Whistling Straits may suit Pádraig Harrington’s team and Jon Rahm is world No 1 but there are eight Americans in the top 10
Predicting the outcome of a Ryder Cup based on preceding major championships can be an ill-advised process. Francesco Molinari had just won the Open when Europe hosted the US in Paris three years ago but the visitors were firm favourites by virtue of six major wins from the previous eight. The Europeans duly prevailed comprehensively.
Pádraig Harrington, Europe’s Ryder Cup captain, looked concerned enough with his playing of the Open’s closing 36 holes in four over par long before Collin Morikawa lifted the Claret Jug on Sunday. Harrington would never say this publicly – even if Europe tend to revel in the role of underdog for the biennial joust – but the nature of Morikawa’s latest triumph looked ominous in respect of Whistling Straits in September. The 24-year-old sits atop the US Ryder Cup qualification table. Jon Rahm, the US Open champion, has returned to No 1 in the world but eight Americans and a South African complete the top 10. Stars and stripes sit alongside 14 of the top 20.
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