Contributing factors to Europe´s domination in the Ryder cup in the last 20 year

[Ronald Montesano]

"Has anyone thought that maybe they are just better players?"

Nope, just playing better that weekend.

"Too much money and ego on the U.S. team."

So reminiscent of the easy-way-out theory; the Euros are so poor and humble...look at Jimenez's shoes.

"Clear eyes! Full hearts! Can't lose!"

Literally, Ojos claros, corazones llenos, no se puede perder, but it doesn't translate.

[Josh Tarble]

There's obviously one clear reason....

Belly putters 

[Mark Bourgeois]

As Bill and Ronald noted, the premise is wrong. USA has won 47% of available pts in last 10 comps, far from statistically significant. Even if Europe actually has fielded the better team, their record in the last 10 comps is not strong enough to prove superiority.

Jud, you can't agree "mathematically" and then go on to posit "explanations." Either the outcome is random or it's not.

[Randy Thompson]

I agree it´s not domination! Bad choice of word on my part! Kind of like playing Black Jack in the Casino, sometimes you get a string of wins and sometimes you can´t seem to win but its not domination. It seems the teams are pretty even and the confidence factor at this point in time goes to the Europeans.

[Rick Shefchik]

Has anyone thought that maybe they are just better players?

Well, now, that’s an interesting concept.

Lately, post-Ryder Cup there has been the usual excuses and rationale regarding yet another European win. This year, it was met with a sense of déjà vu for me.

I grew up going to University of Michigan football games. It was wonderful as my family dragged me to either Ann Arbor or East Lansing to watch football games on pretty much every Saturday in autumn. My family is littered with graduates of U of M and, truth be told, I actually turned down a scholarship offer to attend that school due, mostly, to the fact that 4 out of 10 women in the Big Ten are hot and the other 6 attend U of M. But I digress.

Anyway, things were always great when Michigan beat the shit out of Northwestern, Indiana or New Hampshire State Community College-Holderness. But, whenever they were beat by Ohio State, Michigan State or the annual rite of ass-kicking that was the Bowl Season, every imaginable excuse was regurgitated: horrible officiating, players were not used to nice weather that time of year, the time change, bad team meal for breakfast, conspiracy at the highest level of Madagascar government, etc.
These fans simply could not bring themselves to admit that their team was inferior that day. Rather, that the other team was better and actually deserved to win. There’s no shame in admitting so.

Very logical, David. But the situation that has developed in the Ryder Cup is akin to Michigan being ranked No. 1 preseason every year and losing to Ohio State six of the past eight games. When that kind of pattern emerges, you either have to question the rankings or begin to wonder what the team is eating for breakfast...

[Jud_T]

David,

Hope you saw the game Saturday...

[Niall C]

Rick

Correct me if I'm wrong, and there's every chance I might be, but aren't the players at the top of the rankings European ? Also, someone else put forward the theory that the Europeans thrive on being the underdogs. That to me seems a very US centric thing to say, and please appreciate that I'm not trying to pick a fight here, but I doubt the European team thought they were underdogs.

As I said in an earlier post, i think it comes down to that extra little bit of confidence that comes from being on a winning streak.

Niall

[Rick Shefchik]

Niall, you may well be right. I do recall, however, hearing announcers from both sides of the pond comparing the squads over the past decade or two in terms of major championship winners, and concluding that the U.S. teams looked stronger on paper.

That certainly wasn't the case in the heydays of Seve, Ollie, Faldo, Woosie, Lyle and Langer, but in the Tiger Woods era, the resumes of the U.S. teams have appeared more impressive.

Obviously, Ryder Cups are not won by resumes, and I believe that's part of the dynamic that has led to so many Euro wins.

[Jon Wiggett]

Niall, you may well be right. I do recall, however, hearing announcers from both sides of the pond comparing the squads over the past decade or two in terms of major championship winners, and concluding that the U.S. teams looked stronger on paper.

That certainly wasn't the case in the heydays of Seve, Ollie, Faldo, Woosie, Lyle and Langer, but in the Tiger Woods era, the resumes of the U.S. teams have appeared more impressive.

Obviously, Ryder Cups are not won by resumes, and I believe that's part of the dynamic that has led to so many Euro wins.

Rick,

just to be a little contrary but the 'Tiger' era finished a few years ago and though he may win more majors I doubt he will ever be the dominant force again in the game that he was. As the USA's top player he has a terrible RC record and I doubt that he helps with the locker room atmosphere (though that is pure conjecture).

That US commentators always put the US as favourites is to be expected and justifiable but you may find that it is only the GB commentators in the last few RC meetings that have thought Europe was not at least as good. As I have already said, I think that the majority of the last 8 RC meetings could have gone either way.

Jon

[Pat Burke]

I cannot discount the "team" aspect in many ways.
I was able to play some in Europe, and mostly in the US.
I mostly played smaller events in Europe, and it was fun for me.
It seemed like most players were staying in a couple of hotels,
or at least in the same area.  Dinners always seemed to be a meeting spot.
Much tighter knit back then (90's)

US Tour, so many options for hotels, restaurants, outings, etc.
US Tour seemed a lot more cliquey than Europe.

When you play an individual (selfish) sport, it is difficult when you let yourself down.
Way more stressful to let a teammate or team down.

So, I still believe the tightness of the Euro Tour helps them.  Of course,
I never played in one, so it's pretty much, just an opinion

[Gary Slatter]

A.   President's Cup

I don't buy this for a second.  First, everyone, especially the participants themselves (ask Ernie Els, for example) knows that the President's Cup is not the Ryder Cup and the atmosphere and pressure are not comparable.  Second, shouldn't playing in the President's Cup help the USA in the Ryder Cup, especially in the team formats (by experimenting with pairings, playing more alternate shot, etc.)?  

Please don't say that the President's Cup--one weekend every two years--causes burnout among the U.S. players.  They show up, have a few laughs with Freddie, beat a team that has no reason for existing and then carry on.  

I agree!

But the President's Cup should feature the up-and-comers to give them experience. I feel SA alone could provide great competition, or SA/Australia but when "they" have to pick players from other countries the team becomes weak and the US gets the wrong "experience".

[Jon Wiggett]

Good idea Gary,

Maybe a tournament where the various tours all contributed a team of their top 5 rookies (first time qualified on any tour through the tours qualifying school)  each year and a round robin affair. PGA, European, Austrailian, Asian, SA & South American(?).

Jon