Ryder Cup loss isn't music to USA ears; Captain Tom Watson criticized

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Rory McIlroy sprays champagne as he celebrates Europe’s Ryder Cup win over the U.S. on Sunday. (Ross Kinnaird / Getty Images)

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Europe’s Thomas Bjorn, left, and Jamie Donaldson celebrate the team’s Ryder Cup win over the U.S. on Sunday. (Matt Dunham / Associated Press)

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Jamie Donaldson celebrates on the 15th green after Europe defeats the U.S. in the 2014 Ryder Cup. (Harry Engels / Getty Images)

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Bubba Watson looks down while sitting near the 14th tee during the final day of the 2014 Ryder Cup. (Andrew Redington / Getty Images)

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Europe’s Rory McIlroy celebrates after sinking a putt on the first green to win the hole against Rickie Fowler at the 2014 Ryder Cup. (Andy Rain / EPA)

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Rickie Rowler chips out of the rough onto the first green during the final day of the 2014 Ryder Cup. (Andy Rain / EPA)

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Patrick Reed celebrates after sinking a putt on the eighth green for the U.S. during the final day of the 2014 Ryder Cup. (Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images)

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Europe’s Graeme McDowell plays out of a bunker during the final day of the 2014 Ryder Cup. (Gerry Penny / EPA)

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Hunter Mahan plays a tee shot on the fourth hole for the U.S. during the final day of the 2014 Ryder Cup. (Matt Dunham / Associated Press)

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U.S. Ryder Cup fans cheer during the final day of the 2014 Ryder Cup. (Facundo Arrizabalaga / EPA)

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American Jim Furyk reacts after missing a birdie putt at No. 13 during the foursomes play at the Ryder Cup on Saturday. (Matt Dunham / Associated Press)

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Europe’s Ian Poulter celebrates after chipping in for a birdie at No. 15 during the morning fourball comptition at the Ryder Cup on Saturday at Gleneagles, Scotland. (Ross Kinnaird / Getty Images)

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Americans Jordan Spieth, left, and Patrick Reed discuss a bunker shot during foursomes play at the Ryder Cup on Saturday. (Gerry Penny / EPA)

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Europe’s Justin Rose celebrates as his team halves a match with the U.S. in the afternoon foursomes play at the Ryder Cup on Saturday. (Andrew Redington / Getty Images)

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American Rickie Fowler plays from the rough at No. 8 during the afternoon foursomes play at the Ryder Cup on Saturday. (Ross Kinnaird / Getty Images)

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Europe’s Rory McIlroy tees off at No. 12 during the foursomes play on Saturday afternoon at Gleneagles. (Adrian Dennis / AFP / Getty Images)

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Hunter Mahan ponders a missed putt during his Ryder Cup foursomes match on Saturday. (Facundo Arrizabalaga / EPA)

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U.S. assistant captain Steve Stricker gives Matt Kuchar a ride past the Guardians of the Cup following foursomes play at the Ryder Cup on Saturday afternoon at Gleneagles, Scotland. (Adrian Dennis / AFP / Getty Images)

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European teammates Grahame McDowell, left, and Victor Dubuisson acknowledge the cheers as they walk off No. 13 during their Ryder Cup foursomes match on Saturday. (Glyn Kirk / AFP / Getty Images)

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Europe’s Lee Westwood has plenty of company while playing from the rough at No. 3 during his foursomes match at the Ryder Cup on Saturday afternoon. (Harry How / Getty Images)

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Rickie Fowler of the U.S. team watches his shot from the seventh tee during the fourball matches at Gleneagles, Scotland, during the 2014 Ryder Cup competition between Europe and the USA. (Ben Stansall / AFP/Getty Images)

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A view of the eighth green during the Morning Fourballs of the 2014 Ryder Cup on the PGA Centenary course at the Gleneagles Hotel in Scotland. (David Cannon / Getty Images)

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Phil Mickelson of the U.S. team plays off the 18th fairway in front of the gallery during the fourballs on the first day of the 40th Ryder Cup at Gleneagles, Scotland. (Gerry Penny / EPA)

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Sergio Garcia, left, congratulates Rory McIlroy after his putt on the eighth green during the afternoon foursomes on the first day of the 40th Ryder Cup at Gleneagles in Scotland. (Andrew Redington / Getty Images)

