The USA Ryder Cup team has opted for a different preparation strategy compared to their European counterparts ahead of the upcoming tournament. While Luke Donald and his European squad arrived in New York on September 24 for a scouting mission at Bethpage Black, Keegan Bradley and his team focused their efforts on competing in the Procore Championship in Napa, California, over the weekend.
Ten members of the American team participated in the event, with only Bryson DeChambeau and Xander Schauffele absent. DeChambeau was unable to compete due to his membership with LIV Golf, while Schauffele withdrew at the last moment following the birth of his first child, a boy named Victor. The rest of the team took advantage of this opportunity not just to play, but to bond off the course as well.
The decision to prioritize tournament play proved beneficial for the Americans. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler showcased his skills by winning the championship, overcoming a significant deficit to secure victory over teammate Ben Griffin by a single stroke. Scheffler’s strong performance served as a statement to his European rivals as the Ryder Cup approaches. Additionally, teammates J.J. Spaun and Cameron Young also performed well, finishing in the top ten alongside Sam Burns, who tied for 13th place.
Different Approaches to Preparation
While the American players are focusing on recharging before heading to Long Island for the Ryder Cup, the European team is utilizing their time to familiarize themselves with the challenging course at Bethpage Black. Eleven members of Donald’s squad played in the BMW PGA Championship in Wentworth, England, over the weekend, with only Sepp Straka missing due to a family commitment. All twelve players then boarded a flight from London, as Donald aims to leave no stone unturned in his efforts to defend the trophy his team won two years ago in Rome.
In an interview following his tournament victory, Scheffler explained the reasoning behind Team USA’s preparation choice. Initially, they considered following Europe’s example and taking a scouting trip to Bethpage. However, the team ultimately decided that participating in the Procore Championship would provide greater value.
“It was something we discussed at the beginning of the year,” Scheffler said. “We felt it would be a little bit more valuable to get all the guys together here this week to play tournament golf in order to stay in shape.”
Scheffler emphasized the importance of being tournament-ready, particularly for the unique match play formats of the Ryder Cup. He noted, “There’s just a difference between practicing and playing at home and getting under the gun in a tournament.” With the Ryder Cup set to commence on September 26, 2023, the Americans aim to sharpen their skills in preparation for the competition.
Looking ahead, the Ryder Cup promises to be a thrilling event as the Americans seek to reclaim the title against a formidable European roster, which demonstrated their strength with a decisive win at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in 2023. As both teams finalize their preparations, the anticipation builds for this highly competitive tournament.
