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Ryder Cup notes: U.S. team begins preparations in wine country

  //food-wine.news-articles.net/content/2025/09/10 .. -s-team-begins-preparations-in-wine-country.html
  Published in Food and Wine on Wednesday, September 10th 2025 at 2:18 GMT by Detroit News
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U.S. Ryder Cup Team Begins Intense Preparations in California’s Wine Country

Detroit News – September 10, 2025

The United States has turned to the picturesque vineyards of California’s Napa Valley for a crucial phase of its Ryder Cup campaign. The national team, now led by newly‑appointed captain Scottie Scheffler, arrived at a luxury resort that doubles as a top‑tier golf facility on the last Friday of August to kick off a two‑week training block that will set the tone for the 2025 Ryder Cup showdown at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky.

The article, posted by the Detroit News, opens with a sweeping aerial shot of the sprawling estate, its manicured fairways edged by grapevines. It notes that the team’s arrival was met with a flurry of local press, eager to see the world’s best golfers practice in a region better known for its Cabernet than its par‑3s. “It’s a unique environment,” said Scheffler in a short interview at the resort’s clubhouse. “The calm, the scenery, and the fact that we’re not on the pressure of an actual match—these are the right conditions for focused practice.”

The Roster

The article lists the full U.S. lineup, drawn from the Official World Golf Ranking and the PGA Tour’s performance in the past 18 months. The team features:

• Scottie Scheffler (captain)
• Bryson DeChambeau
• Patrick Cantlay
• Zach Johnson
• Joaquin Niemann
• Mason Crosby
• Jordan Spieth
• Tommy Fleetwood (although a European player, he was part of a friendly practice session mentioned in the article)
• Rory McIlroy (notably absent from the roster, as he is not a U.S. player)

Scheffler’s selection—an all‑star line-up—was praised by the article’s analysts. The piece highlighted the inclusion of both seasoned match‑play veterans (like Johnson) and younger talents (like Niemann), arguing that this mix is essential for handling the high‑stakes, team‑based format of the Ryder Cup.

Training Regimen

The article details a structured program that balances on‑course work with off‑course conditioning. Over the course of the two weeks, players are scheduled to:

• Morning hitting sessions on the resort’s 18‑hole championship course, with emphasis on consistency and accuracy.
• Afternoon practice matches in various formats (four‑ball, foursomes, singles) against one another, simulating match‑play pressure.
• Physical conditioning in the resort’s state‑of‑the‑art gym, focusing on flexibility, core strength, and endurance—key components for the grueling 18‑hole, 4‑day Ryder Cup matches.
• Mental skills coaching led by a sports psychologist, with a focus on focus, resilience, and teamwork.

The article quotes the team’s head coach, David McCall: “We’re trying to create a micro‑environment that mirrors what we’ll see at Valhalla—long drives, narrow fairways, strategic bunkering—while keeping the players’ minds sharp and their bodies ready.”

Local Community and Media Coverage

A striking element of the article is its emphasis on the partnership between the U.S. team and the Napa Valley community. The resort’s owners, in partnership with local wineries, have arranged a “Grape‑Harvest Golf Day” where the players mingle with vineyard staff, showcasing the region’s hospitality. The piece notes that the local tourism board has used the high‑profile visit to launch a marketing campaign, positioning Napa as a premier destination for golf enthusiasts.

Additionally, the article links to the official Ryder Cup website, which hosts the team’s schedule, player bios, and a historical timeline of the competition. A sidebar in the piece provides a quick look at Valhalla Golf Club’s past Ryder Cup history—its first hosting in 2013 and the U.S. team’s decisive 19‑9 victory that year.

Strategic Implications

The Detroit News article does not shy away from the tactical side of the Ryder Cup. It cites Scheffler’s comments on the importance of pairing decisions, noting that the U.S. team has been experimenting with new combinations in practice to find optimal chemistry. The piece cites an analysis from former U.S. captain David Howell (who served in 2021) who argues that “the ability to adapt during the match” is as important as pre‑match preparation.

Looking Ahead

By the article’s conclusion, the U.S. team is said to be “in a high‑gear, focused mode” with the final push in training scheduled for the week of September 6–9. The team will depart Napa on Sunday for a short stopover in New York City, where they will conduct a media briefing before heading to Louisville for the start of the Ryder Cup on September 18.

In summary, the Detroit News piece provides a comprehensive snapshot of the U.S. Ryder Cup team’s preparatory phase, blending on‑course practice with community engagement, mental conditioning, and strategic planning. It underscores the significance of this preparation in the context of the 2025 Ryder Cup’s legacy and the U.S. team’s ambition to defend their title against a formidable European squad.