'They Laughed and Thought It Was Funny': Team USA Gets Called Out by the Ryder Cup Legend

Originally posted on DailyClubGolf | By Krushna Pattnaik | Last updated Mar 17, 2026 7:56 AM ET

Team USA hasn’t won the Ryder Cup since 2021. The Americans came really close, but the European Team won the last two events. And that has frustrated the former Ryder Cup captain, Paul Azinger.

During a conversation at the March 16 press conference at the Concession Golf Club, a day ago. “It hurts me to see us lose Ryder Cups and then lose home course advantage,” said the 12-time PGA Tour champion.

“When I heard [Kevin] Kisner say the other day that [Tommy] Fleetwood drove it in the rough on purpose so Rory [McIlroy] could hold the shot into the green and our guys hit it in the fairway and couldn’t, they spun it, they laughed and thought it was funny,” he said at the 2026 Senior PGA Championship

The one-time PGA Championship winner didn’t criticize Fleetwood’s shot. He was disappointed with the way the American team reacted.

Despite the harsh crowd at Bethpage Black, McIlroy added better angle and spin after Fleetwood set things up for him. Meanwhile, the team failed to execute a similar controlled approach, although they did hit the fairway.

“It made me mad,” Azinger exclaimed. “I want to win the Ryder Cup, not get out-prepared. I just feel like a little more continuity.”

Losing on home ground was more disappointing for the 66-year-old. However, he seemed to know the reason behind the recent losses.

Paul Azinger Points Out a Mistake by the American Ryder Cup Team

Weighing in on the venue for the Ryder Cup, Azinger said, “I really don’t like Bethpage Black. There’s a lot of awkward angles, downhill tee shots to fairways that angle away, uphill second shots where you can’t see the landing area.”

This article first appeared on DailyClubGolf and was syndicated with permission.

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