Play it again vs. Uncle Sam
Donald's Euro team will have the exact same DNA of the one that dominated in Rome
Was there really any doubt who Luke Donald was going to take to Bethpage? (Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
The Europeans are going to run it back at Bethpage, and it is certainly hard to blame captain Luke Donald for doing so. Save for a bit of the usual internet chatter, virtually no one has a problem with the six veteran picks that European leader made on Monday. And for good reason.
All of the surnames are the same from the European team that trounced the Americans 16½ to 11½ two years ago in Rome. Only Rasmus Højgaard — who made the team at the deadline on points — is different, replacing his twin brother, Nicolai, who was the only European player not to earn a winning point at Marco Simone Golf Club.
The rest of the team is proven and stout and while a few members — notably Viktor Hovland, Ludvig Åberg and Matt Fitzpatrick — might not be playing at the same level they were two years ago, there is plenty of firepower.
There’s good reason for the Europeans to be, if not confident, at least secure in the knowledge that they have an excellent chance to end the home team Ryder Cup winning streak at five matches.
“It’s unusual to have so many people coming back, but just shows how good these players are,” Donald said. “We have a lot of experience and that is going to be important going to Bethpage because we know the challenge that awaits us.”
The six picks: Shane Lowry, Jon Rahm, Sepp Straka, Hovland, Ludvig Åberg and Fitzpatrick.
Those players went 10-8-4 in Rome.
And while there has been some concern about Straka — who’s been dealing with a private family matter that prompted him to skip next week’s BMW PGA Championship and finished last at the Tour Championship after skipping the previous week’s playoff event at Caves Valley — there is not much else to quibble about.
Matt Wallace made a spirited run at the end and was actually 12th in points. But Fitzpatrick pulled himself out of a slump and has played well for months. He has experience — if not a good record — in two away matches. And that is important. No crowd will ever be like the one they will face on Long Island at Bethpage Black. But at least having been through it Hazeltine and Whistling Straits is important seasoning.
Donald’s no-surprise picks joined the automatic qualifiers in Rory McIlroy, Robert MacIntrye, Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose, Tyrrell Hatton and Rasmus Højgaard.
McIlroy, Fleetwood, Rose, Lowry, Rahm, Hovland and Fitzpatrick have all played Ryder Cups in America, which doesn’t guarantee anything but certainly makes dealing with the pressure something to embrace rather than fear.
“We understand how difficult that is,” Donald said. “I’ve looked at it from very different angles to try and get us prepared for this amazing challenge ahead. I’ve really tried to look hard at exactly what this will require.”
Donald was brought back for a second captaincy after stepping in late in 2022 when Henrik Stenson was stripped of the duties following his move to LIV Golf. The stoic Englishman was hailed for his attention to detail, and it is interesting that he seems to be leaning into that aspect again, even with the same players.
“Although the team itself is similar to Rome, I have approached this captaincy from a very different angle,” Donald said. “A different challenge requires different thinking and strategies. We have to manage that tough environment, first and foremost. We understand that’s the biggest advantage that the USA have. So that’s been my focus for the last 20 months, really, to get these guys ready for that. And, I think they will.”
The American team, meanwhile, has some question marks. Sure, No. 1 Scottie Scheffler (who went 0-2-2 in Rome) is solid. But J.J. Spaun has never played in an international team cup, Xander Schauffele had an off year (and, so far, as not entered next week’s PGA Tour event in Napa, California, the only player eligible to not do so), Russell Henley is playing in his first Ryder Cup, both Justin Thomas and Collin Morikawa have had issues throughout the year, and Ben Griffin and Cam Young are Ryder Cup rookies.
The pressure understandably is immense. The U.S. is expected to win at home, even if for once they might not be favored on paper. The Europeans believe they can break the chain of road losses dating back to the Miracle at Medinah in 2012.
All of which makes the event in three weeks time that much more intriguing.