“Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans……”
John F. Kennedy (1961)
The ghosts of the Old Guard of American Ryder Cup-losing teams have been banished and what transpired for three days in Wisconsin was the birth of a new generation of American golfers — young, fiery, talented and fearless.
After two days of total domination in foursomes and four-ball, the United States put the hammer down in the Sunday singles and came up with an historical 19-9 victory that left little doubt that the tide has turned for the United States in these biennial matches with Europe.
The final score was 19 points for the United States, 9 for Europe, the biggest blowout since 1967 and it was PGA Tour Player Of The Year Patrick Cantlay who best summed up what happened for three days at Whistling Straits:
“I woke up and told the guys I wanted 20 points. This is the next era of Ryder Cup teams for the United States.”
This 2020 Ryder Cup that became the 2021 Ryder Cup will be remembered as the three days where a young team from the United States came of age. It was Steve Stricker’s low-key, just-let-em-play and stay-out-of-their-way approach that unleased the full potential of a team that may have been the most talented ever put on grass by an American captain. There were no big speeches, no motivational speakers, no, none of that. This group didn’t need that. What they needed and what they got was the quiet guy from Wisconsin who fashioned an amazing array of pairings that matched talent and personalities.
Steve Stricker wasn’t afraid to change things up after going 3-1 in that first morning session on Friday. He sent out different pairings and got the same result — another 3-1 dominant performance in the afternoon four-ball matches. It was USA 6, Europe 2 after Friday and that set the tone for the next two days at a difficult Whistling Straits course — a real big-boy layout if you will.
Saturday was more of the same — USA 3-1 in the morning and in the high, blustery winds of the afternoon, the U.S. came back for a 2-2 session, the only one that might have had Steve Stricker worried for about an hour. By day’s end, it was 11-5 heading into the Sunday Singles where the U.S. had a massive advantage.
Things fell apart for Europe early and often on Sunday. While Xander Schauffele struggled against Rory McIlroy in the first match out, Patrick Cantlay made it clear he was better than Shane Lowry. In the third match it was first-timer Scottie Scheffler hitting Jon Rahm so hard that the world’s No. 1 found himself four down after the first four holes thanks to four straight birdies by Scheffler. The entire European team saw that on the scoreboard and deep down inside, they were shaken to their core as their only powerful player the first two days was going down. It marked the beginning of the end, the rout was on. “I got off to a really nice start — I just kept the pressure on him (Rahm),” Scheffler said after his lopsided 4-and-3 win over the world’s No. 1.
Cantlay, Scheffler, Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka made it five full points in the first seven matches and it was just a matter of seeing if the team could get to 20 the way Cantlay wanted them to.
There was no suspense, this one was over early.
Once the last match ended and the celebration began, Stricker had one-word for his feelings: “Speechless!” he said. Later, he found the words that perfectly summed up how and why his team accomplished what it did:
“These guys all came together two weeks ago. They played great. It’s a new era for USA — golf these guys came with passion, energy and a lot of game.”
Well done, captain Stricker.
Well done, team USA.
5 Comments
baxter cepeda
How quickly things change? Or do they?
This one had the look of the Presidents Cup at Liberty National where the opponent basically didn’t show up —almost like they weren’t even there— leaving the US winning so easily they had to be crowd entertainers all weekend; which they excelled at.
There was some motivational talk. We know tiger sent some words at the least.
Full disclosure I didn’t see it all unfold—Mia was magical at pebble,
Stole the show really, Saturday interviewed live in the midsts of 4 straight birdies and 7 of 8 birdies with 2 horseshoe lipouts; -6 under and -4 over the weekend at pebble on her own ball (from red tees) — But saw enough to know the Americans played great, Stricker had some great pairings, the team bonding came together, as did the Europeans bonding once again.
But at the end of the day it was the Euro Ryder cup team looking like their counterparts usually look: lethargic. Maybe the bmw cost them some.
From Rory all week to Rahm in singles, the leaders for Europe didn’t get it done and The team lacked energy.
Of course the course was set up for the Americans and they finally took advantage. The euros will have more control of things next time. If the US dominates again then we have a majors change. But until then this is what the US team was supposed to do: hold serve.
