Can the U.S. win Ryder Cup on foreign soil for first time since 1993?

Call it the Whipping at Whistling Straits.

At the 43rd Ryder Cup in 2021, Team USA routed Europe like it was 1979, winning 19-9. America’s youth won out over Europe’s experience. The six U.S. Ryder Cup rookies combined to go 14-4-3.

“It seems like the younger they are, the better they play,” said U.S. assistant captain Davis Love III.

It was the first time in 44 years that the U.S. didn’t lose any of the five sessions. By any measure, this was a statement win for Team USA. Not to diminish its achievement, but winning at home wasn’t the U.S. team’s problem, other than a fluky European comeback 2012. The hosting U.S. won in 2016, but its loss in Paris two years later meant the pressure was on America to hold serve. Otherwise, it might’ve been back to the drawing board, given the Euros had won four of the previous five meetings and nine of the last 12 in the biennial match. Which brings us to the question that won’t be fully answered until this week: Did the U.S. beatdown in 2021 represent a sea change in Ryder Cup fortunes?

The real validation of America’s new formula for success is to win on the road for the first time since 1993 when the 44th Cup is held in Rome at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club on Sept. 24-26. Asked for a quick rush to judgment during the U.S. team’s closing press conference at Whistling Straits two years ago, one of America’s impressive rookies, Xander Schauffele, refused to take the bait and balked at looking ahead.

“I’m sorry to burst your bubble, but we are just going to enjoy now,” he said. “You’re thinking way too far ahead of us, for me, personally, so we’re going to enjoy this one for now and collect ourselves shortly after.”

But Jordan Spieth, twice on losing teams overseas in 2014 and 2018, has experienced the pain of playing on foreign soil and stepped up to answer the question. He compared the U.S. romp to a Presidents Cup and already, to borrow a phrase from New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick, was on to Italy.

“I think that this is unfinished business,” he said. “It’s one thing to win it over here and it is a lot easier to do so, and it is harder to win over there. If we play like we did this week, the score will look the same over there in a couple years, and that’s what we’re here for.”

Spieth, who turned 30 in July, was in diapers the last time Team USA beat Europe on the road. Why has the U.S. side – despite consistently having the deeper, more talented…