Can inexperienced squad end Ryder Cup drought?
Don’t call it Redeem Team II. That puts too much onus on the rookie-laden U.S. squad in the 37th Ryder Cup.
But redemption is the unavoidable theme as golf’s most fiercely pursued international competition gets underway this morning at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville. In an event it once dominated, the U.S. has failed to win eight of the last 11, including three straight.
For once, the U.S. is the inferior team on paper. With six rookies on the 12-man squad and Tiger Woods rehabbing his surgically repaired knee, this is the most inexperienced group the U.S. has fielded since 1959. Ironically, that’s the year America began its 26-year stranglehold on the Cup, now a distant memory.
“Not being a part of the last few U.S. teams is not necessarily a bad thing,” said Phil Mickelson, who went 3-0 in his first Ryder Cup (1995), but is 6-12-4 since. “The guys who haven’t played, they have never lost this event.”
Mickelson’s team may have a chemistry edge. Combative Paul Azinger seems the perfect man to captain his underdog squad. And the roles on Team USA are clear. Mickelson and Jim Furyk will lead. Rookies Anthony Kim and Boo Weekley will inject personality. Kentucky natives Kenny Perry and J.B. Holmes will pump up the crowd.
Are cracks developing in Team Europe’s ever-present esprit de corps? Haughty Brit Nick Faldo was a curious choice as captain and didn’t endear himself to his players when he added Ian Poulter and Paul Casey instead of popular and highly successful Cup veterans Colin Montgomerie and Darren Clarke.
Still, Europe has an undeniable edge in talent and experience.
“Being the underdog, like we are, I think we’re really going to embrace that and be excited to play,” said U.S. rookie Hunter Mahan, 26. “I’m looking forward to that pressure and the situations we can have.”
Daunting history
» None of the six U.S. players with Ryder Cup experience has a winning record.
» Europe’s aggregate player record is 41-27-12. America’s is 19-37-17.
» Sergio Garcia (14-4-2), Lee Westwood (14-8-3) and Padraig Harrington (7-8-2) are Europe’s most experienced players.
» Phil Mickelson (9-12-4), Jim Furyk (6-12-2) and Stewart Cink (3-5-4) are the only Americans with multiple Ryder Cup victories
