The year 2025 contest for the Ryder Cup concluded without a significant triumph for the American team, attributable to a remarkable singles performance on Sunday. Nevertheless, this comeback proved inadequate, considering that Europe had established a substantial advantage in the preceding days, thereby becoming the first squad since 2012 to secure a Ryder Cup victory on foreign soil.
Following the defeat of the U.S. team at home, there was extensive assignment of accountability, with captain Keegan Bradley facing considerable disapproval, especially concerning grievances about the course configuration at Bethpage Black.
Despite its reputation as one of golf’s most rigorous tests, Bethpage Black was rendered less challenging due to a decision to shorten the rough. Earlier rainfall during the week softened the greens, and the European players outperformed the Americans during the initial days, owing to exceptional putting skills on greens that did not exhibit the expected pace.
Reportedly, this aspect led to friction between the U.S. team and the greens maintenance personnel at Bethpage Black, and the greens exhibited a noticeable increase in speed on Sunday when the Americans initiated their rally. While Bradley was largely criticized for dictating the desired green speeds, Justin Thomas verified that disagreements over green speeds occurred throughout the week between the course personnel and the U.S. team, as revealed during a recent appearance on the No Laying Up podcast.
“I am uncertain as to why the green conditions deviated from Keegan’s specifications,” Thomas stated. “His requests for a specific speed and a sufficiently rapid pace were quite explicit. I observed interactions where they insisted the greens were registering a 13 on the Stimpmeter. However, it’s evident that we, as regular golf participants, notice that many players are leaving putts short. It’s difficult to execute a putt that rolls 3-4 feet beyond the hole. The greens lacked speed, and acceleration was necessary.”
“The situation was unconventional, given the expectation of a home Ryder Cup advantage. Again, this should not be construed as a justification. They faced the same need to adapt. However, a conventional advantage involves some degree of course configuration input, and it was frustrating to have our preferences for green speed contested and debated. It was peculiar,” Thomas elaborated.
Addressing Thomas’s argument, it is important to note that none of this serves as a comprehensive justification for the American team’s subpar performance on Friday and Saturday. Yet, the circumstances are undeniably undesirable, considering that the opportunity to influence course setup is commonly recognized as one of the primary benefits for the home team.
The PGA of America will need to address this matter before the next Ryder Cup held in the United States. It’s imperative for the course staff to be receptive to adjusting if the greens don’t align with the team’s requirements. Even if the Stimpmeter reading is 13, if the team expresses the need for increased speed, proactive measures should be taken to accommodate their preference, rather than resisting.
Concurrently, the U.S. team needs to demonstrate adaptability and enhance their performance, even when the conditions deviate from their expectations. Accelerating softer greens can be a challenge, and given the rainfall the course endured during the Ryder Cup week, the U.S. team was required to exhibit greater competence under the prevailing conditions.
While the decision to reduce the rough’s height proved to be a misjudgment on Bradley’s part, the ultimate state of the greens may not have been entirely attributable to his decisions.
