns is “a good fit” for the U.S. Ryder Cup team. Rickie fowler makes every team room more enjoyable. Brooks Koepka was chosen by his “friends.” Jordan likes JT. Scottie likes Sam. Rickie is liked by everyone. The guys who are sure of their place on the team choose “ride-or-die” themselves, and the captain is responsible for providing air cover.
The PGA of America Ryder Cup Task Force was created amid acrimony – Phil Mickelson criticizing Tom Watson over the Gleneagles loss in 2014. Since then, it has been difficult to distinguish between the U.S. team being competitive and friendly. The American team could easily win in Rome. In that case, any questions regarding how the lineup was put together would be moot. If it loses, a firing squad will load muskets even before the Europeans have a chance to recover from their celebrations. If that happens, Johnson’s team will at least have plenty of supporters to lean on.
