Ryder Cup USA report cards
Now for the Ryder Cup USA report cards:
Rickie Fowler
P3 W2 H0 L1 Pts 2
Ryder Cup successes are founded on contributions like this. Fowler has not been at his best all season let alone this week but still emerged with two points from three. One involved taking down McIlroy and Sullivan on the first morning and the other denied Rose a point in the singles. His golf was often scrappy but he has great heart. Form is temporary but courage is permanent. he deserved this after getting no reward for his efforts two years ago.
Grade: B+
JB Holmes
P3 W1 H0 L2 Pts 1
The big-hitter from Kentucky displayed a better touch on the greens than he is usually given credit for. He pretty much carried Ryan Moore for periods of their two fourballs and his singles against Thomas Pieters was topsy-turvy stuff. America are a better team for having a few honest sluggers like JB in their team.
Grade: B-
Ryder Cup USA report cards
Dustin Johnson
P4 W2 H0 L2 Pts 2
Not quite the dominant figure many expected the week. Dustin was relatively reserved in a week when many of the big names let it all hang out. He surprisingly sat out Saturday morning and was peripheral in the singles. Nevertheless, he ended the week with two points to his name.
Grade: C+
Zach Johnson
P3 W2 H0 L1 Pts 2
Played his role to almost maximum effect. Just the kind of team man you need. A formidable foursomes opponent and then did the business in the anchor match in the singles. Pretty much the ideal man to have at No 12.
Grade: B+
Brooks Koepka
P4 W3 H0 L1 Pts 3
Very quietly, Koepka enjoyed almost as impressive a Ryder Cup debut as Thomas Pieters and Rafa Cabrera-Bello did for Europe. I say quietly, Koepka is no shrinking violet. His partnership with Brandt Snedeker was an astute move by Captain Love and he thrashed Danny Willett in the singles to complete a great week. Loses a mark for that shank.
Grade: A-
Ryder Cup USA report cards
Matt Kuchar
P4 W2 H0 L2 Pts 2
Much was expected of his partnership with Dustin Johnson, which only lasted for one day in the end. Then he formed an unlikely alliance with Mickelson to bag a huge fourballs point on Saturday afternoon. Yes, he lost to Kaymer in the singles but by then the match had been and gone. Another unspectacular member of the American team to play his role extremely well.
Grade: B-
Ryder Cup USA report cards
Phil Mickelson
P4 W2 H1 L1 Pts2.5
Nobody wanted this win more than Mickelson. His outburst two years ago meant that he had to show there was some logic behind it. Well, despite having nothing close to his best stuff, Lefty ends the week considerably in credit. In fact, the journey from Friday, when he could barely keep his ball in Minnesota off the tee, to Sunday’s 10 birdies in the match of the day against Garcia shows Mickelson at his most contrary. He is a golfer like no other.
Grade: B+
Ryan Moore
P3 W2 H0 L1 Pts2
One Sunday night he isn’t even on the Ryder Cup team; the next he claims the winning point. In truth, he looked a little dazed and confused for much of the match, as well he might. JB Holmes helped him to a four balls point and he ends the week with a handsome rookie record of two points from three games. Job done.
Grade: B
Patrick Reed
P5 W3 H1 L1 Pts 3.5
Immense all week. For some reason he is seen as the villain of the piece but instead we should stop to enjoy the quality of his golf and the size of his heart. This man is an immense matchplayer and the only mystery is why he is not a fixture on the top five of the world rankings with a Major tucked under his belt. And what a singles win over Rory.
Grade: A+
Ryder Cup USA report cards
Brandt Snedeker
P3 W3 H0 L0 Pts 3
You can’t say fairer than a 100 per cent record and that’s what Snedeker brought to the party. His quivering clenched fists after every putt he made – which was pretty much every putt he looked at – will live long in the memory. The pairing with Koepka was a smart one and he took down Sullivan in the singles to complete a perfect week.
Grade: A
Jordan Spieth
P5 W2 H1 L2 Pts 2.5
Not at his best, which is the story of his whole year. But while his long game is erratic his putting remains incredible. That was enough to give Reed all the support he needed as the pair well and truly consolidated their reputation as the best the USA have got. Played Stenson four times in all, and it ended up two each when the Swede deservedly won their singles.
Grade: B
Jimmy Walker
P3 W1 H0 L2 Pts 1
As close as the USA had to a weak link but he still added a point to the board with Zach Johnson on that dramatic first morning. H e was behind all the way against Cabrera-Bello but to his credit didn’t go down without a fight. It’s hard to deal with being a Major champion sometimes.
Grade: C
