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.
