GUIDONIA MONTECELIO, Italy: Only one American truly had reason to celebrate after the Ryder Cup ended with another home win for Europe.
Patrick Cantlay is getting married today.
While Cantlay looked forward to his wedding, the rest of the US players were somber, nursing beers during the post-competition news conference on Sunday. Europe continued its impressive home-winning streak in golf’s premier team event, extending it beyond three decades with a 16½ to 11½ victory.
The Americans faced an uphill battle after being swept for the first time in Friday’s opening session of foursomes. Despite the valiant efforts of Zach Johnson’s captain’s picks, including Brooks Koepka, Jordan Spieth, Collin Morikawa, Rickie Fowler, Sam Burns, and Justin Thomas, who managed to secure four wins, the team couldn’t overcome Europe’s early dominance.
Brooks Koepka acknowledged the Europeans’ superior putting and chip-ins, emphasizing the challenge faced by the US team. Rickie Fowler, whose road Ryder Cup record fell to 1-8-5, faced a particularly tough outing.
Notably, Patrick Cantlay, with a record of 2-2-0, stood out as he had never seen the Marco Simone course until that week due to a prior commitment to his bachelor’s party. The revelation of his imminent marriage brought a rare moment of joy, with the team celebrating his happiness.
Despite the camaraderie within the US team, Captain Zach Johnson expressed regret at not delivering a better performance. He acknowledged that Team Europe simply scored more points.
Addressing rumors of internal discord, Patrick Cantlay denied reports that he suggested players should be paid for their participation in the Ryder Cup. The team emphasized the positive atmosphere within, with Justin Thomas stating that everyone got along, creating a unified team.
Even Scottie Scheffler, who produced just one point, expressed strong emotions after halving the opening singles match with Jon Rahm. The team’s overall sentiment was one of disappointment, with Scheffler feeling he had let his teammates down.
Looking ahead, the Americans suggested that a shorter gap between the Tour Championship and the Ryder Cup might have benefitted their preparation. With the next Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, the US team’s next opportunity to win on the road will be in 2027 at Adare Manor in Ireland.
