Uneasy Ryder: ‘Someone’s Got To Lose, Man’

Tony Finau swings away during a practice round as members of Team USA look on prior to the 43rd Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits. Photo: Patrick Smith, Getty Images

HAVEN, WISCONSIN | Stand atop the red-cloaked stadium set around the first tee at Whistling Straits, the crisp fall wind blowing off Lake Michigan in the distance and, even with the silver aluminum seats empty, the place feels full.

There is a magnitude to the Ryder Cup that’s bigger than the structures that dot the rolling landscape, bigger than the emotions that churn inside the players until they erupt, bigger than the steadily increasing thrum of anticipation that has percolated for three years.

Like an 18-wheeler filling your rearview mirror, the closer it gets, the bigger it feels.

The Ryder Cup stands apart because it matters like nothing else.

As much as ever, it matters to the American team that they win this week.

“We have a whole new team. We have a team with no scar tissue. There’s only a handful of us that have even played in a Ryder Cup. And t...