SB Nation’s 2016 Ryder Cup Preview

When Jack Nicklaus speaks, the golf world listens. So, those involved with the U.S. Ryder Cup may want to heed the suggestion of the 18-time major champion when he says they should all just lighten the hell up.

"To me the competition is incidental," Nicklaus said recently at a philanthropic golf tournament. "Who wins bragging rights -- and I know everyone wants to win -- but that’s not the important thing. The important thing is the game of golf and people having good relations and goodwill."

Easy enough to say when six of the eight U.S. teams in the 1970s and ‘80s that included Nicklaus kicked Euro butt. The third-winningest American Ryder Cupper (17 matches all-time, tied with Lee Trevino) -- whose 1969 squad tied while his second effort at calling the shots, in 1987, ended in a loss -- comes at the event from the "thrill of victory" perspective. That’s quite a bit different perch from which to view the proceedings than the "agony of defeat" dwelling in which today’s American contestants are mired.

Ah, those were the Old Glory days, when the Golden Bear (17–8–3 overall) and his compatriots rolled over Great Britain and Ireland and, after 1979, Europe. Back then, the idea that players needed to convene a "task force" to figure out how to keep the cherished cup on U.S. soil -- even in the midst of a two-game losing streak in 1985 and 1987 -- would have been considered laughable, if not completely insane.

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Task force "overkill"

Not a fan of the task force convened after the American infighting and embarrassment of 2014, Nicklaus still scoffs at Ryder-Cup-by-committee for a contest that has become a do-or-die undertaking for the U.S., losers of the past three and eight of the last 10 matchups.

"That’s part of the things that I think is a little overkill," Nicklaus said about the 11-person panel established in the wake of the devastating 16.5-11.5 pasting at Gleneagles two years ago.

"It’s a great event to have bragging rights for Europe or bragging rights for America. It’s a great format, it’s a great competition. There’s a lot of nice things about it, but I wish we wouldn’t make such a war out of it."

But all-out war of the sporting variety it is for captain Davis Love III and his charges, who fervently hope this time around -- after all the second-guessing, hand-wringing, puffed-up committee sessions, and ridiculously hyped captain’s pick announcements -- that playing the "revenge" card again will come up aces at Hazeltine. Because that strategy worked so well two years ago.

Playing the "revenge" card

On paper, the Americans certainly have the heavier-hitting roster, and they’ll be playing in front of golf-crazed friendlies in the Midwest. So, why does it seem that the favored home team will again be dealt the losing hand? Indeed, why does the U.S., which regularly dispatched its opponents in years past, now seem incapable of coming from behind or holding onto a lead?

The Euros are better is the short answer. Since no one on this side of the Atlantic wants to believe that, though, the blame must be placed on any number of ambiguous reasons, including captains’ methods, poor matchups, and the always-popular team chemistry.

It’s probably time to retire the age-old "lack of incentive" accusation, since multimillionaire superstars will do almost anything to make the team. How else to explain the auditions for that last captain’s pick Bubba Watson, Justin Thomas, and Daniel Berger submitted during practice sessions for a team that they ended up not making?

The time and effort Tiger Woods alone has reportedly spent, in his role as vice captain, strategically plotting a U.S. comeback, has blown away even the meticulous Phil Mickelson.

"We know who is going to be playing with who, when they're going to be playing, what matches," Mickelson told Golf Channel. "I can't believe ... how detailed (Woods) is and the pairings, the possibilities, the players. Not just what matches they're going to play, but where on the list. He has got us really a good, solid game plan that is easy to buy into and get behind. I'm very impressed."

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"Psychological advantage" goes to Europe

Such efforts make it clear that, this time, following Mickelson’s takedown of 2014 jefe Tom Watson after the Gleneagles beat down resulted in the highfalutin task force, the urgency among the Americans to avoid an unprecedented fourth straight loss is all-consuming. That sentiment alone, however, could derail their chances of ending years of misery.

