The Round Table takes on the Ryder Cup

Each week, we ask our panel of writers, PGA members and golf industry experts to weigh in with their views on the hot topics of the day.

The Ryder Cup gets underway Friday on the Black Course at Bethpage State Park in Long Island, NY. Which do you expect to factor more into the outcome: the Europeans bringing an experienced team that includes 11 of the 12 players that won the last Cup two years ago in Rome; or the assuredly boisterous, maybe even out-of-control New York fans?

Jim Deeks, Fairways Magazine (@jimdeeks): The latter.  MAGA has unleashed hatred and violence in American society, and I can only pray that violence does not happen at Bethpage.

Craig Loughry, Golf Ontario (@craigloughry): Team Europe has an edge, I beleive they have more players playing their best golf than the Americans do. They also have the ability to play better in team format of play than the Yanks do. Can’t wait to watch this event.

Michael Schurman, Master Professional / Hall of Fame Member, PGA of Canada: I am sad to think a storyline might be the crowd. Golf has always held a firm grip on civility, respect and honour. I guess I am a hopeless Norman Rockwell romantic as I watch so much good in people being washed down the sewer.

TJ Rule, Golf Away Tours (@GolfAwayTJ): It has to be the fans, I can only imagine how rambunctious, out of control and inappropriate they will be during the whole week.  I’m actually not really looking forward to seeing it, as I much prefer the knowledgeable, respectful European fans when I watch a golf tournament.  But that being said, they will likely have an impact on the outcome of the event, as it will no doubt fire up the Americans while giving the Euros something with which to contend.  It was a smart move by Luke Donald to include basically the same team they had in Italy, as they will have some experience dealing with conflict (like the silly Joe Lacava incident), so they may be able to downplay the rowdiness of the crowd, but I do think it will have an impact.

Peter Mumford, Fairways Magazine (@FairwaysMag): Experience trumps the crowd in my opinion. One would hope that a $750 ticket price might lure a more dignified fan base, but knowledgeable predictions suggest there will still be a fair share of drunken louts, obnoxiously and incessantly chanting U-S-A, U-S-A, probably egged on by the biggest home boy of them all, Captain Keegan Bradley. However, Luke Donald has prepared his squad for the hostile fans and most of them have dealt with this kind of thing before in previous Ryder Cups, majors and regular Tour events.

There seems to be a lot of media pressure to ensure that Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler face each other in the Sunday singles. Are you in favour of changing the way captains choose their line-ups to make such a thing possible? If so, what other match-up would you like to see?

Deeks: I think the onus on the captains to make the right choices is just fine.  If it happens that Rory and Scottie face each other, yes, it would be exciting; but the captains may want to use their two mega-stars in more strategic ways — even though they don’t know what order each other will choose until the night before.  For an interesting matchup, I’d like to see Shane Lowry vs. Patrick Cantlay in Sunday singles.  I have no evidence, but I suspect those two don’t like each other.

Loughry: I think the Captains can make it happen if they want to (rules or not). I definitely want to see Rory vs Scottie, OR Rory vs DeChambeau. The rest are just meh to me in terms of rivalries. Although, I want to see someone crush Lowry, he was way too animated at the last Ryder Cup (hat controversy with Cantlay – Joe LaCava/McIlroy match).

Schurman: I don’t have a second choice. What a match that could be if both players have their “A” game. There is no need for change in the system. The current one has all the parameters for strategic thinking.

Rule: As a fan, of course I want to see Rory and Scottie go toe to toe.  I wish they would adopt the method used in the Presidents Cup, where each captain has the opportunity to match up players as they use a snake draw.  It adds more drama, and perhaps some motivation for certain players based on who they are selected to oppose.

Mumford: Rory vs Scottie would be a good match, but Rory vs Bryson has some history behind it and could be a thriller. I’m in favour of leaving the strategy in the hands of the captains and not trying to force anything for the sake of the marketing department.

At most Ryder Cups, one player usually delivers more than expected or emerges as his team’s leader. Who do you think will be the hero at Bethpage State Park?

Deeks: You’re right, one person usually surprises the fans and the pundits.  My guess for unexpected hero would be the normally taciturn and unflappable Harris English.  That guy could pilot an aircraft through a hurricane and never show a grimace (or a smile).

Loughry: Euros have some players playing some pretty darn good golf right now. Watch out for MacIntyre, I think he has the game to do some real damage all week.

Schurman: I wish, I wish with all my might that my wish could come true tonight…. Tommy Fleetwood.

Rule: For the Euros, I want to say that Tyrrel Hatton will handle the pressure of the fans the best and be the difference maker, but he could also lose his cool so easily and it may negatively impact the team, he’s a loose cannon.  So, I’ll stick with Tommy Fleetwood, who recently got over the biggest hump in winning on Tour, and he’s ready to take the lead on the course this week.  For the US team, it’s hard to imagine anyone getting more positive energy from the New York crowd than Bryson, who has a lot to prove as their only member of the LIV tour.  He’ll be the hero this week.

Mumford: In all the overhyped, excessive coverage leading up to the Cup, Jon Rahm seems to be the forgotten man. The former World #1 can get pretty fired up and perhaps be the catalyst the Euros need to quiet the crowd. He’s been out of the spotlight while toiling for LIV Golf, but nothing indicates he’s lost any of his steam.

Who will win the Cup and why?

Deeks: The Americans, unfortunately.  I think the Euros will be simply worn down by the screaming, shouting, name-calling, and overall ugly and unsportsmanlike behaviour of the New York fans. Sportsmanship, respect and good manners are all so 20th Century, aren’t they?

Loughry: I think Team USA pulls this off on the last day, mostly due to homefield advantage. New Yorkers will make it hard for Team Europe.

Schurman: Over the past decade, Europe has been the underdog, only to use that as motivation and enjoy much success. This year, the USA is proclaiming to be the underdog either intentionally or subliminally. Regardless, I hope they get run over. Europe wins.

Rule: I’ll take the US, and mostly due to the impact of the crowd, it can’t be overstated.  Not that the Euros will likely fold under the pressure, but I think the US side will feed off of the energy and it will carry them over the top this year. I hope I’m wrong!  But that’s my feeling this year.

Mumford: I expect it to be close but ultimately I think the European experience will overcome the US rookies and the crowd.