But the Ryder Cup is a three-day competition, and the final margin — produced by an 8 1/2-3 1/2 advantage in Sunday singles — obscures the deeper issues at play for the Americans, who were shellacked in foursomes and fourball. Speaking to reporters after his team’s narrow loss, first-time captain Keegan Bradley welcomed the brunt of the criticism while defending the PGA of America, which organizes the U.S. Ryder Cup team every two years. That’s what he needed to do.”The top point-earners were Xander Schauffele and Ryder Cup rookie Cameron Young, playing not far from his hometown of Scarborough, N.Y., and with all the pressure that entails. Bryson DeChambeau, described by Bradley to start the week as the team’s “X factor,” went 1-3-1, as did Ryder Cup vet Patrick Cantlay. Especially here, it can get pretty firm, and they never firmed up.”Bradley, at 39 the youngest Ryder Cup captain since Arnold Palmer, was seen as a bold choice to shake up the Americans’ doldrums in this event.