American golfer Justin Thomas has disclosed that Team USA players engaged in heated arguments with greenskeeping staff at Bethpage Black during their painful Ryder Cup defeat to Europe.
Frustration Over Course Conditions
The United States team, led by captain Keegan Bradley, suffered a narrow 15-13 loss on their home turf at the notoriously difficult Long Island course. In the aftermath, questions swirled about the course setup, with American fans puzzled by trimmed rough and unexpectedly soft putting surfaces.
Thomas, the world number eight, has now pointed a finger at the Bethpage grounds team for the state of the greens, which he claims were not prepared to the specifications requested by Captain Bradley. "I don't know why they weren't at all what Keegan had asked for," Thomas stated on the No Laying Up Podcast.
A Bizarre Home Disadvantage
Thomas described a surreal scene where American players, who typically enjoy a significant advantage in tailoring course conditions for a home Ryder Cup, found themselves debating the issue. "I watched them argue with us that they were 13s [on the Stimpmeter]," he recalled, referring to the device that measures green speed.
"It's like: 'Guys, we play golf every week... These greens are slow, speed them up.'" Thomas expressed frustration that the team was unable to utilise the "fun advantage you generally have" when hosting the event, calling the entire situation "bizarre" for a home match.
Captain Bradley Assumes Blame
Despite the late controversy, the US mounted a stunning final-day singles comeback, rallying from an 11.5-4.5 deficit before ultimately falling short. Thomas noted the greens were faster on the Sunday but insisted he was not making excuses for the result, conceding Europe had to adjust to the same conditions.
US captain Keegan Bradley, however, refused to blame the Bethpage staff. "I wish that we could blame somebody, but we can't. Blame me," Bradley said, taking full responsibility for the loss. He explained that after the tournament begins, the home team loses control of the course, and the staff believed they had met the provided specifications.
"The Europeans just played so great," Bradley concluded, praising Luke Donald's victorious side while acknowledging his own role in the course setup which he admitted was a "mistake".
