There is a long-standing narrative that Europe are generally better at being a Ryder Cup team than the Americans.Sure, Team USA often have the more talented set of players, and that can be enough, especially when combined with home advantage. The story of Reed and Spieth is one that – for many – sums up the perceived American problem at the Ryder CupGettyBut there is a reason why Europe have been able to punch above their weight so many times despite being statistical underdogs. It’s a wider sense of purpose, culture and strategy – getting individual sportsmen to play for something greater than themselves.In other words, it can feel like the Europeans care more when it comes to the Ryder Cup. Many will feel that theory was validated by the Americans successfully demanding to be paid for this year’s edition. But the question of egos dates back many years and it boiled over spectacularly in 2018.Patrick Reed sensationally took aim at captain Jim Furyk and teammate Jordan Spieth after Team USA’s resounding defeat in Paris. Reed and Spieth formed a formidable partnership in 2014 and 2016 – winning four, drawing two and losing one match – to become one of the most reliable pairings in Ryder Cup history. They became the first Americans ever to play seven matches together, and with five points, they equalled the record for the highest return from a single US pairing, which still stands today.Spieth still holds the first record, but Reed does not. It now belongs to Spieth and his close friend Justin Thomas, who have played together nine times over the years.That partnership will be broken in 2025 because Spieth is not on the team, but in 2018, Reed lost Spieth in far more acrimonious fashion. Spieth ditched Reed for his best mate in the 2018 Ryder Cup – and Reed took it personallyGettyReed was given a new partner and most would not complain given it was none other than Tiger Woods.However, they were a disaster, losing two matches by big margins before Reed was replaced as Woods’ partner by Bryson DeChambeau. On the other hand, Spieth and Thomas were the only American success story from a punishing week, winning three out of their four matches together. But Reed was in no mood to see any silver lining, hitting out at Jim Furyk for implementing a ‘buddies system’. Speaking in an explosive interview with the New York Times afterwards, he said: “The issue’s obviously with Jordan not wanting to play with me.“I don’t have any issue with Jordan. When it comes right down to it, I don’t care if I like the person I’m paired with or if the person likes me as long as it works and it sets up the team for success.Reed was not happy“He and I know how to make each other better. We know how to get the job done.”Explaining the situation at the time, Spieth had said: “We were totally involved in every decision that was made. Jim allowed it to be a player-friendly environment.”Reed admitted he was tempted to call out his teammate in front of the world’s media there and then.“I was looking at (Jordan) like I was about to light the room up like Phil (Mickleson) in ’14,” said Reed. “Every day, I saw ‘Leave your egos at the door’. They (the Europeans) do that better than us.”And just for good measure, Reed saved one final parting shot for captain Furyk.He said: “For somebody as successful in the Ryder Cup as I am, I don’t think it’s smart to sit me (out) twice.”Spieth and Reed would publicly make up with a hug at the 2019 Farmers Insurance Open – and Spieth later gave his own version of events.Spieth won’t be joining Thomas at the Ryder Cup“Team room, I mean, it was fine,” he said. “We all had people we were gonna play with. I think when we were getting ready for the tournament, it think it was myself, Tiger, Justin and Patrick, which was freaking badass to play in a pod with Tiger at a Ryder Cup. “Like, you might be paired with him, even though we knew that he was gonna be Justin’s partner if I played with Patrick, and then Patrick and Tiger might play together.“I also didn’t think it’d be a big deal if I played with Justin and Patrick got Tiger.“Like, it doesn’t seem like something that would upset people, that you get Tiger. So it was just, you know, it was part of the pod. Or fire team, or whatever it was called. “For me, it was mainly like, [Thomas and I] had grown up together, accomplished these goals together, we’re finally at the coolest stage in golf at a Ryder Cup. Let’s go out and kick some ass together. “That’s what we wanted to do. And, you know, everything was fine. Nothing was a big deal. Things were raised afterwards and then Patrick and I have been awesome since.“It really was like, blown out for six months. And then other than that it’s been nothing.”Ryder Cup Betting OddsOdds courtesy of talkSPORT BETTo Lift The TrophyUSA – 4/5Europe – 1/1Day 1 WinnerUSA – 1/1Europe – 6/4Tie – 9/2SpecialsUSA to lead after day 2 – 4/5Europe to lead after day 2 – 13/10Tie after day 2 – 17/2A hole in one – 4/1Visit talkSPORT BET for all Ryder Cup betting odds*odds subject to change 18+ gambleaware.org