Why Can't the U.S. Get it Done?

We take a look back at the Americans' epic collapse at the 2012 Ryder Cup

By Jim O'Shea

(AP Photo)

Once the 39^th Ryder Cup concluded on September 30, the hot topic everywhere was: how did the Americans lose?  Before beginning a diatribe on the Americans, let’s give the Europeans much credit.

Ian Poulter, a Ryder Cup hero, made five straight birdies on the final five holes on Saturday to defeat the duo of Jason Dufner and Zach Johnson of the U.S. in fourball.  If five straight birdies doesn’t sound like much, then think of this.  Charl Schwartzel won the 2011 Masters by making four straight birdies in his final four holes.  So, Ian Poulter and Rory McIlroy won their match on Saturday fourball.

Also, Justin Rose went crazy with his putter on Sunday.  He made three straight putts of 10+ feet in his final three holes to defeat Phil Mickelson.  On #17, after Phil almost chipped in for birdie, Justin was left with a 30 foot, downhill, left-to-right twister that found the bottom of the cup to square the match.  Then, on #18, Justin Rose made a 10 foot putt for birdie to clinch the match and a point for Europe.

Ok, so Ian Poulter and Justin Rose played well, but Davis Love III set up the pairings horribly on Sunday, right?

Wrong.  Davis Love III set up the first five pairings perfectly on Sunday, even though they all lost.  His first player off the tee was Bubba Watson, who won both Fourball matches he played, so he was hot playing his own ball.  Second was Bubba Watson’s partner in Fourball, Webb Simpson, who was also hot coming off a 5 and 4 win on Saturday.  Third was Keegan Bradley, who had won all three matches he played.  Fourth was Keegan Bradley’s partner, Phil Mickelson, who was also 3-0 going into Sunday.  Last in the fab five was Brandt Snedeker, who was coming off a tough 1 up victory on Saturday in foursomes. 

So, if Davis Love isn’t to blame, then who is?  Tiger Woods, of course.

Nope.  Tiger Woods played well in Fourball on Friday and Saturday.  On Friday, Tiger made seven birdies, but lost 1 down because Nicolas Colsaerts shot a 10 under round, including eight birdies and an eagle.  Then on Saturday, after a difficult front nine in Fourball, Tiger picked up the slack on the back nine by recording three birdies.  On Sunday, in the final pairing, Tiger came back to take a 1 up lead going into #18, and hit a perfect drive down the middle of the fairway, only to realize when he got to his ball that Martin Kaymer just sank a putt on the green to give Europe the Cup.  Stop blaming Tiger Woods, especially those who say he’s not a team player.  Excuse me, but didn’t he apologize to his teammates after they lost the Cup?  Exactly.

So, who’s to blame?

I’ve got an answer for you, and it’s not hard to find.  Just look at the U.S. roster and tell me the only player to earn zero points.

Yes.  Steve Stricker.  He couldn’t help Tiger on Friday Fourball when Tiger made seven birdies compared to Steve’s two.  On Saturday, when Tiger struggled on the front nine, Steve only made better than par on one hole on the front.  Once Tiger started to make a move on the back nine, Steve seemed to take a back seat, recording only one birdie on the back.  When it came time for ‘the greatest putter in golf’ to shine on #18, Steve Stricker faltered.  He lipped out a birdie opportunity that would’ve halved the match.

If Friday and Saturday weren’t enough, then Steve gave it to you again on Sunday.  With the Ryder Cup on the line coming into seventeen, Steve was all square with Martin Kaymer.  Stricker left ‘some chicken on that bone’ after his chip rolled eight feet past the hole for birdie.  Eight feet?  I mean he’s the greatest putter in the game, right?  Well, not today at least.  Stricker clipped the right edge of the hole on his putt, while Kaymer made his par putt to put Stricker one down going to the eighteenth.  Steve had to win the hole, or else Europe won the Cup.  Steve hit a perfect drive down the fairway, as opposed to Kaymer, who was in the bunker.  Stricker didn’t take advantage of this, putting his next shot thirty feet behind the hole.  Kaymer hit the green and the Cup was lost, unless Stricker could prove his worth with an amazing birdie putt.  He didn’t, putting it well left of the hole, and Kaymer two putted to win the Ryder Cup for the Europeans once again.

The scapegoat of the American squad is not Davis Love, not Tiger Woods, not past losses, but Steve Stricker.