American Ryder Cup captain got emotional and pointed finger of blame in interview

Former Ryder Cup captain Zach Johnson acknowledged that the blame for the USA's defeat in 2023 rested with him, not his players. In Rome, Europe regained the famous trophy with a convincing 16.5-11.5 triumph, reaffirming their supremacy. In a subdued press conference after the final session, Johnson took full responsibility for the loss - America's eighth of the century.

"I am proud of my guys. They fought, they have got so much heart and grit," he said, his voice laden with emotion. "It is not them, it is on me. "Maybe there are some important decisions I can reflect on. I don't have an idea yet. But it is not on them 12 guys. They played so hard, and I am grateful for each and every one of them." However, not all agreed with Johnson's view. A number of US players pushed back, insisting the responsibility lay with them rather than the captain.

"We all told him that, 'Zach, it's easy to look back after a week where they just played monumentally better, and we did not play well. It's easy to say you should have changed things,'" admitted Justin Thomas.

Rickie Fowler echoed that stance, conceding that the players simply fell short. "We just should have played better for him," he said. "All it comes down to is we didn't play as well as the Euros did."

Xander Schauffele went further, showing sympathy for Johnson's position. "We all just wish we would have done better so Zach wouldn't have to think this way," he said. "When we lose, the captain gets all the heat. When we win, the players get all the credit. We wouldn't be having this conversation if I played better or any of the guys you talked to today played better."

It was a stormy week for Johnson's team, both on and off the course. Rumours of a divided locker room swirled, with Patrick Cantlay at the centre. Tensions even erupted on camera when Rory McIlroy clashed with Cantlay's caddie, Joe LaCava, in a heated encounter on the Saturday.

Europe set the pace early, racing to an historic 4-0 lead in Friday's opening session - the first time they had ever achieved such a start. The USA mounted a brief response on Saturday, but Europe held firm in the Sunday singles to seal the win.

Johnson sought to minimise the focus on internal issues and instead praised Europe and their captain Luke Donald. "You have to take your hat off," he said in the aftermath. "To Team Europe, to Luke, they played great, they earned it."

The scale of the defeat shocked the Americans, especially after their emphatic 2021 win at Whistling Straits. Yet history suggested it was hardly surprising: USA have not triumphed on European soil since 1993, when they narrowly beat Europe 15-13 at The Belfry.

This weekend, the Americans arrive at Bethpage intent on revenge. Captained by Keegan Bradley, the squad includes some of the game's top stars such as world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, Schauffele, Thomas, J.J. Spaun and Russell Henley.

Europe, however, also have plenty of firepower. With Donald returning as captain, the side features Masters champion McIlroy alongside the likes of Jon Rahm, Tommy Fleetwood and Bob MacIntyre.

The Americans head into the contest as slight favourites, particularly on home soil. But Europe's record promises another fiercely contested Ryder Cup.

For Bradley, the task is as much mental as it is strategic. He leads a team eager to rewrite the narrative and move past the Rome disappointment, while also carrying three decades of near-misses abroad and the pressure of expectations at home.

Donald, in contrast, has embraced the role of calm guide, shaping his team into a united, resilient unit. Though cast as underdogs in New York, Europe has thrived in that position before and turned it into motivation.