Ryder Cup: Ex-Europe captain Paul McGinley BLASTS Team USA over lack of ‘competitive preparation’ after nine players took five weeks off before tournament defeat

Team USA failed to retain the Ryder Cup this year due to a lack of ‘competitive preparation’ ahead of the tournament, says former Europe captain Paul McGinley.

Europe were comfortable winners out in Rome after following up a dominant opening two days with another strong showing in Sunday’s singles matches.

Despite the visitors testing their nerves towards the end of the day, Luke Donald’s men eventually claimed a 16.5-11.5 victory to ensure America’s 30-year wait for a Ryder Cup win across the pond goes on.

USA captain Zach Johnson may well have paid the price for allowing several members of his squad too much time off prior to the tournament, with nine players enjoying a five-week break heading into it.

And McGinley, who guided Europe to Ryder Cup glory in 2014, has questioned the American team’s commitment to success after their defeat in Rome. 

Team USA failed to retain the Ryder Cup due to a lack of ‘competitive preparation’ , says former Europe captain Paul McGinley

Europe claimed a 16.5-11.5 win to ensure USA’s 30-year wait for a win across the pond goes on

McGinley says America paid the price for taking too much time off before the tournament

’Again it goes back to their preparation,’ he said on Sky Sports. ‘America were over-golfed coming into Paris two years ago. They played too much golf. They came from Tiger winning at East Lake, straight into to playing the Ryder Cup the week after. 

‘This time they did the exact opposite. They had four or five weeks off. Some even longer. Only three of the 12 players have played an event in the last four weeks.

’They’d never go into a major doing that. That’s not proper cutting edge competitive preparation.

’Only nine of the 12 players came over on that recce trip a few weeks ago. How committed, how invested do you want to be? 

‘Playing away from home means you want to leave no stone unturned. You’re going into the cauldron of the away support the noise, the antagonism, everything that goes against you.

‘And I only started to see fire in that American team yesterday afternoon – but at that stage the horse had bolted. The scoreline was out of sight. It would have been an absolute miracle, more than a miracle to come back today. 

‘I thought it was an incredible performance by Europe and they put it out of sight.’

Nine members of the squad are said to have taken five weeks off ahead of the Ryder Cup

Zach Johnson’s decision to allow his players extra time off has been labelled ‘disgraceful’

McGinley is not the only analyst to have pointed to USA’s preparation as a reason for their demise this week.

Former Europe star Andrew Coltart went one step further by branding it ‘disgraceful’ after their miserable opening day at the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club.

‘I have a massive question, and Zach Johnson is going to get hit with this,’ Coltart told Sky Sports. ‘Who on earth in their right mind thinks the best way to prepare for a Ryder Cup is to take five weeks off?

‘Nine of the 12 American players took five weeks off. That’s disgraceful.’