AI Finds the Sharpest Minds in the 2023 Ryder Cup
Updated 9/4/2023
When it comes to the Ryder Cup, the competition is intense and the stakes are high. All of the players are at the top of their games right now. All of them are quite intelligent, but who is the smartest Ryder Cup player? In this article, we will attempt to identify the smartest players in the 2023 Ryder Cup. So, let's get started and find out who is the smartest Ryder Cup player in 2023!
Ryder Cup Player Rosters
US Ryder Cup Players
Automatic Qualifiers
Scottie Scheffler Patrick Cantlay Xander Schauffele Brian Harman Wyndham Clark Max Homa Captains Picks Brooks Koepka Jordan Spieth Collin Morikawa Rickie Fowler Sam Burns Justin Thomas |
European Ryder Cup Players
Automatic Qualifiers
Jon Rahm Rory McIlroy Viktor Hovland Tyrrell Hatton Matt Fitzpatrick Robert MacIntyre Captains Picks Tommy Fleetwood Ludvig Aberg Nicolai Hojgaard Shane Lowry Justin Rose Sepp Straka |
IQ Showdown: How Do We Rank Golfers on Intelligence?
To determine the smartest Ryder Cup player without first-hand testing, we researched signals of intelligence we gathered from public information. We then carefully analyzed these signals and ranked each golfer on these signals. This is a proxy at best and we recognize the shortcomings of this method of evaluation, but it should still provide an accurate relative view of intelligence across the competitors. Below are the criteria we found and used for this analysis.
University Ranking
Some universities are a lot more challenging than others so we are using the university a player attended as one of the factors to evaluate their intelligence. We are using the 2023 QS University Rankings from Top Colleges as a way to get a relative ranking of the universities attended by Ryder Cup participants. We are going to correlate university rank to player intelligence based on the QS rankings. We understand that some players chose their school based on the competitiveness of the golf team versus the rigor of the university so this will only be one of several intelligence ranking factors.
The choice of a university can provide clues to a PGA golfer's intelligence. Generally, top universities have higher admissions standards, which means that students who attend these schools are likely to be more intelligent than students who attend less selective schools. Additionally, top universities offer rigorous academic programs that can challenge and stimulate students intellectually.
In the 2023 Ryder Cup, several players attended top universities. For example, Matt Fitzpatrick attended Northwestern, which is a top university. Jordan Spieth attended Texas and Patrick Cantlay attended UCLA, both of which are top public universities.
These players' choices of universities suggest that they are intelligent and motivated individuals. They were able to gain admission to top schools and succeed academically. This intelligence and motivation could be an advantage on the golf course, as it could help them to make quick decisions under pressure and to develop effective strategies. However, it is important to note that the choice of university is not the only factor that determines a PGA golfer's intelligence.
The choice of a university can provide clues to a PGA golfer's intelligence. Generally, top universities have higher admissions standards, which means that students who attend these schools are likely to be more intelligent than students who attend less selective schools. Additionally, top universities offer rigorous academic programs that can challenge and stimulate students intellectually.
In the 2023 Ryder Cup, several players attended top universities. For example, Matt Fitzpatrick attended Northwestern, which is a top university. Jordan Spieth attended Texas and Patrick Cantlay attended UCLA, both of which are top public universities.
These players' choices of universities suggest that they are intelligent and motivated individuals. They were able to gain admission to top schools and succeed academically. This intelligence and motivation could be an advantage on the golf course, as it could help them to make quick decisions under pressure and to develop effective strategies. However, it is important to note that the choice of university is not the only factor that determines a PGA golfer's intelligence.
Degree and Major
We'll also be looking at the degree and major pursued and completed by the player as a measure of their intelligence. Some degrees and some majors require a lot more rigor than others and this provides us another signal as to the player's intelligence. We again acknowledge that this is not a perfect science and choice of major may have been about a calling versus taking the hardest classes they can. In this article, we are using advice from ChatGPT to help rank order the rigor of the Ryder Cup player's majors.
