How the United States Ryder Cup team actually get on behind the scenes has been revealed

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The Ryder Cup is now just seven weeks away, and the anticipation amongst golf fans is reaching fever pitch.

Keegan Bradley will have the honor of captaining the US Ryder Cup team at Bethpage Black in September.

Scottie Scheffler raved about the job Bradley has done as Ryder Cup captain so far, and the 39-year-old from Vermont has clearly made a big impression already.

He could even become the first playing captain for the USA since Arnold Palmer did it in 1963.

In fact, Bradley has been urged to pick himself for the Ryder Cup team by many of his peers on the PGA Tour.

Whether or not he picks himself will be the biggest decision he has to make. However, another key point on his agenda will be getting the chemistry right in the team room.

The United States Ryder Cup teams of the past have historically been somewhat disjointed behind the scenes, with big characters clashing and a real lack of any kind of team ethic.

Ben Griffin recently revealed that Ryder Cup captain Bradley is enforcing change, but trying to get the American players to forge closer bonds with one another.

However, is that really needed? Are the American players not really that close behind the scenes?

How the US Ryder Cup team get on behind the scenes revealed

Hunter Mahan is someone who knows all about playing in the hostile environments of Ryder Cup matches.

He played on three Ryder Cup teams, and four Presidents Cup teams as well.

Mahan sat down to speak on Golf Digest’s The Loop Podcast, and was asked about his feelings on the Ryder Cup ahead of the huge showdown at Bethpage in September.

He said: “There is almost nothing like it in sports to where it’s not like the Super Bowl is exactly the same as every other game, and in Baseball and so on and so forth but this is exactly very different.

“These guys do not do this all the time and then all of a sudden you add the element of travel and home court, which golfers never really do.

“Rory had it at Portrush with the Irish contingency there and had a little bit of a home game but it’s very, very rare and you don’t feel it as a player.

“I think that needs to be respected more by the captains and the players, to understand this is a huge, huge element we have to take in.

“The European team cannot do what they did this time. They have to change strategy a little bit and their mindset. Because now you are coming on to foreign territory and it’s going to be at a different emotional level, it’s going to be a little feisty and you are going to hear things. It’s going to be a completely different energy.

“But it feels like they are coming in with the same team, I think there is going to be a little bit better chemistry in a way and guys are going to be a bit more seasoned this time, so I think they are going to be extremely good and not going to be too wide eyed about the situation.

“I think the US, Keegan has a lot of work to do to figure out partnerships. I thought a lot about this after the last one was so bad, it was crazy how they looked so unprepared together. I was like all these guys and all the guys I talked to at the Happy Gilmore thing, these guys know each other very well and they are very good friends. That LIV thing made them so much closer, it’s just a fact.

“The US has to figure out how to help each other. They have to think about the other guy next to them and how do I help him be his best that week. That should be the focus, not myself. I have got to worry about this guy.“

Mahan’s comments above put to bed any talk of the American players not being close friends behind the scenes.

And the close relationships they share with one another will serve them very well indeed at the Ryder Cup.

How the previous 11 Ryder Cups have ended up

The American teams have historically dominated the competition since its inception way back in 1927.

However, Europe have turned the tide significantly over the past 20-30 years.

Europe have clearly been the dominant force in the Ryder Cup over the past two decades or so.

And with that in mind the Americans will be desperate to turn the tide, starting with a win at Bethpage Black in September.

Judging by what Mahan has said about the American players, Team USA and captain Bradley should be in a strong position to bring the Ryder Cup trophy back home this year.