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Spectators watch Jimmy Walker of the United States play a shot on the fifth hole during the afternoon foursomes on the first day of the 40th Ryder Cup at Gleneagles in Scotland. (Andrew Redington / Getty Images)

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Amy Mickelson, wife of Phil Mickelson of the United States, high-fives U.S. fans on the first day of the 40th Ryder Cup at Gleneagles in Scotland. (Harry How / Getty Images)

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Jimmy Walker of the U.S. putts during the fourballs on the first day of the 40th Ryder Cup at Gleneagles in Scotland. (Facundo Arrizabalaga / EPA)

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Spectators wearing Scottish caps watch play in the fourball golf matches at Gleneagles on the first day of the 40th Ryder Cup at Gleneagles in Scotland. (Ben Stansall / AFP/Getty Images)

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U.S. fans wear patriotic clothing as they watch the foursomes golf matches on the first day of the 40th Ryder Cup at Gleneagles in Scotland. (Ben Stansall / AFP/Getty Images)

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Europe’s Justin Rose celebrates putting on the 11th green during the foursomes match on the first day of the 40th Ryder Cup at Gleneagles in Scotland. (Scott Heppell / Associated Press)

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The sun rises over the third green during the fourball matches on the first day of the 40th Ryder Cup at Gleneagles in Scotland. (Ben Stansall / AFP/Getty Images)

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Phil Mickelson, right, of the United States celebrates with Keegan Bradley on the 16th green during the morning fourballs on the first day of the 40th Ryder Cup at Gleneagles in Scotland. (Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images)

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Rickie Fowler of the U.S. watches his shot from a bunker onto the first green during the fourball match on the first day of the 40th Ryder Cup at Gleneagles in Scotland. (Matt Dunham / Associated Press)

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Team USA fans show their support during the morning fourballs on the first day of the 40th Ryder Cup at Gleneagles in Scotland. (David Cannon / Getty Images)

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Hunter Mahan of the U.S. lets go of his club after putting on the third green during the foursomes match on the first day of the 40th Ryder Cup at Gleneagles in Scotland. (Scott Heppell / Associated Press)

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Ian Poulter of England chips from a bunker on the eighth hole during the fourball golf matches on the first day of the 40th Ryder Cup at Gleneagles in Scotland. (Adrian Dennis / AFP/Getty Images)

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Europe’s team supporters cheer during the fourballs on the first day of the 40th Ryder Cup at Gleneagles in Scotland. (Facundo Arrizabalaga / EPA)

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Europe’s Rory McIlroy hits out of a bunker on the 18th green during the fourballs on the first day of the 40th Ryder Cup at Gleneagles in Scotland. (Gerry Penny / EPA)

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Rickie Fowler of the U.S. reacts after missing a putt during his fourballs match with Europe’s Thomas Bjorn and Martin Kaymer on the first day of the 40th Ryder Cup at Gleneagles in Scotland. (Andy Rain / EPA)

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U.S. supporters follow the fourball matches on the first day of the 40th Ryder Cup at Gleneagles in Scotland. (Facundo Arrizabalaga / EPA)

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Europe teammates Sergio Garcia (center) and Rory McIlroy pose for a photo with golf fans during the final practice round before the Ryder Cup on Thursday at Gleneagles, Scotland. (Andy Rain / EPA)

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U.S. golfer Jim Furyk, right, takes a selfie with a golf fan during a break in his Ryder Cup practice round at the 17th green at Gleneagles. (Glyn Kirk / AFP / Getty Images)

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Fans of the U.S. and Europe wave flag during the opening ceremony for the 40th Ryder Cup on Thursday at Gleneagles, Scotland. (Gerry Penny / EPA)

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A group of Europe fans cheer during the opening ceremony for the Ryder Cup on Thursday at Gleneagles. (Adrian Dennis / AFP / Getty Images)

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U.S. captain Tom Watson signs autographs for Ryder Cup fans at Gleneagles on Tuesday. (Peter Morrison / Associated Press)

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U.S. fans sport their red, white and blue outfits during the final practice round for the Ryder Cup on Thursday at Gleneagles. (Andy Rain / EPA)

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Europe assistant captain Jose Maria Olazabal signs a fans kilt during the last Ryder Cup practice round on Thursday at Gleneagles. (Andy Rain / EPA)

