Matt Adams gives his final grades for the performance of the 12 US Ryder Cup Players and Captain Zach Johnson after the conclusion of the 2023 Ryder Cup (US lost 16.5-11.5)
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Matt Adams Grades All US Ryder Cup Players/Captain
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As I posted on another video, golf, being mainly an individual sport, is highly different in team competition. It's a Ryder Cup captain's duty to be a manager, counselor, motivator, and general flak catcher to forge this collection of individuals into a team. The team needs purpose, cohesion, and must imbue the idea into all that the team is the first consideration above any individual. They don't all have to like each other but there must be a common purpose instilled in each member above all.
This rather well describes the European team, they had a common outlook and a common purpose; any individual disagreements were sidelined to work for the common goal. Luke Donald must be commended as he forged a TEAM where there was no nonsense happening and each individual subsumed his ego for the team.
Zach Johnson, on the other hand, seemed rather sanguine about everything, like this was a frat boy trip, not instilling a common purpose to each member of the team and not caring a lot, sort of "it will work out somehow" as the official attitude. Then the publicity about Schauffle and Cantlay being PO'd about not getting paid for their play, Cantlay not wearing his USA cap in protest, and Brooks Koepka being given the silent treatment by the rest of his teammates. IMO, Zach should have channeled his inner Vince Lombardi, kicked a$$ and laid down the law for all to make this a team. If Cantlay and Schauffle had their noses out of joint, say adios to them and grab 2 more players who would be happy to play. Maybe, he should have had Brooks beat the living daylights out of someone from the snooty anti-LIV contingent and threaten a few others to make them fall in line. But, for Zach to ignore the issues which were clearly visible to even the most casual observer is shameful on his part and he should take the lion's share of blame for the US team's poor performance. Does anyone else thing that the US team looked like they were sleepwalking on Friday morning? Like, maybe, they had a keg party the night before and were still a bit hung over? And, the rally Friday afternoon to garner a whole 1 1/2 points? 🤣🤣🤣
IMO, the USA team was circling the drain already Friday afternoon and a 5 point deficit made the outcome inevitable. The crowning touch was Rickie Fowler running up a white flag, declining to putt his 10 footer and conceding Fleetwood's 3 footer on Sunday to hand the Cup to Europe on a silver platter. I'm angry about this abject surrender but maybe it's understandable. After this disastrous week, all any American wanted to do was get out of Dodge, er…Rome, in this case. Zach should be lucky that there probably won't be anyone waiting for his flight to arrive who might have a long rope and the knowledge of where a tall tree might be located.
PS: Zach grades as an F as he did not have his team ready to go the first day. He failed his team, he failed his country.
Speith and Fowler never should have even been there. I wasn't happy about Thomas being picked either, but to me at least, he proved that he is pretty tough in the Cup competition. Like Paris, very few of the Americans were playing well at all going into the competition and all the Euros made the cut at that big event the week before. It would have been a huge upset if the Americans had won this year.
Fowler is only good in spurts and stroke play only, Speith cannot hit a driver, Scottie can't putt, Xander should be the real deal, however maybe budding up to the wrong guy?
This European team beats this American team 8 out of 10 times?
These events will always favor the home team. Has the home team ever lost?
Matt, you went easy on Zach. He deserved at best a D. Someone please explain to me how you can watch Jordan Spieth spray the ball all over the yard (and out of bounds) over the last 6 holes of the Friday Fourballs (it was obvious his game was MIA), and then trot Jordan out first off in Saturday morning Foursomes (alternate shot!). I'd love to hear a sane rationale for that move. Result: Loss
First big blunder didn't even require us to wait – he put Sam Burns out first to start the competition (huge spot) with Scheffler on Friday morning Foursomes, when Burns has the worst strokes gained tee to green of the 12 on the US team, and this being his first exposure to Ryder Cup pressure, on foreign soil no less. Burns looked like a deer in the headlights. Result: Loss
Possibly worst of all was having to listen to Zach's constant blathering about how "proud he was of his guys" (even when they got trounced 6 1/2 to 1 1/2 on Friday). He sounded like a politician answering questions from the media, as if he was thinking about what sounded OK, instead of actually providing us with sincere answers. He was constantly defensive i.e. did not come off as a leader – but rather a victim. He also gets low marks for his captain's picks. They all fit in with his "boys club" mentality of guys that he liked and/or who liked each other – not who was deserving/in good form.
