United States’ 30-Year Ryder Cup Drought Continues
Tough Defeat Crushes U.S. Ryder Cup Standings
The United States has once again fallen short at the Ryder Cup, failing to live up to enormous expectations. In the 11th match, Rickie Fowler’s unfortunate ball into the water on the 16th hole led to a crucial putt by Tommy Fleetwood, securing a 16 1/2-11 1/2 victory for the European team and sending down the U.S. Ryder Cup standings.
Decades Without Victory Abroad
The U.S. has been struggling at the Ryder Cup, especially when playing on foreign soil. The last time they won in Europe was way back in 1993, marking a painful 30-year drought for their U.S. Ryder Cup standings, although they were favored to win.
U.S. brought a talented roster to this year’s event, including the world No. 1, Scottie Scheffler. Unfortunately, Scheffler, the 2022 Masters champion, couldn’t find his best form, going 0-2-2 without a single victory. This contributed to the team’s overall struggle, with Jordan Spieth, Xander Schauffele, and Justin Thomas all posting losing records.
Captain Takes Responsibility, Changes Needed
American captain Zach Johnson took responsibility for the disappointing defeat, stating, “It’s on me… Team USA will be better off at some point.” U.S.’s longer break before the tournament, compared to the Europeans, may have possibly affected their decision-making.
Nonetheless, the U.S. must make changes as Europe has been dominant in the Ryder Cup recently. Since 2010, the Americans have struggled, losing five of the last seven matchups. With the next Ryder Cup scheduled for 2025, it’s clear that adjustments are needed to break the cycle of disappointment in golf tournaments abroad.
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