Jordan Spieth urges rethink of golf calendar to boost USA chances at Ryder Cup

Three-time major winner Jordan Spieth believes closing the gap between the end of the PGA Tour season and the Ryder Cup would be beneficial to the United States team.

Most of Zach Johnson's defeated side in Rome did not play a competitive tournament after the conclusion of the Tour Championship on August 27 – a full month before the event in Rome which they lost 16.5-12.5.

Justin Thomas – who did not qualify for the season-ending FedEx Cup play-offs so had even fewer playing opportunities – and Max Homa finished fifth and seventh respectively in the Fortinet Championship a fortnight ago.

By contrast all 12 members of Luke Donald’s victorious side not only played in the prestigious BMW Championship at Wentworth on the DP World Tour but were purposely all grouped together for the opening two rounds.

Tyrrell Hatton, Jon Rahm, Viktor Hovland, Tommy Fleetwood, Rory McIlroy, Ludvig Aberg and Sepp Straka all finished in the top 10.

Apart from a practice trip to Marco Simone earlier in September there was little opportunity for the American team to come together, never mind play competitively.

"If you asked us when we would like to play the Ryder Cup relative to our schedule, I think we would probably say, give us a week after the Tour Championship or two weeks after and then go, instead of five," said Spieth.

"It’s hard for me to speak for the rest of the team. For me personally, I’d like to feel pretty sharp going in and obviously individually, I did not have the opportunity to even play any of those events where I may have.

"But that’s just how I feel. Some guys come off a few weeks off, go through some prep and play great after more time off.

"I can only answer that question individually, and this year, it wasn’t going to happen.

"If