Ten of the twelve members of the U.S. Ryder Cup team have descended on Silverado Resort’s North Course for the Procore Championship — not to chase FedEx Cup points or Tour survival, but to get ready. This isn’t your average Fall event on the PGA Tour. For these players, it’s Ryder Cup training camp.
Captain Keegan Bradley is overseeing the operation, turning a quiet wine country event into the heartbeat of Team USA’s prep. It’s a calculated move after the stinging 16½–11½ loss to Europe in 2023.
Learning From the Rome Mistake
Two years ago, only Max Homa and Justin Thomas played the week before the Ryder Cup. The rest of Team USA? They showed up cold after a five-week break following the Tour Championship.
Europe, meanwhile, had all 12 players in the BMW PGA Championship that same week. They were sharp, united, and relentless — sweeping the opening session and never letting up.
This year, Europe is back at the BMW with 11 of their 12 players (Sepp Straka staying home for the birth of his child). But this time, Team USA has learned from the past — and they’re not sitting still.
Clark: “We Weren’t Prepared”
Wyndham Clark, a returning member from the 2023 squad, summed it up perfectly.
“I would never prepare for a big event where I had five weeks off… I felt like a lot of us weren’t prepared,” Clark admitted. “I think we should all play before.”
Clark was part of a practice round this week with Max Homa, and it’s already clear that the players are treating this event differently. It’s not about the $6 million purse — it’s about being tournament sharp when it matters.
Pod Building and Chemistry Tests
This week is also about finding the right pairings. Monday saw Ryder Cup caddies walking the course together. Tuesday’s groups featured experimental pods: Morikawa with Harris English, Spaun with vice captain Gary Woodland, and Scheffler teaming up with Presidents Cup partner Russell Henley.
Patrick Cantlay — whose usual partner, Xander Schauffele, is sitting out due to the birth of his son — played alongside Burns, Young, and Thomas. These are not just casual rounds — they’re chemistry tests in live conditions.
Even Bryson DeChambeau, who can’t compete due to LIV ties, will attend the team dinner Bradley is hosting — a move signaling unity across all lines.
On Wednesday, all 10 players will participate in the tournament’s pro-am between 10 a.m. and noon ET. They’ll go out in 10-minute intervals, offering one more chance for reps and recon before things shift into full Ryder Cup mode.
Three vice captains — Woodland, Snedeker, and Simpson — are in the field as players. Jim Furyk and Kevin Kisner will be on-site, observing and advising.
Team USA Isn’t Sitting This One Out
There’s a saying in sports: You play how you prepare. Team USA appears to be taking that to heart this time. After the mistakes of 2023, the message now is crystal clear: No more showing up cold.
Whistling Straits in 2021 proved they could dominate when firing on all cylinders. Now, Napa becomes the proving ground. Whether it leads to glory in 2025 remains to be seen — but the extra effort is already speaking volumes.
