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Sep 23rd, 2016
Davis Love in astonishing Ryder Cup claim
Team USA 2016
Words: Tim Southwell Photography: Getty Images
Take a look at this line up. According to USA Ryder Cup Captain Davis Love, this is the finest collection of players ever to take part in a Ryder Cup.
That's quite a statement, Davis. And as Lee Westwood tweeted:
It's one thing trying to instill confidence into your side but quite another when your efforts to do so come across as desperate and, indeed, faintly ridiculous. America have not beaten Europe in eight years and only once in the past 17 years. Europe may have six rookies on board for Hazeltine but Team USA is also a young side.
We don’t have to do anything superhuman, we’re a great golf team,” Love said. “This is the best golf team, maybe, ever assembled.”
There are plenty of past winning sides that might have something to say about all this. Langer's Detroit Destroyers 2004 and Ben Crenshaw's Brookline Bashers to name just two supreme sides. But, there is only one group that must be shaking their heads in disbelief – these guys...
Davis Love: "Team USA 1981?... we would have battered them!"
The 1981 Ryder Cup team that beat Europe 18½-9½ is regarded as the best in history, featuring Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Lee Trevino, Ray Floyd, Hale Irwin and Johnny Miller. Only Bruce Lietkze had never won a major.
Love’s current side have five major winners (Phil Mickelson, Jordan Spieth, Jimmy Walker, Dustin Johnson and Zach Johnson), no more and no less than Darren Clarke’s side (Rory McIlroy, Martin Kaymer, Justin Rose, Henrik Stenson and Danny Willett).It is also worth noting that this greatest ever team, isn't even complete. If Bubba Watson gets the pick (despite his well documented lack of 'team empathy'), then USA will at least have more major winners in their team than Europe, but team-wise his inclusion just brings potential discord and disruption.
If either Daniel Berger or Justin Thomas (the other contenders for the last Captain's pick on Sunday night) get in – good as they are – this will surely not pump up the FIGJAM (Phil Mickelson's mantra – 'F' Me I'm Good - Just Ask Me') sufficiently to strike fear into Team Europe. Neither would it pump up the team quality to 1981 levels. Although to be fair at least Berger would add something positive to the WAG contingent...
Furthermore, Europe actually has more players in the world's top 12 than team USA. Nevertheless, this is the greatest Ryder Cup side ever assembled. It must be true because Davis said so. He also said this: “You need to stand up there, smash it down the middle and take off walking and let the other team know we are going to dominate you.” Blunt stuff to be sure. Well that is exactly what Team Europe have done. Time and time again. We don't even need to warm up...
Regarding the last Captain's pick, Bubba is hardly blazing it up and well off the pace at East Lake in the TOUR Championship of the FedEX Cup. Daniel Berger, the world No 7, is on three-over despite a 69 on Friday. Justin Thomas is best placed in terms of immediate form, currently sitting at -1 at the TOUR Championship.
Come one long weekend, every two years, world rankings, and majors won have proved themselves to mean absolutely nothing, as Europe have dominated the Ryder Cup.
These guys – no chance apparently...
