Rory McIlroy wasn't entirely correct when he said that winning the Ryder Cup on the road is one of the greatest achievements in golf; he failed to mention that it's a great achievement "for the Americans." He made this comment a month before the 2023 matches in Rome, and it made sense, given that the Americans haven't won on European soil for 30 years.
Does anyone think it will be easier in two years in Ireland? Since 2012, Europe has only won twice away from home. One was at Hazeltine in 2016, with a team that featured five rookies who never played another Ryder Cup. The other was at Whistling Straits in 2021, with a team in transition (four players in their 40s) and almost no European fans due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.
Since the Americans' last victory abroad, Europe has won 11 of the last 15 editions, four of them on the road. To change this trend, more than a task force is needed. Tiger Woods is the most likely candidate to be the next U.S. captain. He was in the mix to lead at Bethpage Black, but said he didn't have the time, though no one really knows what he does. He will select 12 players from the world's top 25, all of whom grew up inspired by him, which could be a unifying factor.
The essence of the Ryder Cup
Europe is driven by something bigger, which explains its dominance in this competition. Justin Rose shared part of his secret in one of the press conferences after the victory. Speaking about putting, Rose did more than his fair share. Why this week? “I wish I knew. I wish I could be a little more selfish and know for 25 weeks a year,” he commented. “I feel like the power of it, the power of the group, who knows what it is? That ability to focus, to want it a little bit more.”
For Rose, what matters is the emblem on his shirt, that of Team Europe. Captain Luke Donald and his predecessors have been brilliant at reminding Europe of its legacy in these matches. They honor those who came before them and their mission is to create a legacy for those who will come after them. That's the European way. Celebrations after important moments often include a European player hitting that emblem, as Ian Poulter did at Medinah.
Ballesteros' legacy
The Ryder Cup is in his blood. It means everything. “Future generations will talk about this team and how they overcame one of the toughest environments in all of sport,” Donald said. “That inspires me, and it’s what Rory and the other 11 players understand, too.”
Americans have great players who care deeply, and the pain of losing affects them. They feel very united, both before and after matches. But is it in their blood? Justin Thomas caused a stir in 2016 when, at 22 years old and two years removed from making his first team, he said he would rather be on a Ryder Cup-winning team than win a major. He was mildly criticized by American commentators, but that kind of thinking is common in Europe.
The emblem on the jersey isn't the only thing that matters. José María Olazábal, vice-captain at Bethpage, showed off a silhouette of Seve Ballesteros stitched on the inside of his shirt during Sunday's celebration. It was a symbol close to his heart. Ballesteros was instrumental in getting continental Europe included in 1979, at a time when the PGA Tour presented obstacles for Europeans.
McIlroy has mentioned that his perspective on the Ryder Cup changed after his first appearance in Wales in 2010, when he heard Ballesteros' voice over a loudspeaker. He was at home in Spain dealing with a brain tumor and sent a message to the European team: "Go for them so hard that you'll all be caddies in the future." For Ballesteros, it was always personal.
The Ryder Cup has been a battle between two tours, creating a chip on the shoulder for Europe, which has always been seen as "country cousins," as Padraig Harrington described it. That perception persists, even with the entire European team playing on the PGA Tour.
Europe benefited from the longest-ever continuity, with 11 players returning from the winning team in Rome. This virtually guarantees two points per session for the pairings of Jon Rahm-Tyrrell Hatton and McIlroy-Tommy Fleetwood, who have a 4-0-0 record in foursomes in the last two Ryder Cups, without reaching the 18th hole in either match.
American captain Keegan Bradley and his team made several mistakes, starting with a course with little rough (the soft greens were a product of nature). Bradley admitted he had to trust his instincts. No mention was made of who he actually trusted. His analysis also included Collin Morikawa and Harris English in foursomes, despite DataGolf ranking them 132nd out of 132 possibilities.
The Ryder Cup is full of moments of retrospection and speculation. Europe has the trophy, as usual. The Americans will try to win it back in two years in Ireland. That could be the greatest achievement in golf.
