The Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black concluded almost one month ago, but the fallout among the US team has continued.
Keegan Bradley has been left emotionally scarred after the USA lost to Europe, having served as captain of the home side.
They fell 15-13 to Luke Donald’s Europe in New York, losing back-to-back Ryder Cups after suffering the same fate in Rome in 2023.
The PGA of America have been told to stick with Bradley as US captain, although they may already have another figure in mind.
The competition returns in 2027, with Ireland’s Adare Manor playing host as Europe chase a third successive title.
Billy Horschel calls for big change to the US Ryder Cup team
Many golf fans blame the PGA of America rather than Bradley for the latest USA defeat, with Billy Horschel now sharing his take on what must happen going forward.
When asked on Golf Today if his perspective is that the European team conduct their business ‘a little bit tighter and more soundly’, Horschel said: “Yeah it is.
“And I had some conversations with some people, some other players, players that are bigger names and have been part of Ryder Cups, after this Ryder Cup, and the thing that I shared with them is that over the last five or six years being on the European Tour, understanding that the European Tour runs their Ryder Cup, so they see these people, they know the backroom staff, they can have conversations over their playing about the Ryder Cup.
“Even if it’s a couple of years in advance, about hotels or anything that you know comes across their mind about how to make things better.
“They have that ability to talk to these people that they have a relationship with on a regular basis. In my opinion we don’t have that with the PGA of America.
“They do come around and they do a great job. We’re not going to say they don’t do a good job. But I believe that it’s time that the PGA Tour, or people that we believe should take over Team USA. They should run Team USA.
“The PGA of America can still run the Ryder Cup, they can still sell all the corporate stuff, but I think we need to take more ownership of our team and have people there who work on that Ryder Cup on a yearly basis, and are out at our tournaments that we can have a relationship with and talk through things about so we don’t miss things, and things don’t slip through the cracks.”
Luke Donald leads perfect European preparations for Ryder Cup success
Horschel is back on the PGA Tour after a six-month absence due to injury, having just taken on the Baycurrent Classic.
The eight-time PGA Tour winner continues his recovery at the Bank of Utah Championship this week, but that hasn’t taken his attention away from his strong feelings on his nation’s Ryder Cup humbling.
He didn’t play at Bethpage Black, but evidently wants the best for Team USA against Team Europe going forward.
While several other factors were at play in New York, such as the quality of the two teams, it’s clear that Europe were meticulous with their preparation once more.
Donald prepared his players mentally for the event, with such preparations including guest speakers and virtual reality headsets regarding the hostile nature of the fans.
Europe’s Ryder Cup players were abused verbally by American fans, but it did not prevent them from leaving with a stunning victory.
And while it can’t be known exactly how much preparation Bradley and the PGA of America put in, it seemingly fell short of their opponents in every way.
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