Does the Presidents Cup Hurt Team USA in the Ryder Cup?

[mvmac]

Do you think having a year off would help Team USA play better in the Ryder Cup?

Or does it not matter and the Europeans just flat out play better the week of the Ryder Cup?

Haven't thought about it much but I think if Team USA got a break every other year it would help "energize" them more for the Ryder Cup.

[Patch]

I voted no, that the Euro team just plays better.

Couple of things. The selection process could be better for the American team. The need to select players who are playing well at the time of the RC matches. Selecting players with prior experience is not getting it done, with some of those players have "losing" experience.

The other thing is, I just don't think the American team has enough drive to win. They just show up, and play their matches. If they win fine, and if they lose it's "oh well, there's always next time". Then collect their tax write offs, and go home.  Yeah, I guess I am saying that some of the American team are a bit on the lazy, nonchalant side. You can't blame the captain for the American team poor attitudes.  The Euro team team on the other hand wants to win these matches for country, personal, and team reasons.

[boogielicious]

I voted no because playing in the format should help the team. One thought would be to have three competitions, US/EU (Ryder), Asia/EU (New), US/Asia (Presidents) which would give each area a year off.

[iacas]

I think it hurts them, but it's not like a fatigue or "too much team golf" type of thing.

Instead, I think it's more like the pain of losing doesn't sting as bad when you (typically, not always) win the never next year. Or you won just last year.

If all the American team had was losing for 11 years in a row or something, they might have more resolve and so on to win the Ryder Cup. Instead they probably feel (accurately) "we just won a team match one year (or three years) ago, so…".

[RH31]

I think it hurts some of the players on the U.S. side. Mickelson is one player that comes to mind. I think playing in these matches every single year may be kind of grind for them.