Following a dismal 8-26 record in foursomes across four recent men’s professional team golf events, Wyndham Clark argues that the American struggles in alternate shot play stem from overlooking equipment consistency and a lack of specific practice rhythms.
Fantasy & Market Impact
- Future Ryder Cup: Early market adjustments for the upcoming September team fixture will likely account for the historical 8-26 foursomes deficit when pricing head-to-head match outcomes.
The Equipment Disconnect in Foursomes Play
The gap in average world ranking between competing sides across recent international tournaments points heavily toward American dominance on paper. At last month’s Presidents Cup, that ranking gap sat at 35.7, with the U.S. averaging 15.1 compared to the International side’s 50.8. Similar talent disparities appeared at last year’s Ryder Cup (U.S. 11.1 to Europe’s 23.6), the 2024 Presidents Cup (U.S. 11.9 to International’s 34.3), and the 2023 Ryder Cup (U.S. 12.9 to Europe’s 30). Yet, despite holding clear advantages on paper, the U.S. team has stumbled to an 8-26 record in alternate shot foursomes.
Speaking on a recent episode of SiriusXM’s Gravy & the Sleeze show, Clark addressed the root causes behind these persistent struggles. Having played in three of those four team events—including the 2023 Ryder Cup and the past two Presidents Cups—Clark carries an 0-3 personal record in foursomes. According to his analysis on the show, the team has relied on pairing close buddies together following a model similar to European squad strategies, an approach that has repeatedly failed to yield results.
I think sometimes we overlook the golf ball,
Clark said on the show, highlighting how equipment variance disrupts performance under pressure. We had some guys playing that their golf ball difference was about 800 to 1,000 RPMs. And when you get on a firm golf course. I mean, some guys were struggling to hold the green because they’re playing a lower-spinning golf ball or vice versa.
Rethinking Pairings Through Spin Rates and Ball Matching
To solve the equipment discrepancy, Clark pointed toward intentional ball-matching as a necessary tactical shift for future U.S. squads. He noted that discussions with JT [Justin Thomas] and other teammates have centered on aligning player equipment profiles rather than forcing friendships onto the scorecard. For instance, Colin [Morikawa] and Clark have a very similar golf ball and he likes Clark’s golf ball, which created a good matchup. Similarly, [Patrick] Cantlay and Clark play the same golf ball. Meanwhile, Scottie [Scheffler] has a lower-spinning ball, so Scottie should play with a lower-spinning golf ball guy.
| Event | U.S. Average Rank | Opponent Average Rank | U.S. Foursomes Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 Ryder Cup | 12.9 | 30.0 | 8-26 cumulative |
| 2024 Presidents Cup | 11.9 | 34.3 | 8-26 cumulative |
| Last year’s Ryder Cup | 11.1 | 23.6 | 8-26 cumulative |
| Last month’s Presidents Cup | 15.1 | 50.8 | 8-26 cumulative |
Shifting Practice Habits for Alternate Shot Rhythm
Beyond equipment adjustments, Clark argued that the team needs a fundamental change in how it prepares for the alternate shot format during practice rounds. In his view, simply hitting standard practice shots does not replicate the unique mental and physical demands of foursomes competition.
I know that sounds crazy, but I’d love if we only went out in practice rounds and played just alternate shots, not even hitting other shots,
Clark said on the show. I think there’s something to not hitting a shot, the rhythm of it. Putting, feeling like you haven’t hit a putt for four holes and then have to hit a 15-footer, or you haven’t hit a drive in X amount of holes. And I think there’s something to that.
With the U.S. playing its next team event next September at the Ryder Cup, these tactical insights offer the U.S. leadership a clear framework to re-evaluate their selection and preparation methods ahead of the opening tee shot.
