Only Love can mend a broken heart for US

A VETERAN US team yearning for vengeance plays host to a European squad with six newcomers when the 41st Ryder Cup tees off on Friday at the Hazeltine in Chaska, Minnesota.

US captain Davis Love III and eight others in his team were part of the 2012 lineup that fell victim to the greatest last-day fightback in Ryder Cup history, Europe’s 14½-13½ win in the “Miracle at Medinah”.

Others recall the sting of a 16½-11½ loss at Gleneagles in 2014 that caused the US to form a task force to revamp the Ryder Cup programme.

Despite all the US changes, there’s nothing like defeat to motivate the Americans, who have lost the Ryder Cup three times in a row, six of the past seven and eight of the last 10, entering this year’s event.

“I want sweet revenge just like our whole team does,” said Patrick Reed, whose shush of European fans at Gleneagles in Scotland after a big putt is well remembered. “Unfortunately, the cup didn’t come back with us. Hopefully our team gets fired up to go out and keep that cup home.”

Two-time major winner Jordan Spieth, who paired well with Reed in 2014, likes the blend of young talent with such veterans as left-hander Phil Mickelson, 46, US Open champion Dustin Johnson and PGA Championship winner Jimmy Walker.

“The combination of experience, a little bit of scar tissue or red ass some of these older guys have of really wanting to right the wrong of Ryder Cups past, with some new blood — I think that’s a successful formula,” Spieth said.

While Europe has dominated lately, the US team owns a 25-13 with two drawn lead in the overall rivalry, winning 18 while losing three with one drawn from 1927 to 1977 when facing only a British-Irish squad.

Four-time major winner Rory McIlroy, 27, said: “If you look at the overall record of the Ryder Cup, we are still a long way behind. So we can be quite comfortable with that underdog role.”

As European captain Darren Clarke put it: “To take the trophy home is going to be a monumental task, but I have full confidence in my team.”

Joining McIlroy as Europe veterans are Sweden’s Henrik Stenson, the British Open champion; England’s Justin Rose, the Olympic gold medalist; Sergio Garcia of Spain, England’s Lee Westwood and Germany’s Martin Kaymer, twice a major winner.

Fine details such as pairings for four-ball and foursomes matches the first two days and course setup are already sorted out. — AFP