U.S.
experience, Europe dominance mark out Ryder Cup
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[September 26, 2016]
By Mark Lamport-Stokes
CHASKA, Minnesota (Reuters) - Home
advantage for an experienced United States line-up versus European
dominance -- just one of many compelling matchups to savor in next
week's Ryder Cup between two star-studded teams at Hazeltine
National.
The Americans have been meticulous in their preparations for the
41st edition of the biennial competition and appear to have several
factors in their favor as they strive to end a remarkable run by the
Europeans over the past two decades.
Holders Europe have won three consecutive Ryder Cups, and eight of
the last 10, through a mixture of shrewd captaincy, consistently
good team chemistry, often stellar play and an uncanny knack of
sinking key putts at crucial moments.
This week, however, they will field six rookies in their 12-man team
while the Americans have just one Cup debutant in Brooks Koepka (or
perhaps two pending the final wildcard pick to be announced later on
Sunday by U.S. captain Davis Love III).
Either way, this is a ratio of experience that U.S. fans can only
hope will help pave the way for a much-needed home victory.
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"We didn't really look at rookies versus experience," Love told
reporters when asked if his more seasoned team held any advantage
over Europe. "We looked at adding to our team to build the best that
we could.
"Experience is good. We know what to expect. We know how to handle
it, how to deal with it. We're going to learn from our mistakes in
the past and build on it.
"We have a plan we've been working on for a year and a half ... we
know what happened in the past but we're looking to the future now
and building. I think our experience is really going to help us."
While Europe are happy to embrace the underdog tag on U.S. soil,
their captain Darren Clarke has complete faith in the ability of his
six rookies to thrive in the pressure cooker atmosphere of a Ryder
Cup.
"It's unquestionable that it's going to be a very, very big task
ahead of us," said the 48-year-old Northern Irishman, a veteran of
five Ryder Cups as a player.
"You'd have to say America would be favorites ... if you're going to
look off world rankings, etc. But it's 12 guys against 12 guys in
match play, and anything can happen.
"There are six (rookies for Europe) but the talent that they all
possess, I've got no worries at all about the strength of that team.
I'm proud of that team. We're going to do everything we possibly can
to bring that trophy back home again."
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![](../images/092616pics/sports63.jpg)
Captain Paul McGinley poses with the Ryder Cup after the closing
ceremony of the 40th Ryder Cup at Gleneagles in Scotland September
28, 2014. REUTERS/Phil Noble/Files
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MAKING THE BIG PUTTS
Asked to explain Europe's recent dominant run at the Ryder Cup,
Clarke replied: "The Europeans have had the run of the greens. They
have made a lot of big putts at the right time.
"The gap in the quality of the players is so small, that if somebody
knocks in a 20-footer at the right time or something, that can make
a huge difference.
"Davis is doing everything he possibly can to get that 20-footer
going in on his side. I'm obviously trying to do the same ... it's
going to be a closely-contested contest, as it has been."
Since 1981, there has been generally very little to choose between
the two teams in terms of matchplay grit and ability. Holing putts
at the right time under intense pressure has been the decisive
factor.
The Americans last won the Ryder Cup at Valhalla in 2008 when their
captain Paul Azinger shrewdly inspired team cohesion with a four-man
'pod' system and prepared the venue with very little rough and fast
greens to suit his power hitters.
Ultra-long Hazeltine National measures a daunting 7,628 yards off
the back tees and while Love has certainly taken a leaf or two out
of Azinger's play book, he is looking well beyond driving distance
with his Ryder Cup strategy.
"It (Hazeltine) is big and long and it's a bomber's course but we've
broken it down a little bit," said Love. "Just hitting long drives
isn't the whole key to this.
"It's strokes gained, ball-striking, who can hit it closer to the
hole with all their clubs, and who can make the most putts."
Europe have triumphed 10 times in the last 15 editions but they face
a challenging task on American soil where the U.S. have lost only
four times since the matches began in 1927.
The 41st Ryder Cup starts on Friday morning with the opening
foursomes matches.
(Editing by Frank Pingue)
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