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Ryder Cup rookies reliance pays off for US

Steve MegargeeAAP
Rookie Scottie Scheffler claimed the biggest scalp in singles play on Sunday by beating Jon Rahm.
Camera IconRookie Scottie Scheffler claimed the biggest scalp in singles play on Sunday by beating Jon Rahm. Credit: AP

With rookies making up half of their roster, the United States laid waste to the notion that experience is essential to thriving in the Ryder Cup's glaring spotlight.

The US rolled to a 19-9 victory over Europe for just their fourth victory in the last 13 Ryder Cup competitions thanks in part to the performance of six newcomers - Daniel Berger, Patrick Cantlay, Harris English, Collin Morikawa, Xander Schauffele and Scottie Scheffler.

Captain Steve Stricker showed enough faith in his rookies that he had four of them play the first five singles matches Sunday at Whistling Straits.

"I mean, that's unheard of," Cantlay said.

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"And those guys are performing. Everybody gets along ... but I know everyone has that killer instinct and we are going to bring that to future Cups."

While the US rookies starred, Europe's newcomers in Shane Lowry, Viktor Hovland and Bernd Wiesberger struggled.

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USA's rookies went 11-2-2 in team competition Friday and Saturday before going 3-2-1 in Sunday's singles.

And it was a newcomer who made perhaps the biggest statement of all.

Scheffler had the toughest singles assignment, facing world No.1 Jon Rahm.

Spaniard Rahm never had much of a chance. Scheffler birdied the first four holes and posted a 4-and-3 victory.

"I just kept the pressure on him the whole day," said Scheffler, who also went 1-0-1 in team play.

Cantlay and Morikawa also were undefeated with identical 3-0-1 records as they clearly enjoyed the Ryder Cup atmosphere.

"In the moment and with the crowd behind me and feeling like everyone is totally on our side ... it just makes it so much easier," Cantlay added.

Morikawa was 3-0 in team competition before tying Hovland on Sunday. His half-point got the team total to 14, guaranteeing the US would be wresting the Cup from Europe.

"I don't think it's just a win ... I think this is a dominant win," Morikawa said.

The fact so many Ryder Cup rookies played such a large role in this rout suggests a potential shift in the biennial event's balance of power.

"This is a new era for USA golf," Stricker said.

"They are young. They come with a lot of passion, a lot of energy, a lot of game. They are just so good."

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