What wins the Ryder Cup—ego or humility?

In this episode of The Bag Drop: Untold Stories in Golf, host Matt Considine welcomes back Kyle Porter, founder of 🐑 Normal Sport and longtime voice in golf media. Together, they dive into the cultural contrasts between American and European Ryder Cup teams, the balance between confidence (ego) and selflessness (humility) required to win, and how Keegan’s unlikely Captaincy and even more unlikely moves thus far might have shifted the future of U.S. team golf for good.

The conversation explores:

• Ego vs. humility in the unique pressure of team golf
• How American individualism and European collectivism shape Ryder Cup outcomes
• The influence of leadership and culture on team dynamics
• Why foursomes vs. four-ball formats demand different mindsets and psychological pairings
• Keegan Bradley’s surprising humility and what it signals for U.S. Ryder Cup culture
• The emotional toll of competitive golf and what it reveals about players as people

Connect with our guest

🐑 Kyle Porter — Normal Sport

Website: https://www.normalsport.com

🐦 X/Twitter: https://x.com/kyleporterns

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kyleporterns

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-porter-71874848/

Join the NewClub community

🌍 Website: https://www.newclub.golf

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/newclubgolf/

🐦 X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/newclubgolf

📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@newclubgolf

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/newclub

Links & Partners
🏌️ Titleist: https://www.titleist.com

🌐 Golf Blueprint: https://www.golfblueprint.com

🐝 NewClub: https://www.newclub.golf

Listen to The Bag Drop

🎧 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bag-drop-untold-stories-in-golf/id1430328006

🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2xRWtUBJH8RazdLw14oaGH

🎧 Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/633c8703-5880-4522-bd6d-5967b45fc777/the-bag-drop-untold-stories-in-golf

🎧 Transistor: https://thebagdrop.transistor.fm/

Connect with Matt & The Professor

🎙️ Matt Considine — 🐦 X/Twitter: https://x.com/consequential85 | 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/consequence18/ | 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-considine-103bb21/

📚 Dr. Kevin Moore ("The Professor") — 🐦 X/Twitter: https://x.com/kevcmoore | 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kevcmoore | 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-moore-177b30b3/

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

08:22 American vs. European Team Dynamics

18:14 Ego and Humility in Team Golf

27:47 Keegan Bradley’s Leadership

37:00 The Emotional Toll of Competitive Golf

What is NewClub?

Founded in 2017, NewClub is the premier private golf society in the United States. It blends the community and access of a private club with the variety and affordability of public golf. Members enjoy thousands of reserved tee times, competitions and events at exceptional partner courses across our local chapters, as well as signature trips and exclusive perks. NewClub is revolutionizing golf membership, making the game more meaningful for those who love it.

What is The Bag Drop?

The Bag Drop features weekly stories from the questions, community and characters shaping golf today. Produced by NewClub Golf Society, each episode blends our untamed curiosities with expert insights for passionate golfers at all levels. Special guests from clubs, courses and every corner of golf’s broad landscape join us for thoughtful, in‑depth discussions on all things golf.