Stricker’s deep team closing in on Ryder Cup
KOHLER, Wis. — Even Steve Stricker, a man of measured words who offers a classic Midwestern approach, felt obliged to boast about the U.S. Ryder Cup squad he is privileged to captain.
“Yeah, this team is deep,” Stricker said Saturday. “They are so good, and they have had a great couple of years to make this team.
“Everybody came in ready and prepared. They are hitting it well. They came all on board.”
They came eager to regain the Cup, to regain the prestige that in the days of Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer was American golf. And with only one round remaining, the 12 singles matches Sunday, it seems they’ve done exactly that.
Yes, it’s not over until the fat lady sings or the slender golf pro swings, and yes, there was the Miracle at Medinah in 2012, when the Euros rallied impossibly. But this time, after two days of team play, two foursome matches and two four-ball matches, America is ahead, 11-6, although on Saturday Europe got more involved with victories.
The U.S. needs three and a half points to get the trophy for only the second time in the last six Ryder Cups.
With that deep team, loaded with major champions, Collin Morikawa, Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Brooks Koepka, and Bryson DeChambeau — and Olympic champion Xander Schauffele — it will get those points.
No more to hear the Euro fans, who take these matches seriously — and gloriously — with that irritating chant, “Ole, ole, ole.”
It’s an issue of manpower. You go down the line and eventually someone produces, that is if everyone doesn’t produce.
Jon Rahm and Sergio Garcia, the Spaniards, were undefeated on the Whistling Straits course the first two days, Garcia earning a Ryder Cup record 24th victory.
But it’s been two against too many.
In foursomes, how about a U.S. grouping of Morikawa, a British Open and PGA Championship winner, and Johnson, who has a U.S. Open?
Or a team of longtime pals Jordan Spieth, who’s won the Masters, British and U.S. Opens, and Thomas, who has a PGA Championship?
Dustin smashes the tee shots. Collin follows with balls on the green. Team play to the utmost.
No bickering, no sniggering, just golfing — and good times.
”We are playing really good golf as a team,” said Spieth, although he and Koepka lost Saturday afternoon to the guys nicknamed the Spanish Armada.
“Everybody is pretty confident in each other,” said Spieth. “And we said it from the get-go. We have all known each other for a long time. Other than a couple of us, we have known each other since high school or even grade school. We are having a blast off the course, and that's feeding into the lightness in our rounds as well.”
All 12 of the American team members earned at least a half point the first two days, a fitting example of balance.
“Obviously, the conditions have been pretty difficult,” said Johnson about morning chill and constant wind off adjacent Lake Michigan. “But I feel like I've just played solid. Not trying to do anything too crazy.
“Just keep the ball in play, especially in foursomes where we're out there and pars are good scores, especially on a lot of these holes.”
Stricker was not displeased splitting the Saturday four-ball matches.
“This afternoon session was an important one,” he pointed out. “If they blank us, they get right back in the game. Splitting the session was a good outcome for us.”
The best outcome is yet to come.
“You know, we'll have an hour once we get in to kind of put our lineup out and get ready for (Sunday),” he said.
“But you know, it's about getting these guys some rest. It's a long two days when they are out here all day playing 36, some of these guys, and yeah, so get back to the hotel, eat and rest.”
Then go out for a very big day in American golf.