Heading into the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles, Team USA was definitely the underdog. Team Europe featured winners in three of this year’s four majors as well as World Number 1 Rory McIlroy and other huge names in the sport of golf. Day 1 and morning Fourballs got off to a good start with Team USA actually leading 2.5 – 1.5, but in the afternoon Foursomes, Team Europe caught fire and went 3.5 – 0.5 and led the Ryder Cup 5 – 3 after Day 1.
Team USA members could have played better themselves, but there were some possible strategic errors on Captain Tom Watson’s end. After Ryder Cup rookies Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed won 5&4 in the morning, they did not play in the afternoon – with such youthful energy and enthusiasm, it might have been a good idea to let them play in the afternoon as well. Instead, the duo of Keegan Bradley and Phil Mickelson, who were so successful in 2012, played both sessions on Friday and ran into a fresh Graeme McDowell and Victor Dubuisson, who made a very strong pair. The duo of Henrik Stenson and Justin Rose were also extremely strong.
It was more of the same in Day 2, Team USA won morning Fourballs 2.5 – 1.5, narrowing the lead by Team Europe to 6.5 – 5.5. But again, in the afternoon Foursomes, Team Europe was just too strong and won 3.5 – 0.5 again, heading into the final day of Sunday Singles with a 10 – 6 lead. Again, Team USA could have played better in Foursomes to make it more competitive, however, there may have been another strategic mistake on the part of Captain Tom Watson, sitting the duo of Keegan Bradley and Phil Mickelson the entire Saturday. Out of a possible eight points in Foursomes, Team USA only won one single point. It feels like only yesterday that Team Europe came back from a 10 – 6 deficit in 2012 at Medinah to retain the Ryder Cup though, so anything could happened.
Team USA made it very interesting for a few hours, with many of the players leading their matches during the first couple of holes, but in the end, Europe’s lead was simply too big. Rory McIlroy was the third match out on Sunday, but was the first to finish, as he absolutely destroyed Rickie Fowler 5&4, shooting 7 birdies and 1 eagle in his first 12 holes. Throughout the week, Rory won three out of a possible four points for Team Europe with the new Nike Vapor Pro driver in the bag.
Rookie Jordan Spieth built a 3-up lead on Graeme McDowell before losing five out of six holes and eventually the match 2&1. It was much the same with the rest of Team USA, with only Patrick Reed (3-0-1), Phil Mickelson, Matt Kuchar and Jimmy Walker bringing home full points on Sunday Singles. Team Europe would win Sunday Singles 6.5 – 5.5, with the total score of 16.5 – 11.5 to retain the Ryder Cup.
In team sports, you either win as a team or lose as a team. However, there was some post-Ryder Cup drama during the team press conferences as Phil Mickelson seemingly questioned the leadership of Captain Tom Watson and gave input on how he thought the team could have improved or could have done better in preparation for this year’s Ryder Cup. Whatever the issue was, Team USA has now lost eight of the last ten Ryder Cups, but will have another two years to figure out a winning formula. The two sides will square off again at Hazeltine in 2016 and you can register online for more information and tickets online!
And of course, no Ryder Cup would be complete without a photo of a pumped-up, bug eyed Ian Poulter!
Source: Ryder Cup
