CARNOUSTIE, Scotland — Among the many subplots to this week’s 147th British Open is the competition between the U.S. and European players with the Ryder Cup coming up in September.
With the last five major championships won by American players, Patrick Reed, whose nickname is “Captain America’’ for his on-course Ryder Cup antics, said another American winning this week at Carnoustie “would send a good message.”
“I feel like our team is improving,’’ Reed said. “I feel like the difference between ’14 and ’16 was not only the process it was to get the team put together, but also I felt like the focus and determination between our team as a unit was a lot stronger.
“I feel like we finally clicked, and we figured out the right kind of mold for 2016 and moving forward. So if we can continue that run on winning the big tournaments and stuff and keeping them in the States, it’s going to help our psyche, and it’s also going to hopefully get in the heads of the Europeans a little bit.’’
Not surprisingly, Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland, one of the leaders of the European side, did not agree entirely with Reed’s assessment.
“Obviously, with the Americans dominating the individual tournaments, that sort of gives them confidence going into the Ryder Cup,” McIlroy said. “But there could be two American players [who] could win the next two majors, and Europe could win the Ryder Cup.
“It’s going to be tough to beat them this week. It’s going to be tough to beat them in France. Europeans had their nice little run a few years ago, and I just think these things work in cycles. Right now all these guys are playing really good golf, and they’re some of the best players in the world and deservedly so, and they’re going to take some beating.”
Martin Slumbers, chief executive of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club, revealed Wednesday there has been some testing of players’ drivers this week in an effort to make sure they all conform to standards, given how long players are hitting the ball now.
“We’ve always had an equipment test capability down on the range, certainly since I’ve been involved in the Open,’’ he said. “It’s been an option for players or the manufacturers to take their equipment in and have it tested. We take our governance role very seriously, not just on the rules of golf and amateur status, but also equipment standards, and we felt it was an appropriate next step to more actively seek to test players’ drivers straight out of the bag.”
McIlroy, one of the game’s longest hitters, said he wasn’t tested, but said: “I did have a look at the board and see who was selected. I think there was one manufacturer that was singled out a bit more than anyone else.’’
Asked which one, he said, “The one that I’m using,’’ referring to Taylor Made. “A manufacturer is always going to try and find ways to get around what the regulations are. It’s a bit of an arms race. I understand why they’re testing equipment. If there are some drivers out there that have went a little bit over the limit, then, obviously, guys shouldn’t be playing them.’’
McIlroy, asked to describe defending champion Jordan Spieth, said: “I was going to say a better person than he is a golfer, but that sounds like I’m discrediting him. But he’s a wonderful person — just as good a person as he is a golfer.
“He’s had a fantastic start to his career, and he’s probably the one guy that, whenever I see him on the board, I look out for more than the rest, because it doesn’t matter what he does, where he hits it, he’s so tenacious, and he gets it done.’’
Even though Spieth is the defending Open champion, Padraig Harrington considers himself the defending Open champion at Carnoustie because he was the last player to win the Open at the course — in 2007.
“I’m kind of coming back as a kind of defending champion,’’ Harrington said. “I know Jordan won last year, but it does make it a little more special when you’re coming back in that circumstance. For all intents and purposes, it’s a complete different course than the one in 2007, but it’s always nice to be back in a place you’ve played well.
“I will make the effort to enjoy myself this week. I’ll make the effort to smell the roses this week.’’
