With all the hullabaloo generated by LIV Golf and its mind-blowing financial boons, there’s something quite comforting about returning to one event with zero financial incentive; The Ryder Cup. Damien Kayat previews.
Ryder Cup in the age of LIV
With all the hullabaloo generated by LIV Golf and its mind-blowing financial boons, there’s something quite comforting about returning to one event with zero financial incentive; The Ryder Cup.
That’s not to say that LIV hasn’t been a massive part of this year’s narrative thrust. Lest we forget, Henrik Stenson was originally meant to be the captain of this year’s European side. But things on the ground have changed somewhat over the last few months.
News of a potential merger between LIV and the traditional tours has taken some of the animosity out of the air. That decision probably gave Zach Johnson the leeway to include Brooks Koepka in this year’s line-up.
Yes, Brooks Koepka officially becomes the first active LIV member of a Ryder Cup side (a fact which must please Greg Norman no end).
Koepka narrowly missed out on an automatic qualification spot this year but couldn’t be ignored due to his tremendous form in the majors.
I wonder how Bryson feels? The oft-contentious figure lit the golfing world alight with a 58 at the Greenbrier but Johnson found chose to swerve him.
DJ scored five points at the last Ryder Cup in Whistling Stratis but was also sidestepped this year. The message is clear: perform in the Majors and you LIV guys have a shout. It’s also interesting to note how LIV affects both sides.
You can argue that the USA loses more undoubted quality with the likes of DeChambeau, Johnson and Reed. Europe has lost much of the experienced spine that has defined its relative dominance over the past 20 years (Westwood, Poulter, Garcia).
But I honestly think the LIV experiment is a blessing in disguise for a European team that definitely needed an injection of youth.
Zach Johnson’s full response when asked if any other LIV Golf players, besides Brooks Koepka, were being seriously considered for the Ryder Cup team. pic.twitter.com/Q57ZXhkGct
— Luckiest Golfers On Earth (@luckiestgolfer) September 25, 2023
The Ryder Cup
This will be the 44th staging of golf’s most prestigious biennial sporting event. It will also be the first time that Rome- the Eternal City- will host the competition.
The Ryder Cup is nearing 100 years of age and was originally contested between Great Britain and the United States. But that turned out to be rather farcical, with the USA completely dominating the early stages of this event.
But the success of a new generation of Spanish golfers- led by Seve Ballesteros and Antonio Garrido- paved the way for the inclusion of players from continental Europe. And it completely revolutionised the tournament, creating far more competition and laying the platform for the Ryder Cup as we know it today.
Some of these duels have become immortalised in sporting history, boasting amazing monikers such as the ‘War on the Shore’ or the ‘Miracle of Medinah’. America absolutely destroyed the European outfit when they last met at Whistling Straits, announcing a potential new era of American Ryder Cup dominance.
America does appear to be better equipped to win on European soil than the European side does to winning on American.
And that’s really what it’s all about this year. Zach Johnson’s side will be looking to become the first American team in 30 years to win the trophy (the last time coming at the Belfry in 1993).
That is certainly an amazing carrot to dangle in front of this impressive American side. It’s interesting to note just how important home-field advantage has been in the Ryder Cup. Europe’s victory at Medinah in 2012 was the only time since 2006 that a side has won on foreign soil.
And it’s invited a few fairly accurate stereotypes to take hold. The American side tends to perform well on bomber’s paradises. Hazeltine and Whistling Straits are sprawling layouts that exemplify this trend.
Europe tends to thrive when the fairways are pinched and the rough is turned up to 11. This was perfectly encapsulated at LE Golf National, with ‘Moli-Wood’ plotting their way around that tricky layout with surgical precision.
But I think this year’s sides are more homogenous than usual. In fact, the European side currently leads the driving distance stats while the US leads the accuracy!
Sure, Aberg and McIlroy are probably warping the distance criteria for the European side. But it just feels like some of those well-worn stereotypes are not as applicable this year.
In the Ryder Cup, home team advantage doesn’t just mean the crowd is on your side. It means setting the course to play in your favor and punishing your opponents. @LukeKerrDineen breaks it down and looks ahead to the 2023 Ryder Cup. 🏆
— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) September 21, 2023
Watch in full: https://t.co/21HQV9AKR3 pic.twitter.com/jx1IAx6VCS
The Course – Marco Simone Golf and Country Club
There has been some conjecture as to the suitability of Marco Simone Golf and Country Club as a host venue. I think some people scoff at relatively new courses (especially if they don’t measure well over 7,000 yards).
