It was the final day of the Ryder Cup, which saved the American side from a treacherous loss; otherwise, it would have been the most haunting Ryder Cup edition. But despite that, it is hard to forget the tragic performance slump in the first two days. Even Johnson Wagner says it raises alarm for the team. However, interestingly, apart from pointing out the performance, he also shared how the PGA Tour event is hindering the American side from performing.

Wagner featured on the Fried Egg Golf podcast with Andy Johnson and discussed how a captain should possess the qualities of an elite golf mind, in addition to an elite playing career. Echoing the same lines, Wagner pulled out stats of the Presidents Cup. He said, “So, there’s been 15 Ryder Cups in ‌that time in 30 years. And we are 4 & 11. I’m not trying to piss people off here, and I’m not saying the President’s Cup has to go away. I just think that we need it because we care about the Ryder Cup.”

As stated by Wagner, since the President’s Cup was introduced in 1994, the American side has won the Ryder Cup only four times. In fact, of those four wins, each victory followed a long break. Initially, the US won in 1999 at Brookline, Massachusetts, followed by victories in 2008 (Valhalla, Kentucky) and 2016 (Hazeltine, Minnesota). The most recent win came on home soil (Whistling Straits, Wisconsin) in 2021. However, when it came to 2025, we all saw how things unfolded. Interestingly, from 1979 to 1993, eight Ryder Cups were held, with Team USA winning five and one ending in a tie. The struggle has continued since then. Beyond this, Wagner also points to another issue lacking on the American side.

Further, he shared, “We care just as much as these Europeans do, but it’s time to like put it in the forefront and focus on it and find somebody… We need somebody to devote their time. Like Paul Azinger, man, I’m telling you, like the whole Paul Azinger thing, how he’s not a part of every team since ‘08…I mean, it’s like we are getting this so backwards, and it’s not getting closer as a competition. European’s starting to be a dominant force, and with the youth, they just lost a generation of captains as well with LIV.”

For those unaware, Paul Azinger was the captain for the 37th Ryder Cup held from September 19-21, 2008, in the United States at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky. And what his team accomplished was more than remarkable as they won 161⁄2 – 111⁄2 to end the streak of three successive victories for Europe. To top that, it was the USA’s largest margin of victory since 1981 and the first time since 1979 that the Americans had held the lead after every session of play.

On one side, where Europeans are targeting a pipeline for leadership, the American side has seen unexpected changes with each passing season. Even the top names, like Justin Leonard and Larry Nelson, were not considered for leading the team. With his voice on the issue, more people joined in. Interestingly, it was Phil Mickelson who shut down the rumors of leading the side, but he still has a strategy to offer.

Phil Mickelson voices the strategy that could help the USA at the Ryder Cup

Recently, when Kyle Porter praised Europeans for their qualities, such as relationships and communication, he also posed a question about who can get the American side to adopt those qualities. Interestingly, he discarded Tiger Woods as an option, and similarly, Mickelson did the same, but with a bigger issue to resolve first.

Sharing for which Mickelson wrote, “The Europeans have a template that teaches and prepares their captains for these skills. The U.S. has a new template every 2 years with little continuity. If a coach K or Lou Holtz or someone similar took over, would it be built upon, or would it be scrapped and start over again afterwards? If that’s the case, it would be a waste of time and effort and not worth doing to begin with.”

As mentioned earlier by Wagner regarding experience and structure, Mickelson shares the same thoughts, and he has brought in top coaches like Coach K and Lou Holtz, who have shaped the teams with their experience. Lou Holtz, a renowned college football coach, led the team to a National Championship victory in 1988. Additionally, Coach K coached the Duke University basketball team and helped lead them to 5 NCAA Championships, along with other notable performances. The coaches have helped in building a pipeline structure, which is missing on the USA Team.

With the American squad changing its leadership with each edition, it will be a long-term problem if not addressed soon. Well, with just thoughts to offer, Mickelson has stepped away from the leadership rumors. Now that the spot is open, who should be named for it? Share what you think about it in the comments below.