Like many American lovers of the sport, Barry Howard watched with dismay as Europe defeated the United States in the Ryder Cup again.
Hot Springs Country Club's general manager and golf director acknowledged Europe's upper hand in the series after the defending champions beat the Americans 16-11 in weekend matches in Gleneagles, Scotland. Howard also pointed to a lackadaisical effort by the Americans, who were outscored on all three days of competition and whose captain, Tom Watson, was criticized for player selection.
"We don't show the fire we need to have," Howard said Tuesday. "It doesn't look like we're together as a team. They don't seem like they enjoy being with each other. You hear that this player doesn't like to play with this player or doesn't like to play with that one.
"Maybe we're spoiled," said Howard, a 2014 Arkansas State Golf Association Hall of Fame inductee. "We give them everything they want, treat them like kings, and they don't seem to have that drive. Now, you hear that they want to get paid for playing in the Ryder Cup."
Asked if American PGA Tour members weren't richly compensated already, Howard said, "I'd think so."
American icon Phil Mickelson openly criticized Watson's scheduling, saying that Paul Azinger, who in 2008 captained Team USA to its last Ryder Cup victory, had a "winning formula" with a "pod system" of practicing in groups.
"Someone should ask Phil if he had dinner with the team," Howard said. "Everything you heard about the Europeans was that they did it as a team, but when it was time for dinner, the Americans might or might not be together. There doesn't seem to be any (American) camaraderie."
Although Watson is a European icon for winning five of his eight major titles in the British Open, he is 65 and has not played on the PGA Tour for years, leading to speculation that the U.S. needs a captain more familiar with today's American PGA Tour players.
An Arkansas man in Scotland over the weekend got a sense of "European solidarity" on a train ride Sunday to London.
"I sat with two Englishmen and one Irishman who had also attended the Ryder Cup," the Arkansan posted on Facebook. "They did not appreciate Mickelson's comments about the way (Watson) operated. These folks over here adore Tom Watson, and though they agree with Phil, they perceived his comments as ill-timed."
The Arkansan adds, "I had no idea that European solidarity was so great with the Ryder Cup. I saw many Dutch fans at Gleneagles despite the fact that no one from Holland participated. Until our players, and coaches, develop that same kind of passion I think the Europeans will continue to dominate."
The United States lost to a team including winners of three 2014 major tournaments, Rory McIlroy (British Open and PGA Championship) and Martin Kaymer (U.S. Open), and the 2010 and 2013 U.S. Open winners (Graeme McDowell and Justin Rose). Masters winner Bubba Watson, meanwhile, went 0-3 for Team USA.
The United States also left arguably its hottest player at home, Billy Horschel winning two PGA Tour playoff events and a $10-million FedEx Cup bonus. Neither Horschel nor Chris Kirk, another late-season winner, was among Watson's three captain's picks made in early September.
"They should be judged on what they've done the last six months instead of over the last two years," Howard said. "Golf is a lot bigger and better in Europe now" than years ago when the Americans dominated the series.
One American Howard likes is Patrick Reed, who boldly called himself "one of the five best players in the world" after two wins early this year. The 24-year-old Reed played at Gleneagles like he belonged, defeating Henrik Stenson in his singles match Sunday and teaming with 21-year-old Jordan Spieth for 2 1/2 points. Follwing the U.S. team's morning fourball victory over a European group including 2010 Ryder Cup hero Ian Poulter, Watson's decision to bench Reed and Speith in Friday afternoon's alternate-shot competition was second-guessed.
Referring to Reed, Howard said, "Maybe we need some more players with that fire. Being a nice guy is good, but sometimes you need to have a little attitude. Like him or not, maybe that's we need."
Sports on 10/01/2014