Deep Analysis of the American Defeat in the Ryder Cup: What’s Next?
Farmingdale, NY – After another U.S. defeat to Europe in the 45th Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, it’s time to analyze what went wrong and what needs to change.
The Americans’ momentum in Sunday’s singles, though notable, only masked the problems of a 15-13 defeat, the eleventh in the last 15 encounters.
With much of the European team expected to return at the next Ryder Cup at Adare Manor, Ireland, in 2027, including Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood and Jon Rahm, among others, the Americans will face an even greater challenge, this time on foreign soil.
The captain of the American team, Keegan Bradley, commented: “I think he turned this European team into a truly unstoppable force, especially the first two days, and, in my opinion, I think he is the best European Ryder Cup captain of all time. I was very excited to face him, but I knew it would be difficult to beat him. He put his team in the best position to win, and doing so in these two places is a remarkable feat.”
Keegan Bradley
Who could be the next captain of the US team?
The key question is not just who will be the next captain, but how the PGA of America and professional American golf in general will support him. It is clear that Bradley, in his debut as captain, made mistakes, especially in the preparation of Bethpage Black.
Donald, on the other hand, had a much more solid organization, from statistics guru and vice-captain Edoardo Molinari to former captains Thomas Bjørn and Paul McGinley, who remain committed to ensuring European dominance.
Tiger Woods is the favorite to captain the American team at Adare Manor in Ireland in 2027, coinciding with the centenary of the Ryder Cup. Woods has a good relationship with the owner of Adare Manor, J.P. McManus. However, it remains to be seen if the 15-time major champion wants to take on the role, but if he does, even the GOAT should commit to a two-year dedication to the position.
If Woods doesn’t participate, Brandt Snedeker (American captain in the 2026 Presidents Cup), Webb Simpson, and Justin Leonard could be next on the list. Fred Couples, with five Ryder Cup appearances, has never been a captain, but is very popular among golfers like Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth, and cares deeply about the event.
It is crucial that Americans reflect on what has gone wrong in the last three decades. It might be time to establish another Ryder Cup Task Force, as the Europeans not only beat them every two years, but consistently outperform them.
The American team needs inspiration beyond the simple desire to win, and they must find their own source of motivation.
What does Scottie Scheffler need to do to improve his performance in the Ryder Cup?Bryson DeChambeau and Scottie Scheffler lost to Justin Rose and Tommy Fleetwood in Saturday’s four-balls.Scheffler needs to keep playing. The defeat in 2023 taught him the importance of better preparation, avoiding long breaks between competitions. The defeat in this edition could push Scheffler to prepare differently for Adare Manor.
It is evident that players like Scheffler and Woods, who dominate in individual competitions, struggle in team events. Foursomes (alternate shot), fourballs (best ball), and match play require a different mentality. Although Scheffler is one of the best players on the American team, this event often goes beyond the numbers, demanding something more than distance control.
Scheffler stated that this week was one of the “lowest moments” of his career. This is a reminder: it’s only his third Ryder Cup and he’s not yet 30 years old.
In the last three Ryder Cups, Scheffler’s partners in the foursomes and fourball matches have been Bryson DeChambeau, Sam Burns, Brooks Koepka, Russell Henley, and J.J. Spaun. None of these pairings have worked.
Woods (13-21-3) and Mickelson (18-22-7) also didn’t perform well in the Ryder Cup. However, it’s premature to state that Scheffler won’t succeed, as he is the best golfer in the world and cares deeply about the game.
It’s difficult to predict who will be the best American golfers in two years, but Americans could consider copying the European strategy. McIlroy played with Fleetwood, and Rahm with Tyrrell Hatton. The Europeans sent their four best golfers together, almost ensuring two points in the sessions in which they played.
What can we expect from the upcoming Ryder Cup venues?
Adare Manor seems to have a similar setup to the United States in Ireland. It is not a links-style course, but a park-style course with water hazards and rough. Americans will not have the advantage of setting up the course, and Europeans will seek to take advantage of any advantage to achieve their third consecutive victory. It is difficult to imagine the United States as the favorite in 2027.
Regardless of who the U.S. team captain is in two years, the United States’ chances at Adare Manor are not favorable. The Americans haven’t won on European soil since 1993, losing the last seven away games.
The American team could have a better chance at the 2029 Ryder Cup at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota, where the Americans ended a three-loss streak against the Europeans with a 17-11 victory in 2016. Ironically, that victory came after the PGA of America formed a Ryder Cup Task Force to analyze what was going wrong.
What American players secured their place for the future?Cameron Young was one of the standouts for the United States, with a record of 3-1-0.There is no need for the United States to panic and completely change its template, but only a few golfers seem to secure their place on the 2027 team, as long as they are healthy and playing well.
Scheffler, Schauffele, Thomas, and DeChambeau are the core of the team. If Collin Morikawa regains his form, and Patrick Cantlay continues to play well, it would be difficult for the American captain to ignore their Ryder Cup experience. Cameron Young had a 3-1-0 record at Bethpage Black and was possibly the team MVP, so it seems he will be around for a while.
After that, everything will be open, depending on who wins the majors and important events in the next two seasons. Will Spieth be able to be one of the best in the world again after his wrist surgery? Will J.J. Spaun and Ben Griffin continue to win on the tour? Will young golfers like Sahith Theegala, Akshay Bhatia, Maverick McNealy, Luke Clanton and others be able to take the next step in their careers?
Max Homa was the best American golfer in the 16.5-11.5 defeat in Italy in 2023, but lost his swing and confidence. Former U.S. Open winner Wyndham Clark also had a slump. Former Open Championship winner Brian Harman is a match play specialist and could be better suited to Adare Manor.
What “young blood” could have a place in 2027?Jackson Koivun finished T-4 at the Procore Championship as an amateur.Everything is open regarding the team roster. The only people who seem secure for the 2027 team are Scheffler, Schauffele, Young, and DeChambeau. That leaves eight spots available, which could make a group of promising young players interesting options.
The two names that immediately come to mind are Jackson Koivun and Clanton. Koivun is the best amateur in the world and, although he hasn’t turned professional yet, he already has his PGA Tour card secured and has three top-10 finishes on the Tour in just seven starts, with all three in his last three events. Clanton turned professional this year and has four top-10 finishes since last season. This year, he didn’t have a standout result, but he has shown enough potential to be an interesting option.
Regardless of whether each of them arrives or not, Young’s success at Bethpage this week is a reminder that experience should not always be the main factor in choosing a captain or in a player’s role on a team.
