Dress rehearsal before the Ryder Cup: Scheffler wins, vice-captain surprises

Last weekend, the 24 Ryder Cup players from both teams completed their final preparatory tournaments. The PGA Tour and the DP World Tour served as an unofficial dress rehearsal for the duel in New York. While the Americans delivered a demonstration of power in Napa, California, a vice-captain of all things surprised the European competition in England.

Scottie Scheffler dominates - US team is ready

Team USA gathered almost completely at the Procore Championship to prepare for the upcoming match. It was an event where Captain Keegan Bradley not only watched his team play, but also fostered cohesion. The best performances came from Scottie Scheffler and Ben Griffin, who decided the tournament between themselves.

Scheffler, the current world number 1, took the win with a commanding final round 67. His performance was a clear message to the European team: he is in absolute top form and ready to lead at Bethpage. Scheffler himself emphasized the importance of staying in competition mode. "It would be unusual to take a break four or five weeks before the Masters or the U.S. Open, so there's no reason to do that before the Ryder Cup," he said.

Successful preparation on the US side

Griffin, who was in the lead for a long time, had to settle for second place in the end, but showed a fighting attitude. "It's just a shame to finish like that," he commented, "but not everyone is a robot like Scottie. I'll work on that over the next week and hopefully sink every single Putt at the Ryder Cup."

Other US players also showed solid results. J.J. Spaun finished in sixth place and Cameron Young tied for ninth. Patrick Cantlay (T-30th) and Justin Thomas (69th) struggled, but the overall impression of the team was convincing. Scheffler's victory, his 19th career title, rounded off a successful preparation.

Bryson DeChambeau shows team spirit

One of the most remarkable stories of the preparation took place off the course. Bryson DeChambeau, whose participation in the Procore Championship was impossible due to his suspension by the PGA Tour, nevertheless traveled to Napa to support his team from the sidelines of the Fairways. This gesture was greatly appreciated by his teammates.

Collin Morikawa emphasized the new team spirit: "We have thrown this whole individual aspect overboard. Bryson's example shows that we are doing everything we can to be a unit." Captain Bradley also praised his player's commitment. "He's willing to give everything for the team. That shows what a good team player he is," he said, adding that DeChambeau is a "great asset" to the team.

Vice-captain Noren triumphs, Europe seeks form

At the BMW PGA Championship in Wentworth, almost all of the European players competed in order to play their way into the tournament. But victory went to a player who is not even on the team: Alex Noren, vice-captain of Team Europe, prevailed in the play-off and won his second title at this prestigious tournament.

Noren's strong run, which began with another victory at the British Masters, sparked speculation about the captain's selection, but the Swede played down the situation coolly. "I think we have a great team and it's the right twelve guys playing," said Noren. "I showed my good form too late and I think the guys in the team will be fantastic."

Team Europe with fluctuating performance

The actual team members showed mixed results. Viktor Hovland, Tyrrell Hatton and Matt Fitzpatrick finished in a tie for fifth place and delivered solid performances. Jon Rahm (T-13) and Rory McIlroy (T-20) showed with strong rounds on Sunday that their form curve is pointing upwards. McIlroy summed it up: "There's been a lot of talk and thoughts about the Ryder Cup, but you still want to play well this week."

Other Europeans struggled more: Tommy Fleetwood and Shane Lowry finished the tournament in a tie for 46th place, while Robert MacIntyre and Rasmus Højgaard missed the cut. After the tournament, the team flew directly to New York for a two-day course inspection on the Bethpage Black Course, a measure that captain Luke Donald says was crucial to the team's success in Rome in 2023. "That's one thing that worked very well for us in Rome," he explained. Shane Lowry also emphasized the importance of the trip: "We came together and made our trip to Rome. When we arrived in Rome for the Ryder Cup, it felt like we had never been apart."