Stricker's Biggest Issue at Ryder Cup Is Getting Back Trophy

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By DOUG FERGUSON, AP Golf Author

SHEBOYGAN, Wis. (AP) — Padraig Harrington had a good grip on Ryder Cup trophy Monday because the European captain walked by way of a white-tented hall towards the stage for the opening press convention.

That was a becoming begin to matches which are a 12 months overdue.

Europe is the defending champion, a winner of 9 of the final 12, and it does not need hand over possession of that 17-inch trophy.

“Clearly, there might be loads of unknowns through the week,” Harrington stated. “However at this stage, we’re ready for the whole lot and able to go.”

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U.S. captain Steve Stricker has been preaching the significance of being much more ready, although his unknowns are a little bit extra apparent.

Brooks Koepka injured his left wrist once more through the last spherical of the Tour Championship, after which he attracted the mistaken form of consideration from {a magazine} interview that raised questions how a lot he actually enjoys the Ryder Cup.

He has cooled his spat with Bryson DeChambeau, who has been coaching as a lot for a Lengthy Drive competitors proper after the Ryder Cup.

Points? Just one issues to Stricker, and it is wrestling away the Ryder Cup from Europe.

“Europe brings a robust crew they usually play nicely and are robust and we at all times have robust matches that appear to have gone their far more instances than ours these days,” Stricker stated. “However we glance to attempt to change that this week and transfer on.

“We’re apprehensive about this one, and simply attempting to win this one.”

Gamers from each groups arrived at Whistling Straits below a grey sky and occasional drizzle, with formal observe classes beginning Tuesday forward of the Friday begin.

Stricker stated he has solely spoken to Koepka and is assured he is able to go.

“He tells me the whole lot is 100% and the whole lot is prepared and raring to go,” Stricker stated. “I have not run into him but as we speak. I’ve heard that he is right here, however I have not seen him but. From what I perceive, he is absolutely healed and prepared for the whole lot.”

As for the general public beef between Koepka and DeChambeau, Stricker repeated that he expects no points, having obtained phrase from each gamers it will not be an issue this week.

Stricker did not appear bothered by Koepka’s interview with Golf Digest printed final week by which he stated the Ryder Cup takes him out of his routine as a result of he is pulled in so many instructions.

“The conversations that I’ve had with him and what I’ve personally seen within the crew room doesn’t jive as much as what I used to be studying in these articles,” Stricker stated. “Once more, I’m not apprehensive about Brooks. He assures me he’s wholesome. He assures me that he’s 100% all in on this crew and no matter he must do for this crew to grow to be the winner on the finish of the week.”

The Individuals have six rookies, their most for a Ryder Cup since profitable at Valhalla in 2008, and Stricker likes the passion. He additionally does not thoughts that so a lot of his gamers — six rookies and three gamers having performed solely as soon as — have not accrued an excessive amount of scar tissue from an extended historical past of shedding.

Harrington counters with expertise. Europe has half as many rookies, and Harrington crammed out his crew with Sergio Garcia and Ian Poulter, who’ve mixed for 15 Ryder Cups and a 42-18-9 report.

“That is fairly related whenever you’re enjoying an away match,” Harrington stated. “Definitely it’s fairly tried and examined in Europe that we’re going to go along with expertise once we’re coming throughout right here. We do have a number of rookies on the crew to supply that enthusiasm however we’re strongly counting on that have.”

The matches have been scheduled for the ultimate weekend of September in 2020 till being postponed one 12 months when it was clear the coronavirus pandemic wouldn’t permit for spectators.

Now the noise is anticipated to be one-sided, particularly with worldwide journey difficulties.

“Our gamers play for the glory of this occasion,” Harrington stated. “If there was 40,000 U.S. followers and no Europeans, we might want that than having no followers. We wish the noise. We wish the joy. We wish the excitement of all of it. Sure, the gamers should cope with it and sure, they should embrace it. However they would not need the choice. Having no followers is not any enjoyable.

“They are going to take pleasure in it.”

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