Funny thing about championship chrome. It can create quite a vivid reflection, which frequently prompts a bit of inward-looking analysis.
Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the weakest of them all?
As it relates to team competitions, United States stars are finding it increasingly tougher to examine the face staring back in the figurative looking glass.
Over the weekend in Colorado, the Europeans obliterated the Yanks 18-10 to retain the Solheim Cup, recording the most lopsided win in the history of the women's version of the Ryder Cup. The Solheim massacre ensured that the four oldest pieces of international team silverware remain on the European side of the Atlantic.
The US has lost the Ryder in seven of the past nine stagings, a talking point for years. But American underachievement has pervaded the amateur and women's levels, too. The European Solheim side included six event rookies, yet they dominated.
Sweden's Caroline Hedwall, playing in her second Solheim, finished the week 5-0 to earn the same number of points as US major winners Paula Creamer, Morgan Pressel, Stacy Lewis and Cristie Kerr combined.
Added to the trophies held by Great Britain & Ireland in the Walker and Curtis cup matches, the amateur versions of the Ryder and Solheim, and it represents a grand slam in the Yanks v Euros continuum.
Upon reflection, then, American debacles no longer qualify as upsets. Which does not make the image in the chrome any easier to eyeball.
Follow us
[ @SprtNationalUAE ]
