USA’s Ryder ricket? Spreading the Love

As if there’s not enough heartache for fans of American professional golf, given yet another deflating Ryder Cup performance by their heroes, here’s a sobering thought to make them even sicker: Had Mark James done a more thoughtful job with his singles lineup in 1999 and had Luke Donald not been sidelined in 2008 and captain Nick Faldo been more in tune with things, we very likely could be at nine straight European wins in the biennial competition.

That’s right, America has won twice since 1993, both times helped as much by Europe’s captain as its own skill. But those are the only tastes of victory in nearly 20 years, which is downright discouraging because an event the Americans used to dominate is suddenly one they are unable to win, Europe having captured 10 of the last 14 in all different manners. They’ve won at home. They’ve won on the road. They’ve won close ones. They’ve won walk-overs. And now? Give the Euros credit for pulling off the greatest comeback in cup history, winning 8½ of 12 singles points last Sunday at Medinah to overcome a 10-6 deficit and beat the hosts 14½-13½. Yes, the Americans also overcame a 10-6 deficit in 1999, but this rally by the Euros was more impressive, being on foreign soil.

So, pass the antacids to those who govern the Ryder Cup on this side of the pond — officials with the PGA of America. Oh, and if you could pass along any answers as to why the Americans have turned into Europe’s punching bag, they’ll take them, too. Mail them to PGA of America headquarters in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

But, please, don’t suggest that Europeans want it more than the Americans. Those tears shed by Jim Furyk and Steve Stricker when they lost crucial singles matches late at Medinah were very real. No, the Americans care deeply.

What they don’t seem to do — at least from this vantage point — is let their captain show them the way. Davis Love had a lot of missions in his US captaincy, but it appears the biggest one was to not get anyone angry at him. Perhaps too much of a gentleman — if such a thing is possible — Love went out of his way to keep his players happy, down to asking them who they wanted to play with and when they wanted to play, forgetting the team mattered, not individual feelings. What, world-class players can’t play well when agitated? Rubbish.

On the other hand, Jose Maria Olazabal — arguably the most respected man on the European Tour — was at the other end of the spectrum, committed to the team cause, not improving friendships.

Team USA: Tiger Woods, still the world’s most dynamic force, wanted Stricker for a partner and he got him for three matches. Love should have seen the four bogeys they made in a lacklustre first-session foursomes and called a halt to this cozy pairing. Instead, he kept them together and they went 0-3.

Team Europe: Sergio Garcia wanted his favourite foursomes mate, Donald, but they got whacked 4&3 on Friday morning. Though neither player liked it, they said nothing when Olazabal benched them in the afternoon and eventually got other partners.

Team USA: Phil Mickelson was the best he’s ever been in this, his ninth Ryder Cup, pairing with rookie Keegan Bradley for three overwhelming wins. But the left-hander insisted Love stick with an original plan that no one play all four team matches. Love was urged to rethink that, given that Bradley, a mere 26-year-old, had played just 44 holes but in the end the captain let his player make the call. Mickelson and Bradley sat out the Saturday fourball where Europe got its lifeline.

Team Europe: Justin Rose would have preferred four games with his best friend Ian Poulter. Ditto Rory McIlroy with Graeme McDowell. Olazabal saw it differently, giving Rose-Poulter two games in foursomes (both wins), the boys from Northern Ireland three games (1-2), then mixing and matching where he saw benefits. Rose obediently took Martin Kaymer and Francesco Molinari, while Poulter and McIlroy secured the most riveting fourball win of the week.

When it came to singles, Love continued as if he were captain of the Good Ship Lollipop, where everyone hopes to sail happily along. Needing strong players up front to deny a European wave of momentum, Love put his best player, Woods, at 12. Why? Because Woods wanted to play late. And why did the whacky and undependable Bubba Watson go first? Because he wanted to and because he is a “fast” player. And why did Webb Simpson, who is anything but fast and at one point was the reason his game against Poulter was more than three holes behind, go second? Because he and Watson played as a team and like to warm up together. Woods went 12th and Stricker 11th because they, too, wanted to warm up side by side.

Surely you know by now, with Woods at the very end where he could offer no help, the Americans lost each of the first five, Watson and Simpsonespecially nervous and ineffective.

Somewhere, Ben Hogan is spinning. As Ryder Cup captain in 1967 he decided not to play the great Arnold Palmer one session. A reporter asked Hogan if he could ask why. “Yes, you can ask, but I won’t tell you,” Hogan said.

Today, you wouldn’t have to ask. You’d know the answer. The decision would likely have something to do with keeping the player happy.

Funny thing is, the happiest players at the end of the week were the guys who followed their captain. The Europeans. Again.

nThe author is a senior staff writer with Golfweek magazine and a former golf correspondent of the Boston Globe