Even in golf, politics is dampening fan spirit for Team America

Last week marked the 44th Ryder Cup competition, one of golf’s greatest. Some consider the Ryder Cup golf’s Olympics. 

Started in 1927 as a match between the U.S., Great Britain and Ireland, The Cup was expanded to the U.S. versus Europe. Played biannually, alternating continents, this year Europe won the Cup at the Marco Simone course just north of Rome in Italy. The next match will be played in 2025 at the Black Course in Bethpage, Long Island, which, unusually, is a public course.

For some reason, subconsciously, I favored Europe in the Cup. Not readily apparent was why. Since 1997, with two exceptions, the home team won. Perhaps because the winner seemed predetermined based on the past, that may have influenced my thinking.

The change in the character and the personalities of the players may also have made a difference.  Decades ago, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino and Ray Floyd played on the U.S. side. 

Arnie was the king of golf who made that sport into what it is today. Nicklaus, known disparagingly as Fat Jack in his early days as he began beating Palmer, was the greatest player since Bobby Jones. Trevino and Floyd had manufactured half swings. 

Today, virtually every pro golfer has an identical swing as graceful as a gymnast or ballet dancer. Most are of average height and weight and often are less colorful than their predecessors.

Possibly Europe’s team possessed more character than America’s. But is there another, deeper reason for my preference for Europe? In all candor, I am increasingly angered with what America has become even though Europe is far from perfect. Indeed, part of that anger is sorrow to the point of disgust about where America is today and seems to be headed.

Britain has not and may not recover from leaving the European Union. Poland and Ukraine are at odds. Germany and France cannot agree on budgets and finance. Hungary, Poland and Slovakia are headed to the far right. And the war in Ukraine seems unending.

But chaos is becoming the order of the day here. The House fires its Speaker. If the Republican majority cannot choose a replacement, a long-term government shutdown seems inevitable, possibly lasting into 2024 since the House cannot convene without a Speaker. Democrats do not appear interested in dealing with colleagues across the aisle as a shutdown will be blamed on Republicans. That will be helpful for Democrats taking back the House in 2025 no matter the damage done to America.

In the Senate, one Republican continues to place a hold on confirming admirals and generals. While not catastrophic, the damage to the military and its people is considerable and entirely unnecessary. Debate continues over support for Ukraine. While the Senate is more disposed, House Republicans are not. That could guarantee further deadlock.

Former President Donald Trump faces four criminal trials and is engaged in a fraud civil case in New York City. While he is claiming immunity as president, that will not cover the alleged mishandling of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago that occurred after he left the White House. If the courts grant Trump immunity, that places him and future presidents above the law.

President Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, has pleaded not guilty to illegal possession of a firearm and lying on his registration form. Further charges may be pending. Sam Bankman-Fried, former head of the collapsed FTX crypto exchange, stands accused of financial crimes that make Bernie Madoff look like a petty crook.

Worse, the 2024 presidential election could be a rerun of 2020. Trump, in my view, is unfit for any office. His accusation that Gen. Mark Milley, his pick for chairman of the Joint Chiefs, committed treason and should be executed underscores that unfitness. Joe Biden is too old.

One can argue that America has always been in some degree of chaos. The wars in Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq, assassinations of its leaders, Watergate, weak presidents, three impeachments and political divisions that are perhaps the greatest since 1860 are among the reasons for this pessimism. Still, why root for a European win?

This bleak outlook for America likely created unanticipated negative psychological effects that spilled over. Perhaps that was why I instinctively hoped Europe would win the 2023 Ryder Cup. Possibly 2025 will bring greater reasons for optimism and for Team USA at Bethpage. Or possibly not.

Harlan Ullman, Ph.D. is a senior adviser at Washington, D.C.’s Atlantic Council and the prime author of the “shock and awe” military doctrine. His 12th book, “The Fifth Horseman and the New MAD: How Massive Attacks of Disruption Became the Looming Existential Danger to a Divided Nation and the World at Large,” is available on Amazon. He can be reached on Twitter @harlankullman.