Dean sees Bob at the vanguard of a Ryder Cup overhaul
Europe may have to use the American approach, and focus on youth, as they plot to regain the Ryder Cup.
The average age of the all-conquering US team at Whistling Straits was a little over 29 – with eight of their 12 players still under 30.
That brought vibrancy and a new-found togetherness, which was too much for the Europeans as they slumped to a record 19-9 defeat.
But for former European Tour player, Dean Robertson, it was further confirmation of the conveyor belt of talent emerging from the American college system.
Now Stirling University’s high-performance golf coach, Robertson has seen at first-hand how the system is churning out winners yearupon-year, spreading on to the PGA Tour and now the Ryder Cup team.
“There was a definite new collegiate spirit about the Americans,” Dean tells The Sunday Post. “The wave of young talent, and the strength in depth, was evident and that is borne from college golf.
“These guys are making a seamless and successful transition to the pro game, and they are ready to win.
“There is a real fearlessness about them, and that is the key to any winning athlete.
“I was successful as an amateur, and thought I was a good player. But now players have access to so much more. They have hard facts and stats to back up their performances. So when they turn pro, the skills are all there.
“What happened at Whistling Straits has been coming since Paris in 2018. There is such strength in depth at the moment, the Americans could have fielded a second team that would have been almost as strong.”
Now Europe’s next captain must hope a new generation emerges before Rome in 2023. And Robertson is backing Scotland’s Bob Macintyre to be one of those to make the grade.
“It could be young Europe versus young America,” he says. “That reflects how golf has gone.
“From a European perspective, I would imagine there will be a changing of the guard. Obviously we’ll have Jon Rahm, and we need Rory Mcilroy at the top of the World Rankings.
“But then we’re looking at guys like Bob, Rasmus Hojgaard of Denmark, Italy’s Guido Migliozzi and others emerging.
“I know Bob has done fantastically in the Majors, and got into the WGC events. But he’ll possibly be disappointed he didn’t kick on with his form, and make the team.
“But two years is a long time, and he can grow enormously in that period.”
One of Robertson’s star pupils at Stirling is Louise Duncan and, with her coach on the bag, Duncan claimed the Women’s Amateur Championship and then finished tied-10th at the Women’s Open at Carnoustie.
“It was tremendous to see Louise grow as an athlete – and a person – in those two weeks in the summer,” Dean reflects. “I knew her game was progressing, if not quite to that level.
“One of the most amazing things was the amount of kids who congregated towards her at Carnoustie. She really inspired them with her performance.
“Louise has one more year to complete at Stirling, but we have put her part-time to spread it over two years to fit everything in.
“Lots of things could turn her head, but it’s important she gets her degree first.”