[Ryder Cup] US Dream Team "This Year, Revenge on Home Turf"... What About the European Union?

Held for the first time in 3 years due to COVID-19 last year, USA seeks revenge for 2018 loss, European Union aims for 2nd consecutive win

World No. 1 Jon Rahm (right) and No. 2 Dustin Johnson will face off representing Europe and the United States, respectively, at the Ryder Cup this time.

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] The United States has launched a 'revenge match' on home turf.

On the night of the 24th (Korean time), the Ryder Cup begins at Whistling Straits Golf Course (Par 71, 7,390 yards) in Haven, Wisconsin, USA. This tournament is the biennial intercontinental golf competition between the United States and the European Union. Last year, it was postponed by one year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so this time it is held after three years. Although there is not a single penny of prize money, the competition for pride, which is more valuable than money, is intense. The 12 players selected from each continent also consider participation itself an honor.

The United States leads the all-time record with 26 wins, 2 draws, and 14 losses. Since clashing with the England-Ireland Union in 1927, the U.S. overwhelmingly won during the first 50 years (interrupted from 1939 to 1945 due to World War II). Jack Nicklaus (USA) then proposed in 1979 to expand the England-Ireland Union to the entire Europe, and since then, in 20 matches, the U.S. has been at a disadvantage with 8 wins, 1 draw, and 11 losses. It is surprising that the European Union swept 7 wins and 2 losses in 9 matches during the 2000s.

They produced dramatic victories such as the 'Miracle of Wales' in 2010 and the 'Battle of Chicago' in 2012, and even built a golden tower of '3 consecutive wins' in 2014. The U.S. barely returned to the top after 8 years with a task force in 2016, but the European Union again recorded a '7-point big win' in 2018. Although the U.S. was highly motivated by the addition of the 'resurrected golf emperor' Tiger Woods at that time, only the 'mystery of 4 consecutive losses' remained.

Ryder Cup U.S. team (clockwise from top left: Daniel Berger, Patrick Cantlay, Bryson DeChambeau, Harris English, Tony Finau, Dustin Johnson, Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth, Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa, Brooks Koepka).

This year is an opportunity to add wins at home. Under the leadership of Steve Stricker, world No. 2 Dustin Johnson leads the team, joined by Collin Morikawa (3rd), Patrick Cantlay (4th), Xander Schauffele (5th), Justin Thomas (6th), Bryson DeChambeau (7th), Tony Finau (9th), Brooks Koepka (10th), Harris English (11th), Jordan Spieth (13th), Daniel Berger (16th), and Scottie Scheffler (21st), forming a true dream team.

The problem lies in the 'two-player team matches.' The U.S. is criticized for having less cohesion compared to Europe, which has a strong camaraderie in every tournament. On the first and second days, there are 4 matches each of foursomes (two players alternate shots with one ball) and fourballs (each plays their own ball and the better score counts), totaling 16 matches over two days, and 12 singles matches on the final day. A win earns 1 point, a draw 0.5 points. The first to reach 14.5 points wins the championship.

Ryder Cup European Union (from top left clockwise: Paul Casey, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Tommy Fleetwood, Sergio Garcia, Tyrrell Hatton, Viktor Hovland, Bernd Wiesberger, Lee Westwood, Jon Rahm, Ian Poulter, Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry).

The European Union's 'number 1' Jon Rahm (Spain) is the 'sure-win card.' He is joined by Viktor Hovland (14th, Norway), Rory McIlroy (15th, Northern Ireland), Tyrrell Hatton (19th), Paul Casey (24th), Matthew Fitzpatrick (27th), Lee Westwood (35th), Tommy Fleetwood (37th, all England), Shane Lowry (42nd, Ireland), Sergio Garcia (43rd, Spain), Ian Poulter (50th, England), and Bernd Wiesberger (63rd, Austria).