Out with the old and in with the bold: Can this US team win back the Ryder Cup?
Steve Stricker has released the US Ryder Cup team from the nightmare of its past. By naming four rookies in his six wildcards on Wednesday, it means there will be six debutants at Whistling Straits in two weeks and for the first time, their average age will be under 30.
Out with the old, in with the bold. Stricker will be praying that the tattered script also takes its leave to be replaced by a rather fresher plot.
Of course, the headline news was Stricker daring to snub Patrick Reed - AKA Captain America - but seeing as the 31-year-old was in his own words, “battling for my life” in hospital just two weeks ago, then there was more than a sliver of justification.
Granted, after Reed’s outburst following the last match in Paris - where he blamed the then captain Jim Furyk, as well as Jordan Spieth and in a sense Tiger Woods - Stricker might have been searching for a reason to go elsewhere anyway. But double pneumonia is not the worst excuse.
"For sure was the toughest call to make - I lost sleep over that one," Stricker said. "But Patrick took like a true champion. I apologized many times to him."
Reed’s reaction was wise, because there is the possibility that Brooks Koepka may have to withdraw after injuring his wrist last week, although sources said he will be ready to hit balls again by the weekend. So Reed should remain that “true champion” for now.
Otherwise Stricker has unashamedly gone with the kids, whose collective length should be such a boon at the eye-straining layout. There is not a single player over 40 in his dozen (Dustin Johnson is the oldest at 37) and with four days until Padraig Harrington’s European XII is confirmed, the predictions are that there will be at least four over-40s, perhaps five.
So here we go: Dad’s Army versus the Bumfluff Brigade.
Not that Stricker’s men are mere boys, certainly not when it comes to the rankings. Stricker’s selections were not from leftfield - they were from the world’s top 21. It is remarkable to consider that the depth was so strong that Stricker could pick 12 players from the top 21 and still overlook two of that elite - Reed and Webb Simpson.
Their average ranking at the moment is 8.92; they are destined to be the first team since the rankings were created with an average ranking of below 10.
Essentially it is the absence of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson that makes this US outfit seem so cherubic. Either or both of those legends have featured in every Starred and Striped campaign since 1995; 26 years, 12 Ryder Cups. And yes America have won only three of those. That era is now dead. Stricker ensured it was when bravely announcing last week that Mickelson, despite winning the US PGA four months ago, will be at Whistling Straits as an assistant captain only.
And therein lies the point. Europe may look down their opponents’ starting sheet and say “oh, goody, inexperience’, with only Johnson having played in more than three matches (half of the Europe team might have appeared in a minimum of five matches). But is no experience better than bad experience?
They say madness is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome and there was no doubt the Americans were driving their fans potty by putting out the same old losers and achieving the same outcome. By circumstance more than choice, this is a virgin page, a new chapter and it will be a fascinating battle of the generations. It will also be a fight between two contrasting captaincies.
Because as he sticks to the winning template, with partnerships that pick themselves, Harrington will not envy Stricker his challenge. Not only does Stricker have the issue of Koepka’s fitness, but apart from Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas there are no other proven pairings in his squad. Bryson DeChambeau is obviously the most pressing issue.
Can you match up this loner with a rookie, ask him to hold the hand of say, Daniel Berger or Scottie Scheffler? Everything in the past month or so has suggested it is DeChambeau who needs babysitting.
Maybe that does not matter and maybe in this dawning epoch, the Americans will at last learn to put the cause of the team ahead of the wishes of the individual ego and with the first-timers it is quite easy to see them mixing and matching with little fuss and so much exuberance. This is a home match and with no away fans travelling this is the time to blood the future.
"These rookies bring in an excitement level that's unmatched,” Stricker said. “They're eager, willing to learn, they just want to have that opportunity and they'll do anything for that opportunity. They will come in with eyes wide open and a ‘just put me in there, coach’ attitude. It’ll be refreshing.
US Ryder Cup team, player-by-player analysis
Collin Morikawa
Age: 24. World ranking: 3. Ryder Cups: 0
Strengths: Best iron player in the game - with the potential to be the best of all time. Laughable to think of him as a rookie, with two majors to his name.
