Report: Nicklaus says U.S. will win Ryder Cup 'easily'

Almost everyone expects the U.S. Ryder Cup team to be overmatched and overrun by the Europeans later this month at Valhalla. Everyone except the greatest player to ever play the game.

According to a BBC report, Jack Nicklaus believes the U.S. will win back the Ryder Cup and win it  “easily.” (Note to Tiger Woods fans: Until Tiger gets to 19 majors, Jack is still the greatest golfer ever.)

The 18-time major winner, twice a Ryder Cup captain, told Golf Digest: "I just believe we have better players.

"I think American golf is better than perceptions based on recent Ryder Cup results."

"Europe has a lot of good players and a host of very promising young guys. But who among them has a great record?

"It isn't like the 1987 European team that had (Seve) Ballesteros, Faldo, Sandy Lyle, Bernhard Langer, Ian Woosnam and Jose Maria Olazabal.”

"We probably didn't give them enough credit at the time, but history has proved those guys were great players. It was no accident they won. But there's no reason the US team should lose."

Nicklaus is in a position to know, having led many of the same players on this year’s Ryder Cup team to victory last year in the Presidents Cup. Interestingly, his players praised Nicklaus for creating a relaxed atmosphere in Montreal. Some observers say the U.S. has played too tight in recent Ryder Cup losses.

Don’t dismiss Jack’s comments as homerism. He’s been critical of today’s Tour players, saying that too many guys are content with just making the cut and cashing a check. He also sounded a bit irritated when players complained about tough conditions at his Memorial Tournament this year.

So if Jack’s picking the U.S., so am I. As long as you don’t ask me to put any money on it.

More on the Ryder Cup in our preview section.

Comments

[Danthebirdieman]

What a bunch of idiots. No respect for Jack? I don't care if they don't respect Zinger, he's just another player. And of course Jack was right.
Love it.

[Wade A.]

A lot of crow to eat on this board! HA HA!

[Denny Christensen]

Although I admire Nicklaus' achievements in golf, he have unfortunately joined the group of has-been-great that just need to express a mening about everything.

In Europe, we have for instance the soccer player Beckenbauer, who always expresses his mening, even it if would have been better to have kept quiet.

I admire Nicklaus, and I understand his will to encourage the US team, but to say that the US team will win easily, come on, he doesn't believe that himself.

As a Dane, of course I will cheer for Europe, but I am far from certain who will win; I just hope it will turn out fair (as much as this game allows it) and both teams can win it. But easily, no way.

Sorry, Jack.

[Michael]

Thanks for your comment on who the greatest of all time STILL is. Yes, call me WHEN and IF Tiger wins 19....

[John Cooper]

As long as Americans on the Ryder Cup Team treat Golf as a business, and not as a sport, they will not have the will that is necessary to win.

[golf]

Old Jack is a moron at best. It seems as if he's realizing that he has become irrelevant in the world of golf. Unfortunately, this is not the last time we'll hear from Old Jack.

[D]

Usually these type of team events depend more on the 'lower rated players' on the squad, not the big names. The big names tend to cancel out, but the hot 'lower' players are what clinch the deal. I think the US team has more depth. It'll be interesting to watch...I'll be in England during the cup, so we'll see what they're thinking!

[Someone]

I think it'll be quite improbable for the U.S. Team to win this year. Europe has a very strong team this year, including Padraig Harrington and Sergio. There's still a chance for the Americans to win, though, if they could play as well as they did in the Presidents Cup.

[Robert J. Burrows]

I agree with everything You said. Especially what ha says about Azinger. Azinger is still pissed about what Faldo did to him at Muirfield. I think Jack is trying to inject a little enthusiasm into the troops plus expressing a bit of wishful thinking. The europeans will repeat easily.

[Matt Simpson]

Take a look at the BMW Championship leaderboard. While all the European team members are not playing there this weekend, the US Ryder Cup team members are playing rather well. If they keep playing at that level in a few weeks, they can win the Ryder Cup. We do have as much talent as the Europeans. The US will probably play better without Tiger, because they won't have to put up with that part of the media circus, and everyone will put them as underdogs, and they will be motivated to show everyone up. Comparing major victories and Ryder Cup records, no question Jack is the greatest player in history. Jack was 17-8-3 in Cup play and never played on a losing team. Woods? 7-11-2.

[CW]

Who cares anyway....the event has become an exhibition. The players don't make any money,So they play to compete, but don't really care who wins or loses. It is more of a media hyped event now.

[Andy Penders]

Woody Austin and Rocco Mediate should have been picked cause they are fighters and have strong American spirit. J.B. Holmes is also a fighter so he's all right. Azinger shouldn't have picked Chad Campbell and Hunter Mahan. Don't think they can hold up to the pressure. Faldo also made a mistake with Poulter when he should have picked the on form again Clarke. I predict a European win by a couple of points.

[Ben]

"Everyone except the greatest player to ever play the game."

Nope, it's not Jack, it's Tiger. :p

[Greg]

I agree with Jack. I think the Americans will win this year for a couple of reasons:
1. Low expectations--not many people believe the US is the better team. Over the last few Ryder cups, even the ones that the Europeans dominated, the US went in as favorites, primarily because of Tiger and Phil. But this year no Tiger and Phil is playing pretty average golf.
2. Homesoil advantage. I think playing here in the US on a course that many of the players have seen in front of the home crowd will help the US to victory.

BTW, I also think JB Holmes is going to have a monster Ryder Cup. He can shoot 66s on that Valhalla track in his sleep. Just wait and see.

[Greg]

I agree with Jack. I think the Americans will win this year for a couple of reasons:
1. Low expectations--not many people believe the US is the better team. Over the last few Ryder cups, even the ones that the Europeans dominated, the US went in as favorites, primarily because of Tiger and Phil. But this year no Tiger and Phil is playing pretty average golf.
2. Homesoil advantage. I think playing here in the US on a course that many of the players have seen in front of the home crowd will help the US to victory.

BTW, I also think JB Holmes is going to have a monster Ryder Cup. He can shoot 66s on that Valhalla track in his sleep. Just wait and see.

[PresidentsCupIsMuchBetterThanRyderCup]

I'm neither American nor European, so I can definitely say Presidents Cup is 10 times better than the Ryder Cup. Also, this Ryder Cup will have the weakest U.S. Team ever. And Paul 'Zinger is probably the most idiotic Ryder Cup captain ever. I mean, come on, picking Chad Campbell? J.B. Holmes? He made a triple-bogey at the PGA and took a nosedive from 2nd to 29th in 1 day! Hunter Mahan? He isn't playing very well either and has never played in the Ryder Cup! The four picks he should have done are: Steve Stricker (playing well), David Toms (lots of Ryder Cup experience), Rocco Mediate, and Woody Austin (who could be entertaining for the team). Only 1 more year until the much better cup, the Presidents Cup!

[You]

We don't have enough hot players on the U.S. team to win this Ryder Cup. People like Furyk and Captain's Pick Chad Campbell haven't had anything good happen to them in a long time. I'm honestly not sure why Azinger thought about Chad Campbell, who had "experience" with the Ryder Cup (with experience being a losing record). Someone like Rocco or Woody Austin would have created spirit for the U.S. team, and still contended against the European team. There's still Anthony and Kenny Perry, but I don't see it happening. Of course, I'd like to see a potential Mickelson vs. Poulter matchup (number two in the world vs. number two in his own world).

[bogey55]

Don't know Jack would say that. We are going to get slaughtered.

[Jon P]

erm, Jack. Try Padraig Harrington. I'd say that was now deserving as a great record.
Clearly starting to lose his faculties..