Massacre of Day 1 at Marco Simone

Europe shines in Day 1 at Ryder Cup, ties record for largest lead - PGA TOUR

Photo Courtesy of the PGA Tour


September 29th, 2023


GUIDONIA, Italy - This was possibly the worst start Team USA could have asked for. Starting with the Friday morning foursomes, not one match went to the 18th hole. After four matches the US went down 4-0, not great. Hopefully, it would turn around in the afternoon four-ball sessions, nope. Matt Fitzpatrick made four birdies in a row and went up six in the first seven holes, so it did not give Xander Schauffle, nor Collin Morikawa a chance to make up any ground. Despite that, the US had three out of the four matches with a lead, yet not one group could come away with a win and a point. Jordan Speith and Justin Thomas lost holes 14 and 15 and halved the match. Brooks Koepka and Scottie Scheffler could not close on 18 and halved the match. Finally, Max Homa and Wyndham Clark missed a few crucial putts down the stretch, which cost them each of the last two holes, ending the match in a half point each. 


What Went Wrong?


Obviously, Captain Zach Johnson will get most of the blame, which I think is partially deserved. Starting off with Brooks Koepka, Justin Thomas, Wyndham Clark, and Jordan Speith all on the bench in the morning fourball session. 


Why? 


Koepka and Clark are both major winners this year and Jordan Speith and Justin Thomas are the best duo America has seen since the Lob City Clippers. Justin Thomas was on the outside looking in right after the FedEx Cup Playoff but was brought in because the players love him and the coaches know the value he brings to the team. Skill and electricity, in his Ryder Cup experience he is 6-2-1, including 3-0-0 in fourballs. That's right, undefeated in fourball, yet Johnson decided the best way to start is by having that guy on the sidelines. 


Johnson also said that Team USA is dealing with an illness that has spread through the locker room. Guys are congested and allegedly do not feel 100%. This is a losers mentality already. After day one we are already saying we are sick and that's why we played bad today. A stuffy nose cannot cause the States the Ryder Cup.


What Needs to Change?

Put your best players together. The matchups that worked at the 2020 Ryder Cup (Played in 2021) were Speith and Thomas, Schauffle and Cantlay. Some of the key players like Dustin Johnson (5-0-0) and Bryson DeChambaeu (2-0-1) are not on the team this time around, but that is no excuse. 


Something I hope changes is the way John Rahmn is playing. With like four chip-ins and two eagles in a four-hole stretch, hopefully, Scottie or Brooks can start to play like that. 


Day 2 will continue Saturday at 1:35, Team USA is down 6.5 to 1.5. 



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