Despite giving it all, Team USA fell short at the 2025 Ryder Cup. The chapter of defeat did not see an end there. American audiences faced a backlash for their behavior on the course; on the other hand, the intent and passion of American golfers were questioned. Now, a PGA Tour golfer, who made his Ryder Cup debut this year, is defending the US spirit, shattering all claims.

It was argued, especially after the whole pay fiasco, that the Ryder Cup has become just another event for Americans. It lacks the emotional weight it carries across the Atlantic. Recently, J.J. Spaun joined Trey Wingo for a candid conversation, and conversation took place there.

“But for whatever reason, the Ryder Cup seems to hold deeper significance for the European players than for the Americans. Is that fair? would you say you’d rather sink the winning putt at the Ryder Cup than the one you sank at Oakmont?” asked Wingo. Spaun took some time to ponder the matter and then replied.

“I don’t know if it’s fair. I mean, yeah, that’s a tough question. I think perspective comes with having played Ryder Cups and understanding what it’s like. If you’d asked me that before I played, I would’ve chosen the U.S. Open all day long. Honestly, even now, it’s a toss-up for me. But I do believe that after playing the Ryder Cup, I understand the intensity of what it means to be not only a Ryder Cupper but part of that team and to have a chance to win and represent your country. It meant way more than I ever thought it would. Maybe moving forward, if I already had a major under my belt, I’d rather make the winning putt for the Ryder Cup because it’s so intense.”

That winning putt at the Ryder Cup is always intense. It was Shane’s putt this year during Sunday Singles that helped Europe secure its second consecutive win. First, Lowry hit with a wedge to 6 feet on the 18th hole, then made the putt to tie his match with Russell Henley and give Europe its cup-clinching 14th point.

The US Open winner also shed light on experience and the passion every golfer on the team carries. “You’re spending every waking hour with your teammates. You see what the captains are doing behind the scenes to help you succeed, and your entire country is behind you. It’s such a massive event—you don’t really understand it until you play in it.”

Captains play a pivotal role in such tournaments, helping golfers navigate the challenges and prepare as a team. They make pairings for foursomes and fourballs, which are very crucial.

He also reflected on how his perspective has now changed. “If you’d asked me that question before being on the Ryder Cup team, I probably would’ve chosen a personal victory over the Ryder Cup. But I’ll never forget being right there on the green, watching Shane make that putt, and thinking, ‘God, I wish that was us so badly.’”

Ending the debate, J.J. Spaun concluded, “You win the U.S. Open, and it’s yours. You win a Masters, it’s yours. But the Ryder Cup—you share that with everyone. It’s definitely bigger.”

Spaun was one of the highlights at Bethpage. He picked up two points for his team, and the fact that he played just three times frustrated several fans. But alongside that, critics and fans began questioning whether American golfers truly play with the same passion and pride that their European counterparts display. However, other happenings have become breeding grounds for controversies surrounding the Ryder Cup.

Did America’s quest for money cost them their Ryder Cup pride?

The plea of the Americans to get paid for playing in the Ryder Cup dates a long way back. In 1999, it was Tiger Woods and David Duval who vehemently called for the US golfers to be paid for showing up at the Ryder Cup. It escalated when Patrick Cantlay allegedly protested by refusing to wear a hat for lack of financial incentives in 2023 at Marco Simone. Finally, all of these added up.

For the first time in history, all the members of Team USA received a handsome package of $500,000 to play in the Ryder Cup. This also included a sum of £300k to be paid to a charity of their liking. This in a way made it evident that the Americans played for money, unlike Team Europe, which valued pride over financial motivation.