In summary, Zach sucked – Grade: D-
I just think we need to stop this. The player’s emotions have gotten out of control and so has the fans.
It’s just an ugly event! And it’s not just sour grapes, because the USA lost! Its Roy McElroy screaming at people in the parking lot! It’s Rory claiming how they gonna kick the USA ass at Bethpage black, and the New York fans saying they can’t wait for the Europeans to get their so they can out do the Europeans ugliness. Golf supposed to be a Gentlemans game. If you want to have ugliness, go get involved in a contact sport like football, soccer, and basketball. Just a bunch of rich man spoiled by complaining about everything under the sun. Poor poor little babies.
And I forgot, the commentators they were overseen and explaining what was going on with with all the heated discourse, and just wanted to egg it on, and said how great that we hate each other when we play! Wow! Isn’t that just wonderful! They should not be allowed to do any analysis again after those comments!
Far too generous
Zak Johnson is GREAT….Player, person, role model…YES SIR…Captain for the RYDER CUP…Numbers don't lie…WE DID HAVE PLAYERS THAT FACED STOOD….DON'T FORGET THEM…WENT IT'S TIME TO PICK…AGAIN..
Way way way too kind with these grades. Max – great. Cantlay – good but extra bs was crap. Brian Harman ok. All 9 others should be excluded from future competition. Send college kids if you have to but these guys seem to lack heart and toughness. Zach? nice guy that was just in way over his head. Show these guys something from the greatest generation and let that sink in.
Let’s face the elephant in the room. Team USA does not even attempt to field the best team. If they wanted to do that they would have selected Taylor Gooch and Bryson not Spieth and Fowler or JT who is in a slump. Last time I looked Bryson and Gooch are Americans. Why is because the Ryder Cup is a PGA run event. It’s not a government sponsored event. Being an American golfer is not the what controls the selection process. While I’m on finding the truth both the PGA and the European organizations have cloaked themselves in the silly argument that they are some sort of patriotic benefactor. The Ryder cup was thought up in the 1920s by a British business man who donated the trophy. The intent was to generated American interest in playing in Britain. What the PGA and European tours did was to exploit the growing popularity of the Cup to generate millions for their own purpose by convincing the players they should volunteer their time in the name of patriotism. Then they negotiated lucrative TV rights. The Ryder Cup is the most compelling golf event in the world but it is not some altruistic endeavor. It is a staged made for TV event that produces huge profits for everyone involved except the players. Let’s call it what it is and stop the hypocrisy.
The USA team was a team full of superstars who weren’t on form. Europes team we’re all on form going in to the competition. Who would have believed that the world number one could play so poorly!. Europe’s top five all performed really well and were more than backed up by the rest of the team. USA never seem to have the same team spirit as the Europeans.
Koepka plays on the LIV tour so how did he get invited to this event? Why was Bryson DeChambeau and Dustin Johnson not invited to play for the USA?
They should be able to bring in substitutions if someone is ill. Rickie was clearly not well and should of been able to stand down
Zach J – that is very kind to give him C-, at best a "J" – meaning this team was a total Joke thinking that Jordan and JT could do muster any points. JT and Spieth are horrible partners in foursomes, especially when they are out of form
Scottie deserves a better grade. He halved with Europes best player…
The ONLY time I cheered for the U S was Lake Placid.
You keep stating their records (0-2-1) and none of them match with the graphics you've put up. Your grade: F
What rubbish from Cantlay – "the hat doesn't fit" 😂 No trouble at all to make caps to fit the guy.. An insult to the public's intelligence – what a nong he is.
