For the faint of heart, the 2025 Ryder Cup is already resigned to the history books. The Blue team is 3.5 points away from a second consecutive victory, and what would be a sixth in the eight most recent playings of the event. It would also represent the sixth win as visiting team since 1991. For the warrior, the next greatest comeback is yet to be written. Boston for Team USA and Chicago for Team Europe represent the largest comeback moments for each. Knowing NYC as we do, the Big Apple will want to top those other cities. We shall find out on Sunday if Team USA can somehow win the equivalent of ten match points, and wrest the Ryder Cup from European hands.

With this installment of five things we learned, I’m going to take a bit of an introspective look, something along the lines of Stuart Smalley on Saturday Night Live, back in an earlier day. The USA may be good enough and smart enough, and people may like its team, but it has trouble winning. What are some things that have gone sideways this week, and what might be done to rectify those missteps? Let’s take a look at five of them.

1. USA #1 golfers can’t win with a partner

Team USA has had two, longstanding world #1 golfers over the past thirty years. Both Tiger Woods and Scottie Scheffler had trouble winning with a partner. Woods was nine wins, nineteen losses, and tie with his partners. Scheffler is 0-4 in 2025 alone, having lost each of his four matches. He and Bryson are the only Team USA players to compete in each match. Bryson hasn’t fared much better, holding a 1-3 record thus far. In a moment of exasperation, the two were paired on Saturday afternoon, and they went down to defeat by 3 & 2.

In contrast, European leaders Rory McIlroy (3-0-1) and Jon Rahm (3-1) have exemplary records with very different partners. The Ryder Cup dating app has matched McIlroy with Tommy Fleetwood and Shane Lowry, while Rahm has found relationship success with Tyrrell Hatton and Sepp Straka. Would these matches have remained if roles were reversed, and Side Red had taken the early lead? Impossible to speculate, but my suspicion is yes.

Over the past matches, Europe has had less player turnover than USA. That’s a very USA thing, ironically. It’s the USA that has been more egalitarian, welcoming as many as four debutantes each year to the team. The Ryder Cup, established as an exhibition match, appears to be just that for Team USA, and something more for Team Europe.

FARMINGDALE, NY – SEPTEMBER 27: Cameron Young and Bryson DeChambeau of Team United States pose with Ludvig Aberg and Matt Fitzpatrick of Team Europe on the first hole tee box during the 2025 Ryder Cup on the Black Course at Bethpage State Park on Saturday, September 27, 2025 in Farmingdale, New York. (Photo by Darren Carroll/PGA of America)

2.   Keep the Captain around

Team Europe has experimented with multi-term captaincies. Tony Jacklin did the job for four consecutive matches. Bernard Gallacher held the title for three consecutive playings. This is all since 1980, just 45 years ago. Luke Donald is in his second consecutive cycle, and sometimes, it’s the right thing to do. Keegan Bradley is a fellow who seems to love wearing the Red, White, and Blue of Team USA, and if he wants the job again in Ireland, it should be his. He’ll be wiser, for all the trappings and nuances that wisdom includes and brings. Heck, if he’s playing well and wants to be a playing captain, let him try that out. It’s an exhibition, right? Not like Team USA has the secret sauce that won Space Jam.

Bradley has passion, and he has been wise enough to listen to his team when making selections for this year’s squad and pairings. He has my vote for another chance to helm Side USA in two years.

FARMINGDALE, NY – SEPTEMBER 27: Team United States Captain Keegan Bradley reacts on the first hole tee box during the 2025 Ryder Cup on the Black Course at Bethpage State Park on Saturday, September 27, 2025 in Farmingdale, New York. (Photo by Darren Carroll/PGA of America)

3. Grow some course competitive familiarity

Bethpage Black may represent something familiar to American golf fans, but the last time it held a major professional event was 2019, for the PGA Championship. Few of the American side played Bethpage Black in 2019. In contrast, guys like Fleetwood, Lowry, Fitzpatrick, and McIlroy were there for Team Europe. Adare Manor, site of the 2027 matches, does not host a regular DP Word Tour event. Fortunately for both sides, the J.P. Mcmanus Pro-Am is contested there each year. Time to lobby for a few more spots in that coveted, unofficial event. Get to know the course, and take the proper approach.

FARMINGDALE, NY – SEPTEMBER 27: Tommy Fleetwood of Team Europe chips onto the green on the fourth hole during the 2025 Ryder Cup on the Black Course at Bethpage State Park on Saturday, September 27, 2025 in Farmingdale, New York. (Photo by Michael Reaves/PGA of America)

4. Find guys like this

Cameron Young was made for this year’s event. No matter what happens in his Sunday singles match with Justin Rose, he’ll leave Bethpage Black with at least a 2-2 record. There’s no bravado to Young, no outlandish bellows nor beatings of the chest. He shows up, he shuts up, and he grinds. He has the caddie mentality of being a part of the machine, not the entire machine. J.J. Spaun and Ben Griffin are similar to Young, but they did not have the Bethpage knowledge (state federation high school title and NY state open title) that Young gained as an amateur. Keep the quiet grinders. There’s no need for churlish, outlandish acts of desperation, in a sport that despises them.

FARMINGDALE, NY – SEPTEMBER 27: Cameron Young of Team United States putts on the sixth hole during the 2025 Ryder Cup on the Black Course at Bethpage State Park on Saturday, September 27, 2025 in Farmingdale, New York. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/PGA of America)

5. Sheath the driver and bless the putter

Every golfer, amateur and professional, can play intelligent, savvy golf by backing off from the big stick. Hitting approach shots from the short grass, as often as possible, give more opportunity to hit the ball closer to the hole. Knowing when to hit a choked-up driver, or something less, is the mark of an advancing competitor. No one can determine when the putter is going to cooperate. Many of the golfers in this year’s event, have utilized the services of the world’s top putting coaches. Why are some putting better than others? Fortune and fate. Something beyond our knowledge-scape has seized control of their flat sticks, and decreed that the ball will find its home, at the bottom of the cup. For Team USA, finding a local enchantress or warlock in County Adare might be the best alternative prescription for success, two years from now. With that last, tongue-in-cheek remark, enjoy the final day of Ryder Cup 2025. Success to all 24 competitors.

FARMINGDALE, NY – SEPTEMBER 27: Cameron Young of Team United States putts on the sixth hole during the 2025 Ryder Cup on the Black Course at Bethpage State Park on Saturday, September 27, 2025 in Farmingdale, New York. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/PGA of America)

FARMINGDALE, NY – SEPTEMBER 27: Team United States fans cheer on the first tee of the Black Course during the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage State Park on Saturday, September 27, 2025 in Farmingdale, New York. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/PGA of America)