– This Monday morning at Bethpage, as dawn was breaking in Manhattan and the American team’s practice matches hadn’t even started, the first thing Keegan Bradley and his men did was to form a tight circle, joining all their hands together. Caddies, players, captain, and assistants were all present. This gesture is part of Bradley’s planned obsession since he unexpectedly received the captaincy: to show that the United States can be as united a team as Europe, if not more so. Thus, the Ryder Cup has officially begun. (This is the image accompanying this information).
– It is the first time in history that the Ryder Cup is being held in New York City. We know, you’ll be tempted to check it yourself, convinced that what you’re reading is an epic blunder. Go ahead. It’s inevitable. You’ll be surprised again. The closest the Ryder has been to Manhattan was in 1935, exactly 90 years ago, when it was played in New Jersey, at Ridgewood. Walter Hagen was on the United States team, and Charles Whitcomb was the captain of Europe, which at that time was just Great Britain and Ireland. There’s a lot of talk about the New York crowd’s intensity, but the reality is there’s no comparison, beyond the Majors, which are indeed significant, but they don’t compare to a Ryder.
– Experience alone doesn’t win Ryder Cups, but it can help. In this regard, Europe’s victory this year is overwhelming. Luke Donald’s 12 players have played a total of 32 editions, 128 matches, and have won 68.5 points. Meanwhile, Keegan’s boys have participated in 15 editions, played 56 matches, and won 36. The difference is vast. However, in terms of points won per match played, the score is very close: 53.57% for the United States versus 53.51% for Europe.
– Obviously, the great veteran of this Ryder is Rory McIlroy. The Northern Irishman has participated, excluding Bethpage, in seven Ryder Cups with a total of 33 points contested. That is, he has only missed two points of all he could have played, and counting only his numbers, he has played more than half the points of the entire USA team. The next in experience is Rose with six Ryders and 26 points. In the United States, the only one reaching three is Justin Thomas, with 13 matches played. The next are Schauffele, Cantlay, and Morikawa with eight matches each. Between McIlroy and Rose, they have won more points in the Ryder Cup than the entire United States team.
– Cantlay is the player with the best points percentage in the United States. He reaches 68.75%. Not bad. Above 50 percent are also Morikawa and Thomas, while Schauffele and Scheffler are right at the halfway mark. In Europe, the most effective is MacIntyre with 83.33 percent, although he has only played three points. Above 60 percent are also Jon Rahm and Fleetwood, and above 50 percent are McIlroy, Hatton, and Rose. Aberg is at 50 percent. The worst percentage in the entire Ryder is Fitzpatrick’s. By far. He has won only one point out of the eight he has played: 12.50%.
– The numbers for Jon Rahm: he has played three Ryder Cups, 12 matches, and has scored 7.5 points. He has won six, drawn three, and lost three. His singles record is tied: one win, one draw, and one loss. His opponents, mind you, have been Tiger Woods and Scottie Scheffler (twice). He has won all four matches he has played in foursomes, which is impressive, and only has a negative record in fourballs, with one win, two draws, and two losses. A fixture in Friday’s foursome.
– Another fixture is Fleetwood. Four out of four in foursomes. Impressive. His record in fourball and singles is tied: two wins, two losses, and one draw, and one win, one loss, and one draw.
– Rose and Hatton are the only European players with a positive record in fourballs. Rose has scored 5.5 points out of ten contested, and Hatton has three out of five.
– Fitzpatrick, with a resounding 0 out of 3, is the only European player with a negative record in foursomes. Additionally, MacIntyre has not yet played in this format. Few doubt he will do so at Bethpage, almost certainly on Friday.
– Justin Rose‘s record in foursomes is incredible: 7.5 points out of ten contested. We might see Rose and MacIntyre playing together on Friday. Just maybe.
– Hovland has been present in two Ryder Cups and has contested ten points. That is, he has played everything. Will he do it again at Bethpage? It feels like he won’t, but who knows, it can’t be ruled out right now. By the way, the Norwegian still doesn’t know what it means to win a fourball match. On the other hand, he hasn’t lost a singles match yet.
– Lowry‘s numbers in the Ryder Cup don’t match his charisma. No record is in his favour. He hasn’t won in singles yet and has won one and lost another in foursomes and fourballs. In two Ryders, he has only played six points.
– Justin Thomas‘s numbers in the Ryder Cup are very serious: he has scored eight points in 13 matches. He has won all three singles he has played. Cantlay has also won both singles he has played.
– DeChambeau is a bit like Lowry. He has more charisma than points. In two Ryder Cups, he has only played six points. He doesn’t know victory in foursomes.
– Scheffler‘s unfinished business is the foursome. He has lost both he has played in the Ryder Cup. Better not cross paths with him this Friday morning at Bethpage. In fourball, he is unbeaten, with one win and two draws.
– English and Burns have only scored one point in the Ryder Cup, both in fourballs. Both have played three matches. Straka, on the other hand, only won the foursome in Italy.
– There are five debutants in the Ryder Cup: Cameron Young, Ben Griffin, Russell Henley, and JJ Spaun for the United States, and Rasmus Hojgaard for Europe.
