Ryder Cup reject dishes dirt on ‘splintered’ USA team and heartbreaking fall-out

All was not well with Team USA behind the scenes at the Ryder Cup, according to one star who just missed out on a wildcard spot.

Zach Johnson’s US Ryder Cup team was “splintered” during their humbling defeat to the Europeans in Rome. That’s according to Lucas Glover, who missed out on a wildcard spot in America’s final team of 12 but got the inside track from others who were there.

Top US golfer Patrick Cantley had been at the centre of alleged disharmony in Johnson’s squad after it had been alleged that he refused to wear the team cap in protest over not being paid to play in the historic competition – an accusation that he later denied.

But speaking to SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio, 43-year-old Glover said:
“It broke my heart the week after to hear about how splintered the room was and things about money and different things.

“The Ryder Cup is not like that at all. And not only did I follow what I read and heard, I also talked to some of the people who were present during the war, and it broke my heart to hear that because it wasn’t like that, it wasn’t like that. . rep and that’s not why I want to play on this team.

“It’s easy to say three weeks later, two weeks later, and unfortunately they lost, but yeah, I wish I was there,” Glover said. “I think I could have brought other things to the table.”

The United States arrived in Rome as holders of the trophy after a record 19-9 home win at Whistling Straits in 2021, but it was a different story in Europe. an arena where the Americans had not won once in 30 years, when Luke Donald’s team got off to the perfect start by winning the first quarter-final 4-0, from which the Americans have never really discounted.

Europe then reclaimed the Ryder Cup 16.5-11.5 with a performance rooted in a team spirit that seemed at odds with the away team.

Another player absent from this year’s US Ryder Cup team is Bryson DeChambeau, whose membership in LIV golf proved to be an obstacle to selection, despite his nemesis being Brooks Keopka was also included. However, the Californian big got over his disappointment quite quickly after his LIV Golf Crushers team – consisting of Paul Casey, Anirban Lahiri and Charles Howell III – won the team prize of 40,000. 8 million pounds ($50 million) at the Grand Finale event in Miami.

The Crushers walked away with 60% of the prize money, or £8.4m. Each player received 1.1 million pounds.

DeChambeau, former US Open champion, said: “Whenever you win with a team, I honestly say it’s more important than the personal stuff. Look, the majors are great but there’s a team behind you there. I have a team, my own team. I couldn’t be more proud.”