Two stats that will shock you about Europe and USA ahead of Ryder Cup
Think Team USA hit it further than Team Europe on average and hit more errant tee shots? You might want to think again ahead of the 2023 Ryder Cup...
If you find yourself down the pub this weekend and the subject of Ryder Cup comes to the fore, you might just want to inform your pals of these interesting two stats heading into the Rome clash.
Now it's probably fair to assume the majority of golf fans would consider the 12 players in the United States Ryder Cup team hit the ball a lot further than those on the European Ryder Cup team.
It's also fair to assume the majority would consider European players are much more accurate than American players.
Both of those assumptions would be true at any other Ryder Cup down the years.
But not in 2023.
You can now flip the switch.
Ok, Brian Harman is a US Ryder Cup debutant, which likely tips the scales...
According to Golf Digest's director of content Jamie Kennedy, who has crunched the stats, Team USA average 305.6 yards compared to Team Europe's average of 308.5 yards.
Team USA then find 60.3% of the fairways off the tee, while Team Europe find 59.7%.
While small margins, interesting observations nevertheless ahead of the 2023 Ryder Cup.
Long, accurate driving will be the order of the three days at Marco Simone, which makes it even more peculiar as to why DP World Tour strokes-gained off the tee leader Adrian Meronk was shunned one of Donald's six picks in the team earlier this week.
Not to mention he won the Italian Open at Marco Simone in May.
Interesting dynamic for this year's Ryder Cup...
Narrative: "US team is longer than Europe"
Fact: US team averages 305.6, Europe 308.5
Narrative: "Europeans are more accurate"
Fact: Europe's driving accuracy is 59.7%, US 60.3%
— Jamie Kennedy (@jamierkennedy) September 4, 2023
The new breed of Europeans (Rory, Rahm, Hov, Ludvig) are "modern" style players, not "European" style golfers.
Doesn't diminish the appeal of the Ryder Cup, just perhaps diminishes the perceived impact of course set-up.
— Jamie Kennedy (@jamierkennedy) September 4, 2023
Kennedy tweeted:
One golf fan responded:
Kennedy replied:
Kennedy then continued his observation by suggesting the new breed of European golfers such as McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg are now "modern" style players as opposed to old-school accurate "European players" in past Ryder Cups such as Colin Montgomerie, Bernhard Langer, Luke Donald and Lee Westwood.
Kennedy added:
How do you think Marco Simone will be set up? Will it favour the Europeans or the Americans? Share your thoughts and comments over on the GolfMagic social media channels.