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Fans of the late Spanish legend Seve Ballesteros, who was a former No. 1-ranked golfer and winner of five majors, show their support at Gleneagles on Thursday. (Andy Rain / EPA)

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American fans donned in stripes and stars watch a Ryder Cup practice round on Wednesday at Gleneagles. (Matt Dunham / Associated Press)

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European fans donned in the colors of their Ryder Cup team arrive for the opening ceremony on Thursday at Gleneagles. (Matt Dunham / Associated Press)

By David Wharton

Staff Writer

Sept. 28, 2014 4:09 PM PT

Reporting from GLENEAGLES, Scotland —

It was a sound the American players dreaded all weekend.

Thunderous roars echoing across the grounds at Gleneagles. Cheers giving way to countless voices in unison, the fans singing “Ole, Ole.”

Again and again, this raucous leitmotif shattered the tranquillity of the Scottish countryside, serving as a reminder that the U.S. team was headed for another loss to Europe at the Ryder Cup.

“They played better than we did,” Jim Furyk said. “And they whipped us.”

Sunday marked the eighth time in the last 10 tries that the Europeans have come away victorious. The final score of 16 1/2 to 11 1/2 ranked among their most lopsided wins ever.

“We deserve nothing less,” Rory McIlroy said as he celebrated with teammates. “We put so much hard work into this.”

It would have taken a historic comeback for the Americans to erase a four-point deficit in the final singles matches Sunday.

They could take some hope from the fact that Europe pulled off just such a feat two years ago in the so-called “Miracle at Medinah.” But there would be no magic this time.

The competition officially ended about 4:30 p.m. local time with Jamie Donaldson staring at 140 yards to the 15th green, perfect yardage for his wedge. Donaldson said, “I just had to put a good swing on it.”

His ball stuck within two feet of the pin and Keegan Bradley conceded the match, pushing Europe over the required 14 points.

Afterward, the Americans boiled over with frustration, some of it directed at themselves, much of it aimed at Captain Tom Watson.

Watson had previously come under criticism for his wild-card selections and for sticking with players who seemed to grow tired from too many matches.

On Sunday evening, Bradley expressed disappointment with the captain’s decision to bench him for all of Saturday. Phil Mickelson suggested the team should return to a scheme laid down by former captain Paul Azinger in 2008.

Guiding the U.S. to its only victory since 1999, Azinger divided the roster into pods, matching players with similar games and personalities.

“Unfortunately, we have strayed from a winning formula in ’08 for the last three Ryder Cups,” Mickelson said. “We need to consider maybe getting back to that formula.”

Sitting only a few seats away at the news conference, Watson replied: “I had a different philosophy than Paul. I decided not to go that way.”

By contrast, the European team lavished praise on its captain, Paul McGinley, whom Sergio Garcia called “amazing.”

McGinley had talked frequently about a “template” for success. And while he remained vague on details — after all, the Europeans want to continue their streak — his efforts involved poring over statistics and keeping in frequent contact with candidates for the team.

Players talked about his fretting over every detail, from the all-important pairings to the pictures that hung on the walls of the team room.

“No stone left unturned,” McIlroy said.

Coaching aside, it wasn’t difficult to see why the Europeans prevailed.

They dominated afternoon play, going undefeated in eight foursomes matches. They also showed an uncanny ability to pull ahead on the back nine.

As Ian Poulter put it: “The boys dug in deep.”

The Americans slipped in the other direction, often wilting down the stretch. And their highest-ranked players — Furyk, Bubba Watson and Matt Kuchar — went a combined 2-9.

That hurt even more in a year when Tiger Woods, Dustin Johnson and Jason Dufner were sidelined for various reasons.

If there was a bright spot for the U.S. team, it was the play of rookies Jordan Spieth, Patrick Reed and Jimmy Walker. Making their debut in the pressure cooker of Ryder Cup competition, they finished as the team’s top point-getters.

Therein might lie America’s best hope for breaking Europe’s stranglehold when the Ryder Cup reconvenes at Hazeltine in 2016.

“We went out there and were able to get the job done in the morning matches,” Spieth said. “Come Hazeltine, we’ll be ready to go.”

At the very least, playing on home soil will spare the Americans from listening to all those Europeans sing.