Remember the "good ol' days"? Everyone has a different definition of the good ol days. For most, it's a generation, maybe a decade. If you were REALLY lucky, it was two decades. For the United States, when it came to international golf competition, it was the "good ol' days" for FIVE DECADES!!!
From 1933 to 1985, the US lost only ONE measly stinkin' Ryder Cup to the Europeans. That was in 1957 in Yorkshire England, when Britain used the home cookin to beat the Americans in a fluke. Back then, the Ryder Cup was just "Britain" that took on the US. Later on, a few decades later, the Brits were tired of being the little kid being kicked around the sand trap and added other Europeans to the competition to become "Team Europe".
This finally started paying dividends in 1985 at the Belfry in England when the Euro's hammered the US 16 1/2 to 11 1/2 to win the cup for the 2nd time in 52 years. They liked it so much, they won the next two as well in '87 and '89. The US tried to assert its dominance again by winning the cup back in '91 and retaining it in '93.
Then came Oak Hill. Since the 1995 Ryder Cup in Rochester, the cup has lived across the pond. The US lost the cup back to Europe on that rainy fall day in Pittsford, and since then, have struggled mightily.
Despite having arguably the best two golfers in the world since the late 90's in Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, the US continues to be outplayed by the Euro's. Since 1995, the scoreboard now reads: Europe 7 Ryder Cups--US 2 . Only 1999, after a frenetic final day comeback at Brookline, and a rout in 2008 at Valhalla have the Americans won the Cup.
Every year of the Ryder Cup, it seems to follow the same pattern. The United States comes into the competition acting cocky and heavily favored. The American players are always far higher on the tour money list and far lower in average scores.
Once the competition started though, the Euro's always seemed to start out in front, winning or halving most of the team matches. Invariably, the Europeans would be up by 2-4 points heading into Sunday's single matches, where all the experts and announcers would say, "the US usually dominates". Yet most times, the Americans would rally but come up short, losing the cup by a point in three of those previous six years. There were also European blowouts--winning by NINE points in both 2004 and 2006.
Yesterday though, the script was turned on its ear. Finally, 2012 seemed to be the year the US would reassert its dominance on the links. The US played stellar golf on Friday and Saturday, uncharacteristically winning or halving most of the team matches. The US had a seemingly insurmountable 10-6 lead.
Amazingly, it turned into 1999 all over again, only this time in reverse. The Americans choked the cup away, only getting 3 1/2 of the available singles points and losing 14 1/2 to 13 1/2. Only Jason Dufner, Zach Johnson and Dustin Johnson were able to record victories. Tiger Woods managed to half his match. EVERYONE ELSE LOST!
The Euro's have now won five of the last six Ryder Cups. The Americans proved they can now lose from ahead as well as they can lose from behind and also getting romped. No "home" team had ever surrendered a lead of that magnitude heading into the final day of play. It was stunning. It was inconceivable. It was....embarrasing.
Where does the US go from here? Obviously now Europe has to be a huge favorite again in 2014 in Gleneagles Scotland. As for the US, all they are left with is "what if's" and "shoulda coulda's". Should captain Davis Love had sent Tiger out last? Should he have put more of a veteran out there against Lee Westwood? It doesn't matter now. It's just water under the walking bridge.
Normally, I'd like to say that things like this are cyclical, and that they will even out over the long haul. I just don't think that is the case anymore. I think they are just better than us. If not that, at least you have to say the Euro's are more mentally tough. What other conclusions can you draw?
All I know is that for some reason, I am a little more depressed to be an American today than I was yesterday.
