La Dolce Vita
It's been anything but sweet for Team USA overseas for the last three decades at the Ryder Cup. As the nerve-racking opening tee shot approaches later this week at the short, quirky Marco Simone Golf Club en Roma, our American juggernaut squad crosses the pond as the favorite yet again as they should be. The team is loaded top to bottom, and although I, along with many others, would have preferred the last spot to go to "Cousin Keegan" as we call him in these parts, it is what it is, and "on paper" we should win.
However, since this tournament will be played on paspalum grass and not paper, I'm starting to get that sinking feeling again in my gut that a cardinal rule of wagering may once again prove itself true: be wary of the home dog. The Europeans, captained by a man who once held the smoothest swing in golf, and former World Number 1, Luke Donald, has at worst three of the top four players in the world right now in Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahmbo, and yes, Good Boy Viktor Hovalnd, all at this disposal. I am very curious to see how he pairs them in both fourball and foursomes, but a bad match doesn't seem to exist. Coupled with the English compatriot stalwarts: Tommy Fleetwood Mac, Ty "The Mad" Hatton, JRose, and the newly engaged Fitzy, the Europeans are loaded up top with both experience, and technical savvy, a combo that the Americans should not take lightly...
I surmise this will be a phenomenal watch on TV, and an extremely close match going down to the wire on Singles Sunday. Call me a romantic, but would there be any better ending than the final match ending with Brooksy reigning victorious over whoever the European anchor is? This would greatly solidify Zach Johnson's olive branch pick of the LIV star, which probably infuriated many in the PGA old guard, and understandably so despite Brooks' return to glory this year.
But this is a brave new world in the game of golf evolving by the day. As we enjoy this last major event of the year, no one truly knows what will unfold in 2024. Who knows, maybe even a Brooksy singles triumph to claim the Cup leads to his eventual return to the PGA Tour. It wouldn't be the craziest thing we've seen over the last 18 months, not by far. Maybe it's best we just sit back with an aperol spritz, some nice gabagool, fresh burrata, and a little balsamic glaze drizzle to top it off, and just enjoy the show...
Here are the full squads for your consideration:
Team USA:
Scottie Scheffler
Wyndham Clark
Brian The Harmanator
Patrick Cantlay
Mighty Max Homa
Xander Schauffele
Sam Burns
Rickie Fowler
Collin Morikawa
Brooks Koepka
Jordan Spieth
Justin Thomas
Team Europe
Rory McIlroy
Jon Rahmbo
Return of the Bobby Mac
Good Boy Viktor
Ty "The Mad" Hatton
Fitzy
Ludvig Aberg
Tommy Fleetwood Mac
Nicolai Hojgaard
Shane "The Irish Bear" Lowry
Justin Rose
and last but certainly not least, Sepp "The Austrian Bulldawg" Straka.
Buona Fortuna.
-Chief