HAVEN, WISCONSIN - Although a U.S. win seemed predictable going into Sunday at the 2020 Ryder Cup, no one thought it would happen in this fashion.
Whistling Straits was again the scene of something truly special. Team USA has won the 2020 Ryder Cup, with a dominating score of 19-9 over Team Europe. This is the largest margin of victory by a Ryder Cup team since the tournament switched to its current format in 1979.
SUNDAY SINGLES SUMMARY
The lead was 11-5 for the US heading into Sunday singles matches. A win for the US seemed imminent, but there was still hope that the Europeans could stage a comeback.
As the rounds kicked off, it was the Europeans who came out firing, taking the lead in several of their matches. Rory McIlroy, who had performed poorly so thus, went ahead of Xander Schauffele after the first hole and was determined to win his point. He did so, winning 3&2 and becoming only the 5th European player to win a point in the event so far.
But the Americans were quick to quash any chances of a potential comeback. In a momentum-killing match for the Europeans, Scottie Scheffler managed to find an edge over Jon Rahm and was poised to beat him, the player who was responsible for most of Europe's points.
It was a sign of things to come, as the Americans kicked it into overdrive and at one point were leading 9 of the 12 matches. Incidentally, Team Europe needed to win 9 of 12 to retain the cup. It was cruel luck, but just goes to show what players are capable of doing.
In the end, the U.S. would win seven points (Cantlay, Scheffler, DeChambeau, Johnson, Koepka, Thomas and Berger) compared to three points by Europe on Sunday. Incidentally, it was Europe's veterans who won the points: McIlroy, Poulter (who remains undefeated in singles) and Westwood, with Hovland and Fleetwood halving their matches against Morikawa and Spieth, respectively. The clinching point for the U.S. was won by Collin Morikawa, who with a birdie on the 17th hole guaranteed the U.S. the half point they needed to get to 14.5.
Everything seemed to be going the Americans' way on Sunday and again we saw dominant golf by all. But despite this, there was one player who stood out most. Dustin Johnson, the oldest player on the U.S. team at age 37, won his match against Paul Casey by one point to go undefeated all week, going 5-0-0. This is a remarkable feat and something only done a handful of times under the current format. What's even more impressive is the players he took down along the way: Ian Poulter, Rory McIlroy, Paul Casey, Tyrell Hatton, Bernd Wiesberger and Victor Hovland; exactly half of the European team.
A NEW ERA OF AMERICAN TEAM GOLF IS FORMED
Going into Ryder Cups past, there were always questions about just how much of a team the American players could form. They were higher ranked, drove the ball further, but always struggled in unity. This had been their biggest fault and the cause of much failure over the years.
These same questions were asked about the younger-than-normal American team this year, but Captain Stricker assured us all that things were different this year.
And boy were they different.
What we saw at the 2020 Ryder Cup was the birth of a new era of American team golf, centered around a group of young players who, despite their youth, are highly intelligent and united golfers. A true camaraderie has developed, and as we mentioned in our op-ed on the Ryder Cup, this is something essential to winning. For the first time, I saw an American team where each and every member was friends with one another and supported everyone. We also got to see some amazing partnerships develop, between Johnson and Morikawa, Scheffler and DeChambeau, Schauffele and Cantlay, etc.
At their press conference afterwards, this camaraderie was on full display. You could tell that you were watching a group of friends, bonded by such an experience and journey, celebrating their success as one. You could tell something deep had developed and, as Assistant Captain Phil Mickelson said, the nucleus of the U.S.'s team golf future had formed.
It all culminated with a hug between Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau, two players once deep in a bitter feud; a sure sign that the ways of old for American team golf had ended and a new era had begun. If this Ryder Cup is any indication, it will be a fun group to watch over the years.
FINAL THOUGHTS
What we saw this week at the Ryder Cup was something truly special. The golfing skill that the Americans brought to each and every hole and match was simply astonishing. Everyone was firing on all cylinders, all the time, and never let off until the end. As a fan, this edition of the Ryder Cup featured some of the best, guttiest and amazing golf shots I've ever seen.
The Americans outplayed the Europeans in virtually every aspect, it's as simple as that. They were more consistent,
steadier, and when they struck, struck harder. To me, what was most impressive and
a real contrast between the two teams was their iron-play. The rate at
which the Americans could stick their approaches close to the hole, despite the situation or conditions, was
simply amazing. This is a testament to the raw skill that each U.S. player has in their own regard; its not hard to see why they are some of the top-ranked golfers in the world. Unfortunately, the Europeans could not match this intensity, albeit had brief moments of it.
Not only did we see a dominant performance by the Americans, we saw the birth of a new era of team golf for them. This is something that should be worrisome for the Europeans for future Ryder Cups. The group of 20-something and 30-something year olds that is the American team will be around for a long time. The ball is in the Europeans' court now. They've seen the firepower of this U.S. team and it's up to them to respond for the next Ryder Cup.
***
And with that, we unfortunately come to the end of another edition of the Ryder Cup. One of the worst parts of the tournament is waiting the two years for it to be played again.
Speaking of which, the Ryder Cup returns in 2023 and will be played at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome, Italy. Europe will be seeking redemption but will need to do some soul-searching before then to prepare for the Americans.
Let the countdown begin!
What was your favorite moment from the 2020 Ryder Cup? Let us know in the comments below,
-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews
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