Europe as “Underdogs” Geez

[goheels11]

For what it’s worth, Europe has thrived under the underdog role while kicking our rear ends the majority of the time. They spent the majority of the time in their press conference talking about everything was set up for them to lose, and we just seem to let them create their own narrative.  I am lost as to how they can be considered underdogs over and over when we’re all aware of how world ranking points are calculated versus where you play. It frees them up to play stress free, they can’t lose. It almost seems as though we tee it up for them (pun intended) every Ryder Cup, and it’s exhausting.   If I’m in the players room, I’m using this as fuel!
 

GO USA!

[Hawkeye77]

2 minutes ago, goheels11 said:

For what it’s worth, Europe has thrived under the underdog role while kicking our rear ends the majority of the time. They spent the majority of the time in their press conference talking about everything was set up for them to lose, and we just seem to let them create their own narrative.  I am lost as to how they can be considered underdogs over and over when we’re all aware of how world ranking points are calculated versus where you play. It frees them up to play stress free, they can’t lose. It almost seems as though we tee it up for them (pun intended) every Ryder Cup, and it’s exhausting.   If I’m in the players room, I’m using this as fuel!
 

GO USA!

 

LOL, what?

 

You want our guys to run around the team room telling each other we are the underdogs?  

 

"Hey, they don't suck, we do!"

 

"Our wins and rankings don't mean crap, those guys are so much better, we'll be lucky to beat them - now let's get out there and . . . . . try."  

 

Haha, not what I would call the genius move.

Edited September 23, 2021 by Hawkeye77

[goheels11]

If we can win 7 of the next 9…yes

 

and I didn’t say or imply anything in your quotes. 

Edited September 23, 2021 by goheels11

[straightshot7]

Well Europe won the last Ryder Cup, right?

They are the defending Champions.

That would be all of the motivation I need as a USA player. Even if we are the better team on paper, they are the defending champs until we go and take the Cup from them. 

[iBanesto]

1 hour ago, goheels11 said:

For what it’s worth, Europe has thrived under the underdog role while kicking our rear ends the majority of the time. They spent the majority of the time in their press conference talking about everything was set up for them to lose, and we just seem to let them create their own narrative.  I am lost as to how they can be considered underdogs over and over when we’re all aware of how world ranking points are calculated versus where you play. It frees them up to play stress free, they can’t lose. It almost seems as though we tee it up for them (pun intended) every Ryder Cup, and it’s exhausting.   If I’m in the players room, I’m using this as fuel!
 

GO USA!

 

Huh?

 

[goheels11]

22 minutes ago, iBanesto said:

 

Huh?

 

How can a team that has won 7 of last 9 cups be underdogs?  They have been underdogs in 8 of those 9…. 1 is a fluke, 2 is lucky perhaps….7 of 9 means they are better than we are in this format. How are they not favored?

[iBanesto]

Different years have different teams.

 

The US teams in 2004 and 2012 when it was played in the US were not as strong as the current team. I believe the current team has the lowest average WR.

 

Also the form of most European players coming into this year's event has been average to poor at best. Look at the recent results of: Fleetwood, Hatton, Wiesberger, Fitzpatrick, Poulter, Lowry and Westwood. Nothing to suggest they are playing well.

 

Also the US team won comfortably in 2016 when it was last played in the US.

 

If this was going to be played in Valderrama for example, it would be viewed differently.

[Hankshank]

They are the underdogs, US made a mistake of not bringing Captain America or Kisner along, Brooks and Cantlay are the only skilled nasties in the team, but Even more than ususal before an RC the US team players have performed well lastly compared to the Europs. Add US crowds. 

[hammersia]

2 hours ago, iBanesto said:

Different years have different teams.

 

The US teams in 2004 and 2012 when it was played in the US were not as strong as the current team. I believe the current team has the lowest average WR.

 

Also the form of most European players coming into this year's event has been average to poor at best. Look at the recent results of: Fleetwood, Hatton, Wiesberger, Fitzpatrick, Poulter, Lowry and Westwood. Nothing to suggest they are playing well.

 

Also the US team won comfortably in 2016 when it was last played in the US.

 

If this was going to be played in Valderrama for example, it would be viewed differently.

Meanwhile I have place a large bet on my fellow Europeans.

