The American pride was not prepared for such a resounding defeat as their team suffered this Friday against Europe on the first day of the Ryder Cup at Bethpage. The result is bad for the locals, but even worse are the sensations that have been conveyed. Europe always seemed more in control, dominating the situation, carrying the weight of the competition. Perhaps because of all this, Keegan Bradley was expected in the press room with a loaded gun. No concessions.
The first two exchanges with journalists were ruthless, and that is why we reproduce them literally. They are the first and second questions of his appearance after finishing the day:
Journalist: “A very respected and prestigious source claims that Harris English and Collin Morikawa were the 132nd best combination of all possible, the last. What information do you have to have them among your top four and to have them go out again on Saturday morning?
KEEGAN BRADLEY: Well, we have a plan for what we’re going to do. They beat us today, but we are very comfortable with our plan. We are very comfortable with these two players. Excited about their match tomorrow (McIlroy and Fleetwood, the same ones who beat them 5&4 on Friday). It will be an exciting match, and we will stick to our plan. We are not going to panic. We are not going to panic or make those kinds of mistakes. We will continue with what we know. We have a lot of confidence in them.
Q. Do your data analyses suggest they work very well together, or is it more a matter of instinct?
“I would say it’s a bit of both. They were very upset about losing their match today. They were eager to get back on the course, and that’s why we’ve done it.” (Bradley repeats the same four pairs that lost 3-1 in the morning with the only change of Cameron Young for Justin Thomas to play with Bryson DeChambeau).
The explanation, as you can see, can generate even more doubts than the management itself. If it hides nothing and the reality is that the main reason for repeating with Morikawa and Harris English is that they are angry about losing, it seems at least a poor argument and, above all, conveys the feeling that the plan is in the hands of the players, who decide at will.
Bradley has insisted several times that they will continue to stick to the plan. It is commendable to have a strategy and believe in it wholeheartedly, but the
A very respected and prestigious source claims that Harris English and Collin Morikawa were the 132nd best combination of all possible, the last. What information do you have to have them among your top four and to have them go out again tomorrow morning?
KEEGAN BRADLEY: Well, we have a plan for what we’re going to do. They beat us today, but we are very comfortable with our plan. We are very comfortable with those two players. Excited about who they will face tomorrow.
It will be an exciting match, and we will stick to our plan. We are not going to panic. We are not going to panic or make those kinds of mistakes. We will continue with what we know.
We have a lot of confidence in them.
Q. Do your data analyses suggest they work very well together, or is it more a matter of instinct?
KEEGAN BRADLEY: I would say it’s a bit of both. They were very upset about losing their match today. They were eager to get back on the course, and that’s why we’ve done it.
only lasts three days, and it is likely that when Bradley realises, the competition will be over. The continuity of the pairs may work out, of course, but the feeling it conveys is that there is no plan B and that all the work done behind the scenes has more to do with the emotional part of the player than the technical. At least, it does not explain in a minimally convincing way on what basis the pairs are made.
The explanation he offered about the decision not to give continuity in Saturday’s foursome to a player like JJ Spaun was, again at least, strange. “We wanted the guys to rest a bit. We have a very specific plan for each player that we have discussed with them, and I think everyone wants to do the best for the team. Everyone would have played if we had asked them. Everyone would have sat if we had asked them. They just want to win the Ryder Cup, and that’s what makes this group so great. We are three points down. That is manageable. We can come back from three points. I think it seems much worse because the day is over, but there is still a lot of Ryder Cup to play.”
Bradley did not hesitate to describe Europe’s level as “impressive,” although in his opinion, the only difference between his team and Donald’s is that Europe “made more putts.” Perhaps in the morning, it was so, but in the afternoon, it was not, and they also lost the session. The message he offers to the players is somewhat clichéd: “We are in the first quarter of the basketball game, and there is still a lot to play.”
