– Rory McIlroy has said it several times, the first being immediately after winning the Ryder Cup two years ago in Rome: “one of the greatest achievements in current golf is winning a Ryder Cup away from home”.
– And this is coming from someone who achieved it on his first attempt, as Rory played his first away Ryder in Medinah, 2012, with Olazábal as captain, and there’s no need to recall what happened. But the Northern Irishman is not wrong. The United States, for example, has not managed it for over thirty years, since they did it in 1993. More than thirty years and up to seven editions on European soil without a victory (1997, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2023).
– This means, pay attention, that a certain Tiger Woods never won a Ryder on European soil and played up to five as a visitor (1997, 2002, 2006, 2010, and 2018). Nor did Phil Mickelson, who has played even more editions on European soil, up to six (1997, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, and 2018). Sergio, like Seve, did win two away. The first in 2004 and 2012 and the second in 1987 and 1995.
– And Europe, since playing as such (1979), has achieved it on four occasions (1987, 1995, 2004, and 2012), which can be considered a true feat. In fact, Europe has never lost three times in a row on North American soil, which is exactly what would happen if Luke Donald’s team is defeated at Bethpage.
– Of the twelve European players who will represent us at Bethpage, only Rory has won away, once (2012), as mentioned. Justin Rose, for example, has not achieved it. And Jon Rahm, of course, hasn’t either, among other things because the Spaniard is going to play a Ryder away for the second time. There’s the challenge, surely the most difficult in contemporary golf.
– Luke Donald has not complicated matters. Experiments are minimal, especially when playing as visitors, he must have thought. Perhaps Hovland and Aberg are not at their best, but, firstly, they are not lost, far from it, and you also have the guarantee that they will not falter. The question mark over Sepp Straka remained, but his selection suggests to us all that the Austrian has resolved those personal issues that have distracted him recently, or is certainly on the way to doing so. Straka will not travel to Wentworth, where Donald wanted to have the whole team, but evidently, there is a reason that justifies it. No more to say.
– Donald also seems to have a particular challenge to integrate Matt Fitzpatrick into the team. In Rome, in fact, the Englishman was already better. He will surely play two fourballs again, as he did two years ago, and it is not out of the question that he will do so again alongside Rory McIlroy. In Rome, this happened and they thrashed Morikawa and Schauffele in the first (5 and 3) and narrowly lost in the second to Cantlay and Clark, who won by 1 up. Fitzpatrick has never played four points in a Ryder (in 2016 he only played two, with one of the most unfortunate captaincies in the history of the European team, Darren Clarke’s; and in 2021 he played three, the same as in 2023), so it is not out of the question that it could happen precisely at Bethpage. Surely Donald would love to try if the circumstances allow.
– Finally, Donald has said that there will be some changes in the pairings. Agreed, that is certain, among other things because Rasmus and Nicolai Hojgaard, the only change in the team from the ‘twelve’ of Rome, are very similar because they are twins, but they are not identical players, far from it. But many pairs will also be repeated, especially in the foursomes: Rahm with Hatton, Hovland with Aberg, Lowry with Straka, and Rory with Fleetwood. In any case, it seems possible for someone as composed as Justin Rose to enter the alternate shot format. Let’s not rule it out. And even Fitzpatrick, as has been written, if the Sheffield Englishman is inspired.