"The greatest thing Europe has done is make the U.S. team desperate to win," Padraig Harrington, who has played in six Ryder Cups and will serve as one of Darren Clarke’s assistant captains at Hazeltine, recently told Golf.com. "Maybe the Americans are trying too hard."

If they are, Mickelson believes it’s because the Euros have a two-decade head start on mapping out the blueprint for winning, as well as a "psychological advantage" thanks to their many recent victories, Lefty told Jaime Diaz.

"They have great leadership," said Mickelson, who conceded that the council he was instrumental in creating was an attempt to copy the "formula" that has worked so well for the Europeans. "They have great consistency in their leadership. They have continuity in the players who play, and overall continuity. And they have momentum from past successes.

"We're 20 years behind our competition in terms of building momentum, rapport among everyone, and continuity of leadership. We've had a different leadership style every two years for the past two decades. So, we have a ways to go to catch up."

No doubt to the consternation of many a Team USA fan, Mickelson sought to temper aspirations for the matches set to commence on Sept. 30 in Chaska, Minn.

"We can't look at the first event -- this year -- as a make-or-break, win-or-lose situation, fail-or-succeed scenario for our new system," he said. "This first one is a building block."

Wait, what? So all those closed-door meetings and team-building exercises were focused on planting the seeds that may take another 10 years to blossom? What about now, when the U.S. boasts four of the world’s top-10 players in Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth, Patrick Reed, and Rickie Fowler.

"Just the Americans" vs. cohesive Euros

Well, Rory McIlroy, who has played himself back up to No. 3 in the world in spite of a balky putter, and reigning British Open champion Henrik Stenson (No. 5), will have something to say about the outcome. The two leaders of a team packed with eager Ryder Cup rookies will head up what has historically been a far looser, more cohesive cadre of competitors, who, quite simply, seem to mesh more easily with each other, come through more in the clutch, and just plain outplay the Americans in the biennial matches.

"I think it’s pretty clear why [the U.S. struggles in the Ryder Cup]," 2008 captain Paul Azinger observed in 2015. "Europe is divided and bonded in small groups by nationality. And they partner up that way. You have the Spaniards, who play together. The Englishmen. The Irishmen. The Swedes. They know each other -- they’re bonded by blood.

"We’re just the Americans," said Azinger.

Americans with blue-chip credentials, and who bleed red, white, and blue.

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But the Americans, who always seem to be the oddsmakers’ picks to capture the cup because of the high-profile star power in the lineup, have been unable to put together a winning team since Azinger was in charge.

"The United States has got the home-country advantage, and that's worth almost two points historically," Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee said. "But when you look a little deeper, the U.S. side is older and nowhere near the ball-strikers that the European side is."

Team USA needs to chill

Each year that passes without a W makes the burden of defeat that much heavier to bear.

Mickelson may have a 10-year plan but it’s up to Love, returning as captain despite overseeing the 14.5-13.5 meltdown at Medina, to motivate his guys to win in 2016 -- despite the excruciating expectation to do so. Maybe the way to do that is to go all Aaron Rodgers and R-E-L-A-X.

That would certainly be Nicklaus’ prescription.

"I don’t really see the necessity to put the pressure on the young guys to win the Ryder Cup," he said.

With four majors, four World Golf Championships, the Olympics, and other high-stress worldwide events, Nicklaus believes the likes of Fowler, Spieth, Reed, and Brooks Koepka have "enough pressure on them week after week."

Indeed, Nicklaus’ directive to the 2016 captain, vice captains, and 22 Ryder Cup wannabes during a February dinner at his home was simply to savor the moment. After all, he reasoned, the biennial event is not exactly a major.

"I said, ‘Have fun, enjoy it,’" Nicklaus said. "It’s not a U.S. Open, it’s not a British Open, it’s not a PGA Championship, it’s not a Masters. It’s the Ryder Cup."