Why Team USA need to take all the passion and energy into the final day singles at the Ryder Cup
Last night, whilst I mulled over the extraordinary first day of the Ryder Cup at Marco Simone where Europe won 6.5 points out of a possible eight... (Well, when I say mulled, it involved a glass of wine and casually scrolling through TikTok) I came across Brooks Koepka's wife Jena Sims' TikTok account. One post in particular stood out, it was captioned "Giving my husband a pep talk the night before the Ryder Cup".
Jena is seen dancing (in some silk Brooks/USA flag pjs) along to a current meme "More passion, more energy". Go with me on this one... It perfectly summed up exactly what had been lacking from the American team throughout most of Friday.
Where had the passion and energy been amongst Team USA? There had been a few fist pumps, even from Brooks when Scheffler holed his birdie on 17 in the afternoon but the pumped-up chests and air of arrogance that you would normally associate with the team was missing.
Of course, you're not going to be walking around like you own the place when you're not on home soil, the crowd is against you and you are losing badly but in an event like the Ryder Cup, passion and energy are at its core and you need to utilise both to gain the advantage over your competitors.
Reflecting on the first day's play, Team USA Captain Zach Johnson had said:
"I'm extremely proud of their fight and their character. I think when you have adversity and when you have challenge, you can kind of go one of two ways, and they decided to do it with class and character.
"I think in time that positive, I think it can breed momentum. I think it's just a matter of time. I believe in these guys. I am proud of the way they have gone about their business. Tip my cap to the European Team for playing great golf. Our time's coming."
For their time to come, Team USA had to do something. Your time does not come just through hoping it will manifest.
Johnson added:
"The 12 guys in my team room. Every one of them is feisty. Every one of them is hungry. Every one of them plays golf for the right reasons in the Ryder Cup."
Saturday morning foursomes
As Saturday morning play got underway, the Europeans picked up where they left off. Taking control of the first two matches, which ultimately ended up with Koepka and Scottie Scheffler being beaten by the largest margin in Ryder Cup history 9&7. Whilst McIlroy and Fleetwood, affectionately named FleetwoodMac, gained a further point from Spieth and Thomas.
It was sad to see the World number one with his head in his hands and tears in his eyes after the loss in the foursomes. Sad though it was, at least he showed just how much the loss had meant to him.
Whilst the morning matches were on the course, rumours started to circulate on X (formerly Twitter) that there were divisions in the American side.
The thread from Jamie Weir at Sky Sports went on to say that:
"He [Cantlay] wore a cap at last year's Presidents Cup, for which players ARE paid. Cantlay also refused to attend the gala dinner earlier in the week and, along with close friend Xander Schauffele, is sitting in a separate area of the team dressing room."
I'll leave the debate about being paid to play in the Ryder Cup for another day but would any sort of division in camp really impact the score? On Saturday morning Schauffele and Cantlay were playing together, which should have no impact on the wider team. Cantlay will not have seen the fallout on X as they battled to a disappointing 2&1 loss.
The only point to Team USA came from the rookie pairing of Homa and Harman, with Homa showing the passion and energy that was so needed. Walking in his chip for the win was brilliant...
Saturday morning foursomes results
Match 9 - Justin Thomas & Jordan Spieth v Rory McIlroy & Tommy Fleetwood - EUROPE WIN 2&1
Match 10 - Scottie Scheffler & Brooks Koepka v Viktor Hovland & Ludvig Aberg - EUROPE WIN 9&7
Match 11 - Max Homa & Brian Harman v Shane Lowry & Sepp Straka - USA WIN 4&2
Match 12 - Xander Schauffele & Patrick Cantlay v Jon Rahm & Tyrrell Hatton - EUROPE WIN 2&1
Saturday afternoon fourballs
After a pitstop lunch, USA were still waiting for their "time to come". A 3-1 morning foursomes session cannot be what they had planned for.
Three sessions down, surely this was Team USA's moment? Step forward Sam Burns, rested from the morning, he came out fighting which helped, whipping up the crowds...
Where for the first three sessions putts and chips had fallen for the European side, they began to slide by. In the gladiatorial arena, the Americans smelt blood.
The crowd was no match for the American side with three matches going to them. Burns and Morikawa giving Hovland and Aberg a taste of their own medicine with a 4&3 victory. Homa and Harman followed suit taking down Fleetwood and Hojgaard 2&1.
Justin Rose nearly single-handedly got the only point of the afternoon against Thomas and Spieth (finally toppled in the fourballs).
Then to the last match, Cantlay thrived off the crowd, the news from X getting to the fans as they waved their hats at him on every hole.
"I was smiling every day. I told him [Wyndham Clark] walking to the first tee, use it as fuel and we did all day."
Golf is not scripted but the day ended as if it had, with Cantlay holing his birdie putt and his team mates waving their caps in the air.
Saturday afternoon fourballs results
Match 13 - Sam Burns & Collin Morikawa v Viktor Hovland & Ludvig Aberg - USA 4&3
Match 14 - Max Homa & Brian Harman v Tommy Fleetwood & Nicolai Hojgaard - USA 2&1
Match 15 - Justin Thomas & Jordan Spieth v Robert MacIntyre & Justin Rose - EUROPE 3&2
Match 16 - Patrick Cantlay & Wyndham Clark v Rory McIlroy & Matthew Fitzpatrick - USA 1up
Going into the final day of singles, Europe lead 10.5 to 5.5, with only four points needed to win the Ryder Cup back.
I do not know what they will be showing in the USA team room tonight, but if they take Jena's advice and ALL really find more passion and more energy, feeding off the home crowd, they could have their Miracle at Marco Simone. But does the whole team really want it?
View live scoring from the 2023 Ryder Cup here.
