We left them Bry and dry thanks to our team’s unity
Stricker buries memory of Medinah as his troops wow in Wisconsin
Stricker could have sent his players out in any order he liked, such was their total dominance
BRYSON DECHAMBEAU spoke of the unity and electricity that charged America’s stunning triumph and admitted he’ll remember it for a lifetime.
The controversial star finally found popularity among the US galleries as he helped his team to a resounding win.
DeChambeau had the added elation of sinking Spaniard Sergio Garcia 3&2 in the singles to ruin the unbeaten record of Europe’s record Ryder Cup points scorer.
He savoured every second of the experience and said: “We can all come together as one team.
“We came together and had unity this week.
“Even though we are competitors, we can all be friends and have unity. And it got us this Ryder Cup.
“The atmosphere was electric and I wouldn’t want it any other way. It was quite a scene, one to remember for a lifetime. As a team, we performed really, really well.
“I had a great partner the first few days in Scottie (Scheffler). He helped me out a lot and gave me a lot of comfort.”
Scheffler was just as thrilled, having taken care of the other undefeated Spaniard in Jon Rahm.
The 25-year-old said: “I got off to a good start and kept the pressure on him for the whole day.
“It was a good week for me. Bryson and I paired up really well together and I played very solid against Jon.
“It definitely gives me some confidence going forward.”
Xander Schauffele was unable to keep his own perfect record after losing 3&2 to Rory McIlroy but he wasn’t bothered.
He said: “It was a bad day to play poorly without a partner, so it is what it is. I was just happy to see a lot of red when I looked up at the board.
“My spirits were lifted quickly after I lost.
“It’s the fastest I ever got over losing something.
“And I was just happy to have all the boys carrying me along. It’s been unbelievable.”
STEVE STRICKER took the full force of the blast at Medinah.
The whole world remembers it was Martin Kaymer who sank the putt that completed the Miracle. Not everyone recalls it was Stricker he beat, standing shellshocked just a few feet from the German as the ball disappeared into the cup and shrapnel immediately clattered into him while Europeans exploded in joy. If anyone had the incentive to make sure there would be no repeat at Whistling Straits, it was Stricker. The United States captain waited nine years for revenge. In his beloved home state of Wisconsin, he took it and then some. Sunday’s singles weren’t final rounds. They were a brutal and final humiliating destruction of Europe. It reduced some, such as Rory McIlroy, to tears. Stricker said he learned from that painful 2012 day in Chicago about getting the mindset right and the order correct to complete the job. In truth, he could have sent his players out in any order he liked, such was their dominance. There was power and precision, like Bryson DeChambeau’s first drive reaching the green on a par four before he knocked in the putt from 40 feet for an eagle two. From Friday to Sunday, his team were just too good. In the foursomes and fourballs they ran riot to give a platform for the final devastating act. Jon Rahm and Sergio Garcia aside, they broke the Europeans’ pairings one by one. By the singles, it had even got too much for the Spaniards. They lost the first six holes combined to drop their matches to Scottie
Scheffler and DeChambeau. You can’t accuse Europe of not having heart but against a USA team that was better and had a togetherness they have lacked in the past, it was a rout.
It was bordering on cruelty that the Europeans were sent out as individuals to suffer the indignity of the final slaughter.
Tearful McIlroy found some redemption to win but almost everyone else was skittled.
It was as if the USA had taken all of the pain from nine defeats in the previous 12 Ryder Cups and smashed it back in one savage swipe.
How fitting it should be Dustin Johnson led the way for this swashbuckling new outfit.
He became only the third man to win five points out of five.
No scar tissue. That was the constant reference made to the current American side when recounting how some of the old guard like Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson had been demoralised by the bad vibes of constant defeat.
Johnson is, at just 37, the old man in this young brigade.
He wasn’t there for Medinah or Gleneagles, where Mickelson tore strips off captain Tom Watson in a disgraceful outburst that typified the Americans’ lack of unity.
Johnson’s first Ryder Cup was just five years ago. Some more arrived in Paris, the rest here.
DJ hasn’t always struck observers as the type to savour this type of match but he was front and centre.
Taking Collin Morikawa under his wing, he relished the responsibility and was dazzling.
In fairness, the USA didn’t have a failure. Every American sparkled.
Stricker just had to steer them and that, in part, is because he basically let his team captain themselves.
He didn’t need to be loud and brash like some of his predecessors. No daft war speeches here.
Stricker was the quiet inspiration who allowed his troops to do the talking. They wanted to win for themselves and for him. They were unified and no wonder.
Six players qualified automatically for Stricker’s team.
Then, more or less, he let them pick their pals to fill out the group.
Justin Thomas had his mate Jordan Spieth. Patrick Cantlay goes on his holidays with Xander Schauffele.
Brooks Koepka went to college with Daniel Berger. Tony Finau gets on with everyone. Even bad boy Bryson had a pal he could select in Scheffler.
It worked a treat. No forced pairings, no false high-fives or pretend camaraderie. It was real and how it showed in their play.
Even the Koepka and DeChambeau sideshow was buried for a week. This really was a United States.
Europe had lost that vital edge of a togetherness that was able to show up the plastic American sides. When it came down to pure golf, they were destroyed.
Worryingly for Europe, this may just be the beginning.
There will now be a period of transition for them, with time up for players such as Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter, but this American side is going to be around for a long time.
Eight of them are in their twenties. Morikawa is half Westwood’s age.
Rome in 2023 won’t be able to come quickly enough for Thomas and Co.
DeChambeau, normally abused by fans, was cheered to the rafters.
America is rolling and Europe are back to the drawing board.
Roles reversed from post-Medinah. No one will savour that knowledge more than Stricker.
It wasn’t as dramatic as 2012 but it was every bit as spectacular.