[i*windows]

as a set of individuals, Europe are underdogs. As a team then no I don't think we are underdogs. The US haven't played as a team for years, when they figure out how to do this then they'll do ok.

[imakaveli]

It's nice to be the underdogs. If you win it's legendary, if you lose, whatever, we knew they were better.

[KennyP]

6 hours ago, iBanesto said:

Different years have different teams.

 

The US teams in 2004 and 2012 when it was played in the US were not as strong as the current team. I believe the current team has the lowest average WR.

 

Also the form of most European players coming into this year's event has been average to poor at best. Look at the recent results of: Fleetwood, Hatton, Wiesberger, Fitzpatrick, Poulter, Lowry and Westwood. Nothing to suggest they are playing well.

 

Also the US team won comfortably in 2016 when it was last played in the US.

 

If this was going to be played in Valderrama for example, it would be viewed differently.

 

I agree about the strength of the US team, but maybe form isn't all that important going into a Ryder Cup;

 

Past FedEx champions tend to have a hangover, notably Furyk in 2010 and Snedeker in 2012. And lets not forget Tiger won the Tour championship in 2018 and then played garbage a week later in Paris.

 

[Chanceman]

Essentially the Europeans are too old and the Americans will be too good.

[iBanesto]

1 hour ago, KennyP said:

 

I agree about the strength of the US team, but maybe form isn't all that important going into a Ryder Cup;

 

Past FedEx champions tend to have a hangover, notably Furyk in 2010 and Snedeker in 2012. And lets not forget Tiger won the Tour championship in 2018 and then played garbage a week later in Paris.

 

 

Personally, given 2010 and 2018 were played in Europe, I wouldn't think the lull for the FedEx Champion would apply this year.

 

But this is sports, anything can happen!

 

#goeurope!

Edited September 23, 2021 by iBanesto

[bladehunter]

Going to be a blood bath. 

[ChillyDipper]

I agree with the comments about positioning the team as underdogs.  As a poster mentioned above, there is no downside to being an underdog - only upside.  Americans have frequently crumbled under the pressure of being the better team in many Ryder Cups of late, so if I were them I'd be pumping up the Europe side as much as possible to put more pressure on them. You can see this also in F1, where the two top teams (Mercedes and Red Bull) are always saying that the other team has the advantage on a particular track or is the better car.  Less pressure on the player/driver to perform, the more they can play their own game and go for the kill.  In recent memory, only Tiger has been able to keep the crown, while fighting off would-be assassins.

[naval2006]

The underdog thing is typical trash talk in football (soccer), which is something football culture around the world hears every week, month and year.  There's this marked football attitude World-Cup style in Team Europe and it strenghthens the team so much.  And that's also why thousands of golfers around the world who have grown up with football feel Team Europe looks and talks like a football national team in the middle of the World Cup.  Golf's ultimate derby.

[Hawkeye77]

8 hours ago, goheels11 said:

How can a team that has won 7 of last 9 cups be underdogs?  They have been underdogs in 8 of those 9…. 1 is a fluke, 2 is lucky perhaps….7 of 9 means they are better than we are in this format. How are they not favored?

 

Now that's a totally different proposition - whether they are underdogs vs. some phony and weak motivation strategy for the U.S. team.  

 

IMO:

 

1.  7 of 9 doesn't matter at all - USA is playing this particular team at this particular time.  

2. Match is being played on home soil.

3. USA OWGR substantially higher.

4. Just on "eyeball test" overall USA = a stronger team.

 

That appears to be the basis. You can argue about OWGR and results the past many months and maybe conclude that the Euros are more equal than oddsmakers would think, heck I look at their team picture and think that's a darn fine team, but I look at the USA and think the same.

 

Face it, in the past they've been legit underdogs and USA just manages to find ways to lose.  

 

Format allows almost anything to happen.  

 

If either team really deep down needs some "underdog" rallying cry or bulletin board material to get motivated they've lost already.

 

 

 

[Hawkeye77]

6 hours ago, Hankshank said:

They are the underdogs, US made a mistake of not bringing Captain America or Kisner along, Brooks and Cantlay are the only skilled nasties in the team, but Even more than ususal before an RC the US team players have performed well lastly compared to the Europs. Add US crowds. 

