The Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black is in the bag and it’s left plenty of questions open for discussion after what was a dramatic and controversial few days in New York.
It was always going to be a tough crowd for the Europeans to operate under but things definitely boiled over at certain points.
As well as the fan controversy, there were also issues with Viktor Hovland sitting out the final session and a half point being awarded to each team, with Keegan Bradley calling for a rule change on that front.
Those two major talking points, alongside the golf course set up and other matters, mean that the Ryder Cup could well need a bit of a shake-up come Adare Manor in 2027.
The changes the Ryder Cup needs to consider for 2027
With so much to digest it’s hard to come up with a definitive list of changes that need to be made.
However, you can make a good go of things and get to the crux of a few issues.
The first issue is that the ‘Envelope Rule’ needs changing. In the Solheim Cup, if a player drops out, the other team takes the points. Keegan Bradley is right to call this out and in the modern game, it should be obvious.
Secondly, there has to be more control and respect in the game when it comes to the fans. Yes, it can be hard to control but it almost felt like this event in New York was built up purposely to antagonise.
Things went too far, and golf could do with a bit of a reset on that front.
A third change would be to ensure that the actual golf course provides a tough test. For all what was said about Bethpage Black, the top players simply ate it up and with the rough not penal and soft greens due to the weather, it felt all too easy at times.
Finally, and an important one for all of golf to consider, was the pricing for fans. Talk of $750 tickets just to get in for one day is absurd and is pricing the average golf fan out of such global events.
Indeed, you could argue we saw a lack of respect from the crowd because of this very thing, with many of the ‘normal’ golf fans not being able to afford entry.
This has to change. Golf has always been an expensive sport but eventually, people will simply stop paying it.
The Ryder Cup told it needs a reset before 2027
These changes could all be implemented by 2027 and while it might take some sorting on certain fronts, some things have got to change.
Indeed, speaking on the Rex and Lav show, Ryan Lavner has suggested that a Ryder Cup reset is needed.
“I mean, don’t we just need a Ryder Cup reset at this point? Don’t we need to just turn down the temperature? I think that’s what Rory McIlroy was trying to do in the press conference after. Golf should be held to a higher standard,” Lavner added.
“Golf teaches so many great life lessons yet we are reduced to this boorish behaviour. We just have to be better than this. At 2023 in the Ryder Cup they had pay per play gate, and the hats are waving and Rory is going ballistic in the parking lot.
“This got really ugly on Saturday afternoon with two dozen cops being called in to police it. It was vulgar, it was ugly, it was unnecessary. I understand the fans were angry because the team had not given them anything to really cheer about so instead of cheering they were heckling but that’s no excuse.
I thought a lot of the behaviour went over the line and I’m hoping in two years’ time at Adare Manor it’s not going to be quite that gross.”
With pressure from within golf and from outside from analysts, the PGA of America and everyone else involved in the Ryder Cup could have some work to do in the next two years.
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