Billy Horschel urges major shake-up in US Ryder Cup team after Bethpage Black setback

Plenty of fans believe the blame for the USA’s latest Ryder Cup loss should fall on the PGA of America rather than Keegan Bradley, and Billy Horschel has now shared his view on what needs to change.

Asked on Golf Today if he thinks Europe’s set-up is tighter and more organised, Horschel responded positively.

“Yeah it is. And I had some conversations with some people, some other players, players that are bigger names and have been part of Ryder Cups, after this Ryder Cup, and the thing that I shared with them is that over the last five or six years being on the European Tour, understanding that the European Tour runs their Ryder Cup, so they see these people, they know the backroom staff, they can have conversations over their playing about the Ryder Cup.

“Even if it’s a couple of years in advance, about hotels or anything that you know comes across their mind about how to make things better.

“They have that ability to talk to these people that they have a relationship with on a regular basis. In my opinion, we don’t have that with the PGA of America.”

“They do come around and they do a great job. We’re not going to say they don’t do a good job. But I believe that it’s time that the PGA Tour, or people that we believe should take over Team USA. They should run Team USA.

“The PGA of America can still run the Ryder Cup, they can still sell all the corporate stuff, but I think we need to take more ownership of our team and have people there who work on that Ryder Cup on a yearly basis, and are out at our tournaments that we can have a relationship with and talk through things about so we don’t miss things, and things don’t slip through the cracks.”

Luke Donald set the tone for Europe’s Ryder Cup win long before play began

Horschel has returned to the PGA Tour following a six-month injury layoff, making his comeback at the Baycurrent Classic.

The eight-time PGA Tour winner is back in action again this week at the Bank of Utah Championship, but his thoughts have not strayed far from what happened at Bethpage Black.

He was not part of the playing group in New York, but clearly wants to see Team USA regain their edge over Team Europe.

While other factors were certainly involved, including team quality, there is no denying that Europe once again nailed their preparation.

Luke Donald had his players ready for everything. Preparation included guest speakers and virtual reality sessions to simulate what they would face from a hostile crowd.

The verbal abuse from American fans did not stop Europe from delivering a superb performance and taking home another title.

It is hard to say exactly how much prep work Bradley and the PGA of America did, but it clearly did not measure up to what Donald and his side put together.