One thing that may have to stay the same is Me picking Europe because it seemed to help this time. As good as Steve Stricker was Genius move on my part really.
Tom Edrington
Baxter: Heck with the Ryder Cup, I want to hear more about Mia!!!
baxter cepeda
It was a magical week.
We didn’t practice round with Ken but he was very engaged the whole week and we had a great time preparing anyway.
Wednesday she practiced with 3 other girls on a dream day at pebble. Thursday at Spyglass was with one other girl for the from 9. We ended up doing our work on the back 9 side by side with arguably the GOAT of caddies: Terry Holt.
When we first met him I asked Mr Holt if we could take a picture with him and as was expected he politely said “I’d rather not”.
My immediate thought was I like this guy. I wouldn’t expect anything different from this workaholic legend.
We were on the course at spy till dark with him, little by little having some conversation; but mostly just watching him do his work as we did ours that chilly evening. When we finished on 18 he said “now we can go to dinner.”
Despite the hard work Early Friday started slow at spy glass in pretty cold fog. But Ken Tanigawa put on a scrambling show for the few of us there, including two of the richest men in the world (one now owns the new MLS franchise in Cincinnati). It was Ken’s day though as He turned a 75 into -3. They didn’t exactly Ham and egg it with Mia making their bogeys and birdies on the same holes as Ken.
Friday afternoon at pebble was another solid -3 round for Ken, but Mia stole the show. They teed off on the back and Mias great run started on 14 with a birdie from off the green. Follows that with birdie at 15 and 16.
They go to 17 and Billy Ray interviewed them live. Ken is being very complimentary and says “she’s got a ton of talent she just made 2 birdies in a row” and Mia quickly corrects him: “actually 3 in a row”. Needless to say that cracked everyone up.
She goes up to the green in glorious sunshine and drains a 15 footer for 4 in a row.
She plays 18 flawless but 360 lips out from 4 feet for birdie. She almost drains her second at 1 and gets another birdie. Gets on in two on two and 360 lips out again, but taps in for another bird. Ken made birdie on 3.
Everyone including one of the pure insurance co founders playing alongside was floored by everything Mia was doing. Full composure and joy. The magic slowed a bit but the day ended with her hitting the green on 8 and just missing birdie, followed by a spectacular 30 footer on 9 for birdie; as Ken scrambled from the cliff long off the green for an amazing finishing par.
Btw His wife Angela was a pleasure to hang with all week; the first tee kids don’t get caddies.
Ken had a bit of a rough Sunday with the putter especially but not Mia. She kept putting on a stripe show for the most part and making sweet putts; as we got to play alongside Kirk Triplett and first tee participant Rico, whom we met Tuesday at the New Hay and he and I played the 9 hole putt course together (great kid, great family).
Mia finished strong again with a sweet par putt from 15 feet on 16; Ken’s wife said then she should give Ken a putting lesson and I said that’s my job which got a laugh. She then birdies 17 again; and was making a bit of a mess on 18 hitting the tree off the tee (it is in the middle of the fairway) and then laying up in the bunker by the sea wall, but got that on the green and almost holed a 30 footer; once again giving the crowd a thrill.
The first tee kids were telling her everyone was talking about her. She signed at least one hat. Ken said he and Kirk Triplett were both thoroughly impressed saying she could play on the lpga tour today. But he understands there’s a lot more baby steps first.
Ken is from Scottsdale and said he plans to come watch Mia and her sister in a 4 ball qualifier around there Thursday. Btw Mias sister Ava just missed qualifying for the Augusta round of DCP at tpc Scottsdale Sunday; finishing a close third in rare torrential rain out in the desert.
The 4 ball course is a bit further then expected. We will see if he shows but regardless Ken Tanigawa is an amazing guy with an amazing story of his own who did so many little things for us this week that we are forever grateful.
There are a million more little details but as I said, it was a magical week.
This truly is a sublime event. Not holding anything against my boy Tom not having an article considering it was Ryder Cup week — but this event is everything that is so beautiful about golf and deserves all the recognition it can get.
Tom Edrington
Baxter: All I can say is: “WOW”!!!
baxter cepeda
Thanks Tom.