Steve Stricker, U.S. Ryder Cup Captain 2020

[Herkimer]

Our players want to win.  It doesn't matter who the captain is.  I think the players should do their own pairing, too.  Why does a captain have to be exciting?  I want the players to be exciting, not the captain.  That "pod" theory went out the window, too, last time.  Another brilliant idea. 

[Vinsk]

7 hours ago, Herkimer said:

Our players want to win.  It doesn't matter who the captain is.  I think the players should do their own pairing, too.  Why does a captain have to be exciting?  I want the players to be exciting, not the captain.  That "pod" theory went out the window, too, last time.  Another brilliant idea. 

Not necessarily exciting but engaging, energetic and/or motivating. I obviously don’t know Stricker as a person but he’s in and out of ‘retirement’ or cutting back then plays a full season, pulls his cap bill down over his face and strolls along silently. But this is just pure speculation on my part. And it’s ultimately up to the players. 

[3jacker]

7 hours ago, Herkimer said:

Our players want to win.  It doesn't matter who the captain is.  I think the players should do their own pairing, too.  Why does a captain have to be exciting?  I want the players to be exciting, not the captain.  That "pod" theory went out the window, too, last time.  Another brilliant idea. 

Agreed.  The only influence the captain has is what his wife picks out for the team shirts.

The whole "pairings strategy" is over-rated.  Playing well is under-rated. 

[iacas]

31 minutes ago, 3jacker said:

The whole "pairings strategy" is over-rated.

I disagree. Europeans have simply figured out what types of pairings to make based on a combination of their game and personality, while the US side struggles to match people up that play well together.

[Vinsk]

2 hours ago, 3jacker said:

The whole "pairings strategy" is over-rated. 

Really? I certainly disagree with this. Who one plays with can have a significant effect on strategy when it comes to each player’s strengths. Player hits a draw, a fade, long off the tee, wedge play. Stats certainly show some are better in those areas. 

[3jacker]

Meh. Everyone thinks that.  But it doesn't always work.

There's always a strategy on both sides.  Someone always loses. Playing better than the other team helps more than anything else.