Two years ago, Europe beat the USA to clinch victory in the 44th edition of the Ryder Cup, sparking an emotional reaction from American captain Zach Johnson
Former Ryder Cup captain Zach Johnson admitted the blame for the USA’s defeat in 2023 lay with him, not his players. In Rome, Europe reasserted its dominance by reclaiming the famous trophy with a commanding 16.5-11.5 victory.
Speaking in a subdued press conference after the final session, Johnson accepted full responsibility for the loss – USA’s eighth of the century. “I am proud of my guys. They fought, they have got so much heart and grit,” he said, his voice heavy with emotion. “It is not them, it is on me.
“Maybe there are some important decisions I can reflect on. I don’t have an idea yet. But it is not on them 12 guys. They played so hard, and I am grateful for each and every one of them.”
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However, not everyone agreed with Johnson’s assessment. Several USA players pushed back, insisting the responsibility lay with them rather than their captain. “We all told him that, ‘Zach, it’s easy to look back after a week where they just played monumentally better, and we did not play well. It’s easy to say you should have changed things,'” Justin Thomas admitted afterwards.
Rickie Fowler echoed that view, admitting the players had simply fallen short. “We just should have played better for him,” he said. “All it comes down to is we didn’t play as well as the Euros did.”
Xander Schauffele went further, expressing sympathy for Johnson’s position. “We all just wish we would have done better so Zach wouldn’t have to think this way,” he said.
“When we lose, the captain gets all the heat. When we win, the players get all the credit. We wouldn’t be having this conversation if I played better or any of the guys you talked to today played better.”
It proved a turbulent week for Johnson’s team both on and off the course. Rumours of a fractured locker room dogged the Americans, with Patrick Cantlay at the centre of the storm. Tensions also spilled over in front of the cameras when Rory McIlroy clashed with Cantlay’s caddie, Joe LaCava, in a heated confrontation on the Saturday.
Europe set the tone early, storming to an historic 4-0 lead in Friday’s opening session – the first time they had ever achieved such a start. USA rallied briefly on Saturday, but any momentum evaporated as Europe successfully maintained their lead in the Sunday singles to seal victory.
In the aftermath, Johnson was eager to downplay his team’s internal issues and instead paid tribute to Europe and captain Luke Donald. “You have to take your hat off,” he said. “To Team Europe, to Luke, they played great, they earned it.”
The scale of the defeat came as a jolt, especially after the Americans’ crushing victory at Whistling Straits in 2021. Yet history suggested it was hardly unexpected: USA have not won on European soil since 1993, when they edged Europe 15–13 at The Belfry.
This weekend, the Americans arrive at Bethpage with revenge on their minds. Led by captain Keegan Bradley, the squad boasts some of the game’s biggest and most in-form players, including world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, Schauffele, Thomas, J.J. Spaun and Russell Henley.
Europe, though, are formidable in their own right. With Donald returning as captain, the team is anchored by Masters champion McIlroy, alongside the likes of Jon Rahm, Tommy Fleetwood and Bob MacIntyre.
The Americans head into the event as narrow favourites – especially on home soil – but Europe’s pedigree ensures another fierce contest awaits.
For Bradley, the challenge is as much psychological as tactical. He inherits a squad hungry to rewrite the narrative and shake off the scars of Rome, but also one burdened by three decades of near-misses on foreign soil and the weight of expectation at home.
Donald, meanwhile, has embraced the role of steady hand, moulding his players into a cohesive unit that thrives on unity and resilience. He knows his side will be cast as underdogs in New York, but Europe have relished that status before – and turned it into fuel.
