Jordan Spieth: USA can break Ryder Cup hoodoo on European soil

CONFIDENT: Jordan Spieth believes the United States will head to Rome confident of a first win on foreign soil in 30 years. Pic: PA

Four-time Ryder Cup veteran Jordan Spieth believes the United States will head to Rome confident of a first win on foreign soil in 30 years.

The Americans have not been victorious in Europe since Tom Watson captained his side to a 15-13 success at The Belfry in 1993 but are likely to arrive at the Marco Simeone Golf and Country Club next September as favourites.

Having inflicted a record 19-9 defeat on Europe a year ago, a USA team won a ninth successive Presidents Cup against the International team on Sunday with seven players who featured at Whistling Straits. Even the loss of Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau from their last Ryder Cup side due to their ties to LIV Golf barely weakened the USA as debutant Max Homa scored four points from four matches.

Davis Love III’s team boasted five of the world’s top-10 and 11 of the top-20 and that is why Spieth thinks they can win in Italy after six straight defeats on European soil.

“It’s a tall task to ask, going over there. I’ve played in a couple of away games now and they’re very different,” said the 29-year-old after winning his first singles match at a team event at the eighth attempt. “But I’d take this team over there against anybody in the world.

“Winning at home is special in its own way, and there’s nothing that beats it, but going over there on the road and winning would be incredibly special and I really hope I’m a part of the team.

“I’m very confident in our ability to go over and win. You could tell me the last time it happened over there but nobody here has any scar tissue. Everybody on this panel would embrace what that looks like next year.”