9/27/25
According to the Meriam-Webster dictionary, the definition of embarrass is, “to cause to experience a state of self-conscious distress” and “to place in doubt, perplexity, or difficulties”. They should amend those definitions to simply state “2025 United States Ryder Cup Team”. The entire process from selecting the captain, vice captains, the six players, the performance or lack thereof during the three days of the Ryder Cup, the obnoxious fans, everything was utterly embarrassing.
Keegan Bradley deserves some blame since he was the captain, and he made some head-scratching decisions. However, he shouldn’t have been a captain or in consideration for being a captain for at least another decade. Bradley should’ve been one of the 12 players competing for the Americans. The PGA of America made a knee-jerk reaction to Netflix’s Full Swing documentary series, which showed the heartbreak Bradley felt after the 2023 Ryder Cup captain, Zach Johnson, called to tell him he’s taking his pals to Italy and not him. Due to the United States being horrible at the Ryder Cup since 1999, there aren’t too many American Ryder Cup heroes to choose from to lead the team.
The vice captains are possibly even more head-scratching. Jim Furyk was a top-five player in the world, has been a Ryder Cup captain, played in many Ryder Cups as a player, and makes sense to be the right-hand man for the captain. Kevin Kisner, on the other hand, is better suited to be Keegan Bradley’s golf cart driver than a vice captain. Kisner has as many Ryder Cup appearances as you and I do. Zero. It’s a disgrace to the country that he’s a vice captain and should’ve been in the NBC booth this week. Gary Woodland is another question mark. Woodland has been trying to keep his PGA Tour card after a big health scare recently. Woodland had a brain tumor removed two years ago, and has been working to get his health and golf game back. Why they didn’t let him focus on those two things and find a different vice captain to serve that role is abysmal. Woodland probably would serve a valuable role when he can spend the entire two years of preparation fully focused on the Ryder Cup. Webb Simpson and Brandt Snedeker each have experience playing in multiple Ryder Cups, and a home event is a good way to break in some new faces, but not five of the six leaders of the team.
The players, despite scoring as many points as the 12th man on an NBA roster through two days, haven’t played badly. Europe is collectively putting together the best performance the Ryder Cup has ever seen. Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose, and Rory McIlroy have all not lost a match and are adding to their Ryder Cup lore. Cameron Young, Bryson DeChambeau, Scottie Scheffler, and J.J. Spaun have all played very well for the United States, but the buzzsaw of Europe has been overpowering. DeChambeau and Scheffeler are a combined 1-7-0, which is extremely hard to overcome, considering they are the two best players for the Americans. Cameron Young has been great all year on the PGA Tour and has lived up to the challenge in his three matches, going 2-1-0. J.J. Spaun should’ve played at least three matches, if not all four. Spaun has had a career year, and while he isn’t a proven veteran nor part of the boys club, he’s been a bona fide top 10 player in the world this year. Sitting Spaun for both Foursomes matches is malpractice, and that’s where Bradley deserves some blame. The pairing of Collin Morikawa and Harris English was ranked by DataGolf as the 132nd pairing out of 132 possible pairings. They got boatraced 5&4 on Friday in Foursomes, yet Bradley trotted them out again on Saturday in Foursomes. They lost 3&2, but it’s another example of the United States’ arrogance when it comes to the Ryder Cup.
Europe uses strategy, brain cells, and passion to outclass the United States when it comes to the Ryder Cup, and it’s on full display this week. Tomorrow is all about limiting the embarrassment in Sunday Singles for the Americans. For 2027, the Costanza rule of doing the opposite of their usual instincts needs to be the main strategy for the United States.
Perhaps bringing a Tiger to Europe would be a good start.
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