US out to snap Europe’s Ryder Cup streak

Europe’s Andy Sullivan (left) and Sergio Garcia share a light moment at a practice round for the Ryder Cup at the Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska on Thursday. (Photo: AP)

A revamped American squad that US captain Davis Love called the best ever assembled faces a Europe team that has dominated them for two decades when the 41st Ryder Cup opens on Friday.

As players on both teams at Hazeltine mourn the death of legend Arnold Palmer, holders Europe seek an unprecedented fourth consecutive victory over their US hosts, who have dropped six of the past seven meetings and eight of the past 10.

“We are very determined to keep the Ryder Cup and keep this streak going,” British Open champion Henrik Stenson said.

US Open champion Dustin Johnson, PGA Championship winner Jimmy Walker and five-time major winner Phil Mickelson, making his 11th Ryder Cup appearance to match Nick Faldo’s record, lead an American squad hungry to reclaim the Cup.

“We’re just tired of being told we haven’t won in a while,” said two-time major winner Jordan Spieth. “We want this one.”

Swiping a page from Europe’s playbook, the US team assembled a committee to manage details and focus upon Ryder Cup issues, ending last-minute hurried pairings that often failed for unanticipated problems.

“It’s very much like the model that the Europeans have done with tremendous success in bringing out their best golf,” said Mickelson.

“When you get together as a team and work together, you can achieve much greater success than you ever can as an individual.”

Olympic champion Justin Rose, US PGA FedExCup playoff champion Rory McIlroy and Stenson spark Europe, but a changing of the guard has six Ryder Cup newcomers on the roster, including Masters champion Danny Willett, who has already had to apologize for insults to US fans by his brother Pete.

If enough US supporters were angered by the comments in an European online column, the Heckling at Hazeltine might join the Battle of Brookline, War at the Shore and Miracle at Medinah in Ryder Cup lore.

But that’s not the spirit Palmer would want to see at an event where he will be honoured after his death last Sunday at age 87 from heart problems.