I think this year’s venue could produce one of the most exciting Ryder Cups in recent memory. Designed by Jim Fazio in the late 90’s, Marco Simone was remodeled in preparation for this year’s event.
There are just so many delicious risk/reward holes on this course, including drivable par 4’s and daunting par 5’s. The fact that there are multiple ways to attack holes is what is going to make this so fascinating.
I do think that players will need to drive accurately his week. My main takeaway after watching Rick Shiels playing the course on his YouTube channel was just how punitive the rough was. Granted, Rick Shiels isn’t exactly Tiger Woods. But it looks genuinely juicy and I honestly think plotters like Brian Harman could thrive here.
🚨#LOOK: The rough at Marco Simone is DEEP ahead of The Ryder Cup 🌳⛳️ pic.twitter.com/QdKTsJh6jw
— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) September 25, 2023
The Format
To win the Ryder Cup outright, each side has to get 14 ½ points out of a total of 28. USA only have to get 14 points in order to retain the trophy. Each of the first two days consists of two sessions. The first session of each day will consist of four fourball (better-ball) matches.
The second session of each day will consist of four foursomes (alternate-shot) matches. The final day will then consist of all 24 players duking it out in 12 straight-up singles matches. All the matches are match-play.
Team Europe
Captain: Luke Donald
Vice-captains: Jose Maria Olazabal, Francesco Molinari, Edoardo Molinari, Thomas Bjorn, Nicolas Colsaerts
Qualified: Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Viktor Hovland, Tyrell Hatton, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Robert MacIntyre
Wildcards: Shane Lowry, Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose, Sepp Straka, Nicolai Hojgaard, Ludvig Aberg
This European side has one of the strongest cores in their Ryder Cup history. They currently have five players ranked inside the top 11 in the world. Like I alluded to earlier, I don’t think this European side is going to feel like they have to tactically manipulate the ball in order to win. They are as decorated and feature just as much power.
World No.2 Rory McIlroy actually holds a pretty disappointing 3-6-0 record in Ryder Cup action. But you would argue that Le Golf National wasn’t well set out for him and this layout should suit him better. He is the leader of this group and a living icon of European golf. It also helps that he is probably still the most consistent player in the world.
World No.3 Jon Rahm won the Masters earlier this year and will surely be a decisive force in this year’s Ryder Cup. Who can forget when he beat Tiger in Paris on his debut?
This European side doesn’t really have much cohesion when it comes to pairings. The Americans benefit from playing the President’s Cup and are able to form more cohesive partnerships (more on that later). So, it’s pretty clear that Luke Donald and co have a lot of thinking to do.
How does Donald get the best out of McIlroy? Should he go big and place him alongside a megastar like Hovland? Or should he perhaps take a chance on a guy like Aberg? I think Donald will also be looking for a pseudo-Francisco Molinari to partner in-form Tommy Fleetwood.
Could Matthew Fitzpatrick be the man to fill that metronomic void? Also, how is Donald going to utilize the explosive power of Aberg? There are quite a few headaches for Donald and co to negotiate.
Still, they do have a massive advantage in terms of course knowledge. Four of the current team members have either won or finished runner-up at the Italian Open on this course.
You have to think that Viktor Hovland is going to have a big say this year. The reigning FedEx Cup champion is now firmly established as one of the big boys in world golf and this could be his time to shine.
I personally feel like Matthew Fitzpatrick is perfectly poised for a stellar tournament. He knows how to avoid trouble and he loves this layout (he finished runner-up to MacIntyre in last year’s Italian Open). Still yet to win a Ryder Cup point, Fitzpatrick won’t be a deer in the headlights in this year’s edition.
He has three top-10 finishes in his last four worldwide starts and he could be part of the bedrock of Europe’s success this year. I think that rookie sensation Ludvig Aberg- if well managed- could give this European side that added X factor in the opening stages.
I have to admit, I was pretty surprised that Donald chose to omit Adrian Meronk. A former winner here, the Pole has been undoubtedly the most consistent player on the DP World Tour this season.
I can go along with the Lowry pick considering his pedigree in big events. But Nicolai Hojgaard? Sure, he has course experience. He won here back in 2021 and he also finished 5th last year. But he barely made the cut at Wentworth last time out and I just don’t see him as the guy for the big occasion.