Live and let LIV. Crazy that some of those guys were excluded. Will somebody just mention it. Media all fanboys for PGA.
You put Dechambeau, Lucas Glover, Keegan Bradley and Dustin Johnson on that team they very well could have won.
TOP 12 PLAY NO MORE CAPTAIN PICKS
Instead of Pit bulls, Johnson picked Golden Retrievers. He gets an F from me, and he and the rest of these recycled Capt's, need be replaced.
I find your analysis unfair and in poor taste. The W-L record is due to many factors including the partner you are paired with, the opponent you draw, and the quality of the opponents' play. Over a long period of time the W-L record probably becomes a better reflection of performance but 1 year or even 2 it's unfair. If you want to dig deep and compare shots gained by each player compared to their opponent and all competitors in the Cup in each of the categories you'd have a better reflection of performance.
Jordan Spieth is not, I repeat not, a golfing savant. ‘15 was amazing but Jesus it was 8 years ago. From 10 feet an in on the greens he is garbage.
People like Jordan should not have been there
The first 2 days ,they were played off the park, America over the years have never been strong in fourballs or foursomes. But always excel in singles, this wasn't there week, just accept that ,roll on 2025.
Great Captain pics Zach, smart to leave out DJ, Bryson, Reed and Finau.
The American team took off how many weeks before the cryer cup (maybe not all but the majority). Then the musketeers F-S-T are not playing well, Scottie is having putting issues. Then there's Patrick-Xander and Colin not having much in the tank. And so on. Homa was the star for the Americans. Poor picks from Zach. Maybe next go around the Americans might try playing competitive golf before the cryer cup. Kind of like a student would study before a big test. And the damn crying has to stop, whether you win or lose!
With the best players (Liv Players). What did you expect?
Trash the world rankings and stop talking about like it’s legit. It’s not, no wonder we lost. Taylor, Bryson, DJ .. got it
DeChambeau's a pompous jerk, and Reed's an asshole… and a known cheater. Also, Bryson anchors along his entire forearm– another cheater( just ask Brad Faxon). I don't want these guys representing my country. DJ does have an impressive RC record
GOLF – USA LOST
BASKETBALL – USA LOST
WOMENS SOCCER/FOOTBALL – USA LOST
COMMON THEME – BLAME THE PLAYERS
NO ATTEMPT TO ADMIT THAT THE OPPONENTS WERE JUST SIMPLY BETTER!!!!
USA IS NOT GREAT JUST AVERAGE
Team USA didn’t maximise their chance with team selection on this occasion, but home 'course setup' is becoming an increasingly weighty factor in these match outcomes.
Too kind with Zack Johnson grade: he was out coached with captains picks, pre match prep, pairings, adjustments, and even team room set up. Nice guy- bad coach. A good coach owns a loss- he didn’t.
We love to root for the “cool kids” (J.T., Jordan, Fowler) on tour but that is not the key to winning. Oh, and what was Burns even doing there?!?!
Last point- most of you will disagree but the LIV Americans chose to not be considered- they knew tho consequences when they took the big bucks offered by LIV. Brooks found a loophole in the system.
Bryson is not in good form cmon ya tit,
The captains picks lost this Ryder Cup for the U.S. Zach went with the popular picks instead of the guys that could get a W. I can't believe he left so many good players on the sidelines, for guys like Rickie Fowler.
I think the mistakes were JT, Fowler and Collin. Would have liked to have seen Bryson, Tony and either Glover or Young. Glover and Young would have had a chip on their shoulder to perform. We will never know. I just hope this good ole boy thing is over. Put Tiger in as Captain and he will select winners over relationships.
Zach Johnsons insistence that "he wouldn't change anything", in the face of the beating they received only confirmed he was not right for the job. It started with his Captain's picks and just went down hill after that .
Johnson gets an 0
It’s simple they all suck and no one shows up.
Zach= F-