Oddly, I think without Tiger and Phil and especially Reed at this particular time it will make this a much better "team".  

 

 

[TwistedSister]

So someone .... quick... when was the last time the visitors won the CUP?  When?

[AZ_JHWK]

Hmmm. Let's see...we dominated when it was just vs. Great Britain/Ireland. Add all of Europe in 1979 and it became competitive. Think of the players from greater Europe coming to the Cup. Add Seve, Olazabal, Sergio, Langer to the Brits and now you have something. Not to mention they are fierce competitors. They showed the Euros how to win. Their legacy carries on. 

 

It's in the U.S. players heads now. Yet we still dominate the Presidents Cup.

[oikos1]

14 hours ago, goheels11 said:

For what it’s worth, Europe has thrived under the underdog role while kicking our rear ends the majority of the time. They spent the majority of the time in their press conference talking about everything was set up for them to lose, and we just seem to let them create their own narrative.  I am lost as to how they can be considered underdogs over and over when we’re all aware of how world ranking points are calculated versus where you play. It frees them up to play stress free, they can’t lose. It almost seems as though we tee it up for them (pun intended) every Ryder Cup, and it’s exhausting.   If I’m in the players room, I’m using this as fuel!
 

GO USA!

I sure hope someone on the team or in the locker room is saying "Let's go kick some mouthy, underdog euro a**".  Not sure who it's gonna be though...

[chigolfer1]

I will say it sucks that there will basically be no euro fans there.  Just doesn't seem right (not that anything the organizers could do) and not getting into politics, just stating the truth that it won't be the same.

[TLUBulldogGolf]

12 hours ago, goheels11 said:

How can a team that has won 7 of last 9 cups be underdogs?  They have been underdogs in 8 of those 9…. 1 is a fluke, 2 is lucky perhaps….7 of 9 means they are better than we are in this format. How are they not favored?

 

They lost 17-11 last time it was played here and the US team appears even stronger this go around.

[cadman88]

I have a hard time in all the "US vs THEM" stories.. the broadcasts make is sound like we are battling for world dominance.. truth is, many Euro's are living in the states, and most all PGA players are actually friends.. all the antics of Reed and Polter are basically for TV ratings. Will I watch yes, will I give a crap who wins.. nope..

[golfing_penguin]

17 hours ago, Hawkeye77 said:

 

LOL, what?

 

You want our guys to run around the team room telling each other we are the underdogs?  

 

"Hey, they don't suck, we do!"

 

"Our wins and rankings don't mean crap, those guys are so much better, we'll be lucky to beat them - now let's get out there and . . . . . try."  

 

Haha, not what I would call the genius move.

 

Well, based on American performances the last several outings, it would be better than whatever the so-called 'Task Force' keeps coming up with

[Hawkeye77]

1 minute ago, golfing_penguin said:

 

Well, based on American performances the last several outings, it would be better than whatever the so-called 'Task Force' keeps coming up with

I don’t think the “task force”, which I’m not sure really exists as such now, gives the players locker room themes for the week. 

[Maximilian]

If Europe retains the cup, team USA can add Canadians and South Americans next time. We have to make it competitive again. 😘

[goheels11]

8 hours ago, Hawkeye77 said:

 

Now that's a totally different proposition - whether they are underdogs vs. some phony and weak motivation strategy for the U.S. team.  

 

IMO:

 

1.  7 of 9 doesn't matter at all - USA is playing this particular team at this particular time.  

2. Match is being played on home soil.

3. USA OWGR substantially higher.

4. Just on "eyeball test" overall USA = a stronger team.

 

That appears to be the basis. You can argue about OWGR and results the past many months and maybe conclude that the Euros are more equal than oddsmakers would think, heck I look at their team picture and think that's a darn fine team, but I look at the USA and think the same.

 

Face it, in the past they've been legit underdogs and USA just manages to find ways to lose.  

 

Format allows almost anything to happen.  

 

If either team really deep down needs some "underdog" rallying cry or bulletin board material to get motivated they've lost already.

 

 

 

Hope you are right!   

[iBanesto]

20 hours ago, hammersia said:

Meanwhile I have place a large bet on my fellow Europeans.

 

Gotta risk it for the biscuit my friend.

 

*Maybe not the 2nd part of the GIF.