And I also can’t help but have a few misgivings about Robert MacIntyre. Another course winner, the Scot did contend in an illustrious field at the Scottish Open. But look at his form. He finished in a tie for 55th at Crans before a T45 at Wentworth. And he just missed the cut at Le Golf National. I see Donald using him very sparingly in the team format.
Overall
Leaders: Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm
My Players to Watch: Viktor Hovland and Matthew Fitzpatrick
Potential Liabilities: Nicolai Hojgaard and Robert MacIntyre
Team Europe 💙#TeamEurope pic.twitter.com/Kmte0ajtHm
— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) September 26, 2023
Team USA
Captain: Zach Johnson
Vice-captains: Davies Love III, Jim Furyk, Steve Stricker, Fred Couples and Stewart Cink
Qualified: Scottie Scheffler, Wyndham Clark, Brian Harman, Patrick Cantlay, Max Homa, Xander Schauffele
Wildcards: Justin Thomas, Brooks Koepka, Sam Burns, Collin Morikawa, Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler
This is obviously a very exciting young squad that just oozes class. Two of their four debutants won Majors this year (Clark and Harman). That tells you all you need to know about this current side. I think they have a really strong balance between pure ball-striking power and course management.
World No.1 Scottie Scheffler epitomizes this trend. If that putter can get hot then there’s little doubt that Scheffler could help lead his side to victory.
Koepka is obviously a touch more controversial. Often cast as aloof and individualistic, Koepka seemed to embrace the camaraderie at Whistling Straits. The five-time Major champion almost feels like the Tiger Woods of this American outfit and he will be hoping to have a similar impact this week.
There are a few combinations that could prove vital out there for the Americans. Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay just dovetail perfectly. They have contributed 6/9 points in their combined Ryder Cups and President’s Cup matches.
You also have the dream duo of Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas. The great friends were 100% at the President’s Cup and 3/4 in Paris (where the Americans were hammered).
I really feel like a Scheffler-Clark combination could be exceptional. Clark has putted exceptionally this season and it’s the one area where Scheffler sometimes goes awry. I just have a feeling about that partnership.
I personally feel that Brian Harman and Wyndham Clark could prove vital for the Americans. Harman is a brilliant course strategist who manages to stay out of trouble (just look at how he tackled Royal Liverpool this year). The rough is brutal here and his metronomic driving could be crucial.
Clark is relatively straight for a big hitter and he putts tremendously. I really think the US rookies are generally more dangerous than the European side. Each side has four rookies but these US players have all contended in Majors or been in the mix in the FedEx Cup. Could that prove decisive this week?
The selection of Justn Thomas has proven to be the most contentious decision leading into this year’s event. He has been in dismal form this season but still remains something of a mascot for this USA side. I don’t know. All I know is that this rough is punitive and he needs to find some consistency from the tee.
Sam Burns is another slightly debatable one. He won the WGC Match-Play and clearly knows how to play this format. But his T9 at the Tour Championship was his first top 10 since May. That’s pretty dismal form from a Ryder Cup candidate.
Keegan Bradley is the guy who many felt was overlooked. I’m personally more upset for Tony Finau. His combination of power and accuracy could have made him ideal this week.
Overall
Leaders: Scheffler and Koepka
My Players to Watch: Brian Harman and Wyndham Clark
Potential Liabilities: Justin Thomas and Sam Burns
One swing from every player on Team USA @RyderCup 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/RV4w0iFiOe
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) September 25, 2023
The Verdict
I think this is primed to be the closest Ryder Cup in some time. As I noted earlier, there are less superficial differences between these squads. One area where I think teh USA have a distinct advantage is in their rookie players. Harman and Clark are Major champions while Homa is one of the most consistent players in the world.
The likes of Hojgaard and MacIntyre just can’t compare to that type of quality. I think this American side has more cohesion and team unity (which has certainly not been the case over the last 20 years). They seem to have fostered some real camaraderie over recent team competitions and there are some really nice combinations out there.
Having said all that, the upper crust of the European outfit is up there with the best in the history of the tournament. I also think course familiarity could prove vital this week. Many of the European players have played this course in tournament conditions. It’s a tricky layout that will reward familiarity. For that reason, I’m slightly favouring the Europeans.
Prediction: Europe to win by 1-3 points at 15/4.
Other Bets
Top Rookie: Wyndham Clark (5/1)
Top Team Points Scorer (Europe): Matthew Fitzpatrick (17/2)
Top Left-handed Player: Brian Harman (17/20)
Tournament Foursomes Winner: Europe (5/4)