In deciphering a PGA golfer's intelligence, the academic path they tread carries intriguing revelations. Their choice of degree and major may provide evidence of their intellectual prowess and problem-solving finesse. Players embracing more rigorous fields and more demanding academic topics, likely honed their cognitive foundations and mastered the art of critical thinking.
In the 2023 Ryder Cup, we encounter a cluster of players who have ventured into intellectually challenging domains. Scottie Scheffler, a strategist both on and off the green, armed with an economics degree from Texas—a program that demands nothing less than sheer tenacity. And not to be outdone, Patrick Cantlay proves his mettle with a Masters in Business Administration from UCLA, emblematic of his unyielding pursuit of excellence.
While the choice of degree and major unveils a captivating facet of a golfer's intelligence, it's vital to recognize it is only one clue we are using to determine the most intelligent player.
In deciphering a PGA golfer's intelligence, the academic path they tread carries intriguing revelations. Their choice of degree and major may provide evidence of their intellectual prowess and problem-solving finesse. Players embracing more rigorous fields and more demanding academic topics, likely honed their cognitive foundations and mastered the art of critical thinking.
In the 2023 Ryder Cup, we encounter a cluster of players who have ventured into intellectually challenging domains. Scottie Scheffler, a strategist both on and off the green, armed with an economics degree from Texas—a program that demands nothing less than sheer tenacity. And not to be outdone, Patrick Cantlay proves his mettle with a Masters in Business Administration from UCLA, emblematic of his unyielding pursuit of excellence.
While the choice of degree and major unveils a captivating facet of a golfer's intelligence, it's vital to recognize it is only one clue we are using to determine the most intelligent player.
Strength and Breadth of Vocabulary
A players vocabulary may be the most direct measure we have given it is based on the body of public conversation of the player. To accomplish this assessment without an army of analysts, we are using Google's Ngram viewer via Bard (Google's AI tool) to evaluate player vocabularies.
Google Ngram Viewer is a tool that can be used to track the frequency of words and phrases over time. This information can be used to assess how a speaker's vocabulary has changed over time, as well as how their vocabulary compares to the vocabulary of other speakers.
Imagine a pro golfer's vocabulary as a toolbox. The more words and phrases a golfer knows, the bigger their toolbox is. The more often a golfer uses a particular word or phrase, the more frequently they reach for that tool in their toolbox. For example, if a player uses a lot of complex words and phrases in their interviews, it could be an indication that they are intelligent.
Google Ngram Viewer can be used to see how often a golfer uses certain words or phrases. By comparing the frequency of different words and phrases, you can get an idea of how big the golfer's vocabulary is and how often they use different words and phrases. Bard helped me evaluate the complexity of those words and phrases to assess the golfer's overall vocabulary.
However, it is important to note that Google Ngram Viewer is not a perfect measure of intelligence. It does not take into account the context in which words and phrases are used. For example, a player might use a complex word in a press conference, but they might not understand the meaning of the word.
Google Ngram Viewer is a tool that can be used to track the frequency of words and phrases over time. This information can be used to assess how a speaker's vocabulary has changed over time, as well as how their vocabulary compares to the vocabulary of other speakers.
Imagine a pro golfer's vocabulary as a toolbox. The more words and phrases a golfer knows, the bigger their toolbox is. The more often a golfer uses a particular word or phrase, the more frequently they reach for that tool in their toolbox. For example, if a player uses a lot of complex words and phrases in their interviews, it could be an indication that they are intelligent.
Google Ngram Viewer can be used to see how often a golfer uses certain words or phrases. By comparing the frequency of different words and phrases, you can get an idea of how big the golfer's vocabulary is and how often they use different words and phrases. Bard helped me evaluate the complexity of those words and phrases to assess the golfer's overall vocabulary.
However, it is important to note that Google Ngram Viewer is not a perfect measure of intelligence. It does not take into account the context in which words and phrases are used. For example, a player might use a complex word in a press conference, but they might not understand the meaning of the word.
