The 2018 Ryder Cup, held in France, was largely a disaster for the US team. Many had favored the US entering the competition. The roster, heavy with star power, seemed formidable.

But the performance was mostly a disappointment. The European team would win in a blowout. Now, the Americans have turned to a new face to lead their cause in 2020.

Steve Stricker is to captain the 2020 team

Steve Stricker is a respected veteran of the PGA Tour. He has 12 victories on the tour and was runner-up at the 1998 PGA Championship. Additionally, he recorded three victories on the PGA Champions Tour.

Previously, Stricker was a two-time All-American at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Stricker also played for the US Ryder Cup team three times and vice-captained the team three more times. According to GOLF.com, he was in line to captain the 2016 team in Minnesota. However, the tense fallout from the US team's loss in 2014 led to many changes.

The Americans would go on to win in 2016. However, the poor showing two years later turned decision-makers back to the drawing board, so to speak. And now it seems that Stricker is the best choice for the job once again.

In 2017, Stricker captained the US team to victory in the Presidents Cup. The Presidents Cup is a similar event to the Ryder Cup.

But instead of the United States versus Europe, it features the United States versus an 'international' team. Europe is specifically excluded. Thus, the international team is essentially open to players from anywhere aside from the United States and Europe.

It is especially fitting for Stricker to captain in 2020. He is a native of Edgerton, Wisconsin and a long-time resident of nearby Madison, Wisconsin. The 2020 Ryder Cup will be held roughly two hours northeast at Whistling Straits in Haven, Wisconsin. The venue has hosted the PGA Championship three times in the past.

According to ESPN, Irishman Padraig Harrington will captain the European team. Harrington is a three-time Major champion and a six-time participant in the Ryder Cup.

The US dealt with struggles during the Ryder Cup

For decades, the US was the dominant team in Ryder Cup play. The original premise was to pit the United States against Great Britain and Ireland. However, a drastic rule change would eventually take effect.

The new format allowed competitors from continental Europe to also take part. It can be debated as to how much of an effect this has had on the competition. But the United States' dominant presence all but vanished shortly after the change was made. Whatever the reasons might be, American golfers have been trying to reach the country's former glory.
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