Fixing The American Ryder Cup Team

 

I want my weekend refunded. After watching most of the matches from Friday afternoon through Sunday's conclusion, I don't believe the Americans gave me my monies worth.

Something rotten has infested the US side and the whole thing needs to be gutted and re-tooled:

Tiger Woods does not care. He looked disinterested throughout much of the competition. He rarely had anything to cheer about since he trailed most of his matches. No more Tiger on the Ryder Cup team. ( I concede this will never happen.)

Stricker looked lifeless. It appeared he had no confidence in anything he was doing. His putts down the stretch could not have been more timid. Stricker - you are out.

Same for Furyk. I like Jim Furyk but he has failed so many times on the closing holes lately he is just undependable. Sorry Jim, you are out too.

Phil Mickelson - fellow left hander, you have to go. I can appreciate good sportsmanship as much as anyone, but I was disappointed to see you applauding your own demise. At times you appear stiff and blank and confused out on the course. It was a struggle to watch you get defeated. Admittedly Justin Rose holed some mighty long distance putts, but I wanted fire from you, not a mutual admiration society reaction -save that for the press room.

So that leaves the remaining eight. Zack Johnson, Keegan Bradley, Webb Simpson, Dustin Johnson, Bubba Watson, Jason Dufner, Matt Kuchar, and Brandt Snedecker. We start building around these younger guys. Watson and Bradley showed they fully embrace and are fired up about this competition and the team concept. Each player now has a bitter taste in their mouth to wash out. Mix in some other aggressive players: Rikki Fowler, Hunter Mahan, Bo Van Pelt - these guys are dying to play.

Big Change: I want a playing Captain, and put the C on his shirt like they do in hockey. I want someone to lead. I want someone who is standing shoulder to shoulder with the others, who knows first hand how everyone else is playing, feeling, and what is working. Let non-playing assistants handle all the other stuff.

Get together earlier and find out who is playing their best. Find out who works best together. Build some chemistry. (Tiger and Stricker were deadmen walking.) Be prepared if trouble arises, have a Plan B. If a team gets hot ride them to exhaustion. Justin Rose played every segment and he didn't look overused in the end. Pulling Bradley for Saturday's matches was a mistake. He said he'd play a hundred holes if he needed to. Mickelson said he needed a rest. Blah. Rest Monday.

I am sick of losing. The Euros clearly outplayed us, and I congratulate them - now - but during the competition I am all about them losing. Watching the US Team break down was tough duty. The Euros win with fire - witness Ian Poulter's eyes for a sample. I love his act and hate it at the same time. Clearly our side needs more of that.