Putting it all Together: Table Ranking Ryder Cup Players
Comparing Player's University, Major, Degree, and Vocabulary Ranking
We gave points based on how a player ranked in each category. If you were ranked number 1, you got 1 point. Number 10 received 10 points. Weighing our three ranking factors equally and averaging them together gives us a relative ranking of the intelligence of each player. Just like golf, the lowest score here wins.
Smartest Players on the US Ryder Cup Team
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#1 - Patrick Cantlay
Patrick, with an MBA, is the only player on the US team holding an advanced degree. He also attended the second-highest-ranking school on the US team according to the Top Universities website. Lastly, the Google Ngram viewer ranked him as tied for the top vocabulary on the US Ryder Cup team. |
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#2 - Jordan Spieth
Jordan went to the 3rd highest-ranking school, and having studied economics, has the second-hardest major on the US Ryder Cup Team. According to the Google Ngram viewer, he was tied with Cantlay for the top vocabulary. |
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#3 - Scottie Scheffler
Scheffler went to the same school and earned the same degree as Jordan, but was fourth in vocabulary according to the Google Ngram viewer. |
Smartest Players on the European Ryder Cup Team
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#1 - Justin Rose
Rose attended the third highest rank university relative to players on the European Ryder Cup team. He pursued the most rigorous major in Economics and had the second highest vocabulary score according to the Google Ngram Viewer. |
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#2 - Matt Fitzpatrick
Fitzpatrick attended the highest rank university of the Europeans and also pursued the most rigorous major in Economics. Known for his rigorous documentation of rounds, he tied for the fifth best vocabulary on the European team. |
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#3 - Shane Lowry
Lowry also attended the third highest-ranked university, North Carolina. He had the fifth most rigorous rank on degree and vocabulary. |
Smartest Ryder Cup Players Overall
Comparing the scores for all the players, we've identified the following as the three most intelligent players in the 2023 Ryder Cup:
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When I put the top three from each team together and rank them on the same criteria of school, degree / major, and vocabulary, the US team comes out on top. The Ngram Viewer may have a bias on language as it seems to have ranked the US team a bit higher across the board.
Final Thoughts on the Smartest Ryder Cup Players
Hopefully, you enjoyed our endeavor to identify the smartest 2023 Ryder Cup Player. In truth, these players all have strong academic backgrounds, impressive vocabularies, and the ability to think strategically under pressure. They are sure to be put to the test in the Ryder Cup.
Of course, intelligence is not the only factor that determines success in the Ryder Cup. Natural talent, mental toughness, and teamwork are also important factors. However, the players on this list have all shown that they have the intelligence and the skills to compete at the highest level.
It will be exciting to see how these players perform in the Ryder Cup. They are all sure to make their mark on the tournament. Here are some additional thoughts on the intelligence of the 2023 Ryder Cup players:
Enjoy watching the Ryder Cup - I know I will!
Of course, intelligence is not the only factor that determines success in the Ryder Cup. Natural talent, mental toughness, and teamwork are also important factors. However, the players on this list have all shown that they have the intelligence and the skills to compete at the highest level.
It will be exciting to see how these players perform in the Ryder Cup. They are all sure to make their mark on the tournament. Here are some additional thoughts on the intelligence of the 2023 Ryder Cup players:
- It is important to note that this is just one ranking of the intelligence of the players. Many other factors could be considered, such as natural talent, work ethic, and mental toughness.
- It is also important to note that intelligence is not always a guarantee of success in the Ryder Cup. There have been many intelligent players who have not been successful in the Ryder Cup, and there have been many less intelligent players who have been successful.
- Ultimately, the intelligence of the players is just one factor that will determine the outcome of the Ryder Cup. The players who can perform their best under pressure and who can work well as a team will be the ones who are most likely to win.
Enjoy watching the Ryder Cup - I know I will!