Weaknesses: Has been carrying a back injury and not had a top 25 in his last four events. His putting is streaky. The Europeans will keep gimmes to a minimum.
Dustin Johnson
Age: 37. WR: 2. RCs: 4
Strengths: Remains one of the top ball-strikers and if he is on his day then nigh on unbeatable. Would have won the USPGA at Whistling Straits in 2010, but for a rules rumpus.
Weaknesses: Does not bring any passion - or energy - to the teamroom. Won only one point out of five in last match. Hard to believe he has a losing percentage.
Bryson DeChambeau
Age: 27. WR: 7. RCs: 1
Strengths: Strength. Hits the ball unprecedented distances and has the wherewithal to exploit this advantage. Great putter if his armlock method is in the mood.
Weaknesses: A loner who has fallen out with a few on this team - not just Koepka. Who to partner him with? Psyche appears extremely brittle at the moment.
Brooks Koepka
Age: 31. WR: 10. RCs: 2
Strengths: Has everything, including four majors. One of the few on the team with a winning percentage. Unflappable temperament but with the necessary feistiness.
Weaknesses: Pulled out of last week’s FedEx Cup with a wrist injury. Has his beef with DeChambeau and famously had a dust up with Johnson in the after-match party of 2018..
Justin Thomas
Age: 28. WR: 6. RCs: 1
Strengths: Hard to believe this is only his second Ryder Cup. An all-rounder with everything you would wish from a team player. Incredibly popular. Easy to pair.
Weaknesses: Has not won since The Players in May and nowhere near his best form. Has not putted well in the last few months and is susceptible on the knee-rattlers.
Patrick Cantlay
Age: 29. WR: 4. RCs: 0
Strengths: Fresh off winning the $15 million (£10.8 million) FedEx Cup, Cantlay is at the peak. Former world No 1 amateur does everything well, but his scrambling stands out.
Weaknesses: Maybe his ultra laidback persona does not suit the frenzy of the Ryder Cup, but it could well prove an advantage. In truth, hard to see many faults.
Jordan Spieth
Age: 28. WR: 15. RCs 3
Strengths: Finally ended his four-year barren run with victory in Texas in April and went on to finish third in the Masters and second at The Open. Spieth is back.
Weaknesses: The demons of his slump are still in there somewhere and he no longer has that intimidation factor. Has played averagely since Royal St George’s.
Tony Finau
Age: 31. WR: 9. RCs: 1
Strengths: Hits the ball a mile with a broad smile. Won again earlier this month after a baffling five-year hiatus. A birdie machine who can play fourball with anyone.
Weakness: Seems to alter his putting grip more often than he changes his ball. Extremely vulnerable over the short ones. Opponents will try to capitalise.
Xander Schauffele
Age: 27. WR: 5. RCs: 0
Strengths: Olympic gold-medallist who seems to contend in each and every major. Similar to Rory McIlroy in not allowing his smaller physique to curtail his driving.
Weaknesses: The stats suggest there is not a weakness. For some reason he went to an armlock grip with his putting recently before switching back. Does that signify doubt?
Harris English
Age: 32. WR: 11. RCs: 0
Strengths: Was lost a few years ago, but has enjoyed a dramatic recovery, winning twice this year with four more top threes. Calls himself a “Swiss Army Knife”. Can play with anyone.
Weaknesses: Not the greatest short-game and this could be brutally exposed in matchplay. English is very quiet and will rely on others to bring the spark.
Scottie Scheffler
Age: 25. WR: 21. RCs: 0
Strengths: Just completed his second year on Tour, Scheffler already has a 59 , as well as eight top fives. Clearly loves the spotlight. Finished in top eight of the last three majors.
Weaknesses: The surprise pick in the fact he is the only member of the team without a Tour title. Was not overly impressive at the 2017 Walker Cup. Has everything to prove.
Daniel Berger
Age: 28. WR: 16. RCs: 0
Strengths: Son of Jay, the former Davis Cup player, Daniel has been resurgent in the last 18 months with two wins and four more top threes. A fine ball-striker.
Weaknesses: Has transformed his short-game but it will still be seen as a weakness by his opponents, especially in the pressure of the cauldron.
