U.S. in Crisis: What Went Wrong at the Ryder Cup and What’s Next?

Deep Analysis of the American Defeat in the Ryder Cup: What’s Next?

Farmingdale, N.Y. – After another defeat for the American team against Europe in the 45th Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, it’s time to analyze what went wrong and what measures should be taken for the future. Despite the effort of the American team in Sunday’s singles, which made the 15-13 defeat look better, this is the eleventh time the Americans have lost in the last 15 encounters. With most of the European team, including Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood, Jon Rahm and others, expected to return at the next Ryder Cup in Adare Manor, Ireland, in 2027, the Americans will face an even greater challenge, this time on enemy territory. The European captain, Luke Donald, who became the second European captain to win two consecutive Ryder Cups, has not confirmed whether he will return for a third edition.

“I think he turned this European team into an unstoppable force, especially in the first two days, and in my opinion, I think he’s the best European Ryder Cup captain in history,” said U.S. team captain Keegan Bradley.

Keegan Bradley

Who could be the next American captain? The key question is not just who will be the next captain, but what the PGA of America and the rest of American professional golf will do to support him. Bradley, as a rookie captain, made mistakes, especially in the preparation for Bethpage Black. Donald, on the other hand, had a much stronger organization, from statistics guru and vice-captain Edoardo Molinari to former captains Thomas Bjørn and Paul McGinley, who remain committed to European success.

Tiger Woods is the favorite to captain the U.S. team at Adare Manor in 2027, the year of the Ryder Cup centenary. Woods has a good relationship with Adare Manor owner J.P. McManus. However, it remains to be seen if the 15-time major champion wants to take on the role, and if he does, he is expected to commit for two years.

In case Woods is unavailable, Brandt Snedeker (U.S. captain at the 2026 Presidents Cup), Webb Simpson, and Justin Leonard could be options. Fred Couples, who has participated in five Ryder Cups, has never been captain, but is popular among golfers like Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth. It is essential that Americans thoroughly analyze what has failed in the last three decades. It might be time to create another Ryder Cup Task Force, as the Europeans not only beat them on competition weekends, but consistently outperform them. During Sunday’s press conference, Bradley was asked if he ever felt that Donald had “outplayed” him as captain. Thomas interrupted to defend Bradley, pointing out the need to improve putts. The defeat was painful for the American team. Scottie Scheffler expressed his confidence in Bradley and the support of his teammates, suggesting that they might be motivated to seek victory in the next edition. Although it is not guaranteed that all of the current team will return, especially with players like Scheffler or Xander Schauffele, the team could galvanize to avenge this defeat abroad, especially with Bradley at the helm. However, the PGA of America might hesitate to keep Bradley, and Bradley himself, ranked 14th in the world, might want to compete at Adare Manor. Continuity is key, as the European team has shown, and perhaps the Americans could benefit from it.

What can the U.S. learn from Europe?

Europeans have created a sense of purpose, camaraderie, and unity that is effective, but difficult to replicate. In addition to Donald’s direction and continuity, Europeans are inspired by their predecessors and strive to win for each other, something the American team has yet to fully achieve. Americans must find their own source of inspiration beyond the simple desire to win. Europeans focus on details that add up over time, and their plan is meticulous. Americans must find their own source of inspiration beyond the simple desire to win. What does Scheffler need to improve his performance at the Ryder Cup? Maintain practice and preparation. Scheffler acknowledged that he must prepare better, avoiding long periods of inactivity. The defeat could motivate him to change his approach before Adare Manor. Team play requires a different mindset. Scheffler, despite being one of the best golfers in the world, needs something more than distance control.

“It’s hard to put into words how much it hurts to lose all four matches,” Scheffler said Sunday after beating Rory McIlroy in singles, earning his first point of the week.

Scottie Scheffler

Scheffler described this week as one of the “lowest moments” of his career, recalling that this is only his third Ryder Cup and he is 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, without success. Scheffler has a record of 0-4-0 in foursomes and 1-2-2 in fourball matches. Americans might consider the strategy of the Europeans, who aligned their best golfers, almost guaranteeing two points in certain sessions. McIlroy played with Fleetwood, and Rahm with Tyrrell Hatton. What can we expect from the upcoming Ryder Cup venues? Adare Manor appears to have a similar setup to that of the United States. It is a parkland-style course with water hazards and rough. The Americans will not have the advantage of preparing the course. The Europeans will seek to make the most of the course to achieve their third consecutive victory. Americans haven’t won on European soil since 1993, losing the last seven away matches. The 2029 Ryder Cup at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota, could be a better opportunity for the Americans, where they won in 2016, ending a streak of three defeats against the Europeans. The 2016 victory came after the PGA of America formed a Ryder Cup Task Force. It’s time to return to that strategy. Fans at Hazeltine are expected to treat visitors with respect, avoiding the inappropriate behavior seen at Bethpage Black. What American players secured their place in the future? Scheffler, Schauffele, Thomas, and DeChambeau appear to be the pillars 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 experience. Cameron Young, with a 3-1-0 record at Bethpage Black, could be a key piece. The rest of the team will depend on performance in the majors and key events of the next two years. Will Spieth be able to regain his level after wrist surgery? Will J.J. Spaun and Ben Griffin continue to win? Will young golfers like Sahith Theegala, Akshay Bhatia, Maverick McNealy, Luke Clanton and others take the next step? Max Homa, the best American golfer in the 2023 defeat, has lost his swing and confidence. Wyndham Clark and Brian Harman could fit better at Adare Manor. What “young blood” could have a place in 2027? Scheffler, Schauffele, Young, and DeChambeau are the safest names for the 2027 team. This leaves eight spots available, which could open the doors to promising young players. Jackson Koivun and Luke Clanton are interesting options. Koivun is the best amateur in the world and already has his PGA Tour card secured, with three top-10 finishes in seven appearances. Clanton, who turned professional this year, has shown potential. Young’s success at Bethpage is a reminder that experience should not always be the main factor in selecting a captain or in a player’s role on a team.