OU’s Hybl to coach U.S. Palmer Cup squad in 2018
NORMAN – University of Oklahoma men’s golf coach Ryan Hybl has been selected as the 2018 Palmer Cup head coach for the U.S. men’s team, the Golf Coaches Association of America announced Wednesday.
Hybl will become the first coach to lead the U.S. team after playing in the event as a collegiate athlete. OU’s head coach helped the U.S. team to a 15.5-8.5 victory over against Great Britain and Ireland during the 2002 Palmer Cup.
The annual Ryder Cup-style event will take place July 6-8 at Evian Resort Golf Club in Évian-les-Bains, France.
“I’m very excited, honored and truly humbled to have the chance to represent the United States,” Hybl said. “As a former player to participate in the event, it’s a special moment for me, our golf program and our university. Alongside our women’s team, we’re going to represent Mr. Palmer the best we can in France.”
Hybl led the Sooners to the 2017 NCAA Championship as four different players earned All-America status. The ninth-year head coach has guided the Sooners to the NCAA Championships in each of the past seven seasons, one of just four teams to accomplish that feat.
The Arnold Palmer Cup was co-founded by Arnold Palmer and The Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) and began at the Bay Hill Club & Lodge, Orlando, Fla. in 1997. The event is a Ryder Cup-style tournament featuring the top male university/college golfers matching the United States against Europe.
In 2018, the participants will include corresponding women golfers who will be added to both the USA and International teams and will thus become the only major tournament which features men and women playing side-by-side as partners. Hybl will serve as men’s coach alongside Ohio State’s Therese Hession.
“I think Therese and I are going to get on the same page as we get closer to the event,” Hybl stated. “We’re going to listen to our players since we won’t have a ton of time when we get over there to get prepared. Our goal is to win the Palmer Cup for the United States.”
Since its inception, 101 former Arnold Palmer Cup alumni have gone on to earn cards on either the PGA or European Tours, 22 alumni have gone on to represent Europe or the USA in the Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup, and 51 have claimed 191 victories on the PGA or European Tours. The United States leads the series 11-9-1.
Arnold Palmer Cup is supported by Arnie’s Army Charitable Foundation. The Arnold Palmer Cup provides a platform for perpetuating Arnold Palmer’s commitment to youth development and the growth of amateur/collegiate golf. For more information, please visit ArnoldPalmerCup.com.