BACK in 2023, this column was excited about Europe’s chances of regaining the Ryder Cup in Rome, encouraged by a sense that there was something very familiar about the task ahead of the captain.
The man himself? An Englishman with short-cut fair hair. His mission? To trump a difficult opponent in an iconic Italian city. His method? To unite a team of skilled but flawed individuals and to adhere to a detailed master plan. Luke Donald has solid suburban credentials rather than an ex-con cockney vibe, but his ruthless execution of The Italian Job was, in all other respects, very similar to Charlie Croker’s.
Our confidence was ultimately justified, of course, as Donald schemed and strategised his way to triumph, and when social media video footage emerged of the team enjoying themselves on the coach afterwards, it felt as if the comparison with the classic 1969 movie was complete (although thankfully the driver provided no unwanted cliffhanger).
Two years on, another Michael Caine caper springs to mind, and it is inspired by the way in which Rory McIlroy wasted no time in urging Donald to give it one more go in New York. The Northern Irishman knew the enormity of the project. “I’ve said this for the last six years to anyone that will listen,” he said. “One of the biggest accomplishments in golf right now is winning an away Ryder Cup, and that’s what we’re going to do at Bethpage.” He also knew that Europe needed its leader back at the helm to achieve its goal.
This time, the echo is of Escape to Victory and the scene at halftime when the unlikely pairing of Ipswich Town stalwart Russell Osman and the legendary Pele urge Caine’s character, team captain John Colby, to see the job through rather than flee via the Paris sewer system. “We can win this,” cries Osman. “This game means a lot to us,” pleads Pele. “Please – we must go back.”
It’s not a perfect resemblance, of course. For one thing, in the 1981 film, the Allies needed an American (Sylvester Stallone’s Hatch) to keep goal, but it works in the sense that this European team is keen to re-engage with the fight, that it recognises the hostile environment it will encounter, and that its greatest star is ready to lead from the front.
Can they become just the third away team in the last 15 matches to win away from home? It will test their mettle like never before, but there is a chance. On the one hand, there is the strength of Donald as a skipper. He has the trust of his men, he has experience, he has a clear game plan, has has statistical acumen in the shape of vice captain Edoardo Molinari, and he also has a steely side.
The Americans should not be underestimated, of course, but nor should they frighten the Europeans, and while their captain, Keegan Bradley, is a proud patriot, he is also under an immense strain for someone who many will feel should be playing.
And then there are the New York galleries, which will bellow all sorts of abuse in the ears of the European players. But, if Team USA makes a shaky start, those galleries will be no less brutal. They might mention the $750 tickets they had to cough up for and/or the payment that the American players are receiving for the first time. And who knows what impact Donald Trump’s visit will have – it is likely to prompt a patriotic surge for many, but might there be some aggro too?
As always, we have much to look forward to. Here’s hoping for a cracker.
Friday Foursomes: Europe win
There’s no doubt that this punt is flying in the face of recent trends because Europe won the Friday foursomes 3.5-0.5 at Gleneagles and then 4-0 in both Rome and Paris. Meanwhile, the Americans won the same session 4-0 in 2016 (at Hazeltine) and 3-1 in 2021 (at Whistling Straits). So home teams have owned this session. But the combined Ryder Cup record of this year’s two teams in the alternate shot format is striking: Europe’s log book reads 30-15-2 and the US’s is a mere 8-13-0. The fact that Luke Donald drills his men to make a fast start is another tick, as is stat man Molinari’s shrewd highlighting of strong partnerships.
14-14 Correct Score
There was a time when the Ryder Cup was relentlessly tight. Between 1987 and 1999, there were seven matches and the biggest winning margin was two points. In 2002 Europe won by three points since when it has rarely been close. There were back-to-back one point wins for Europe in 2010 and 2012, but the other eight matches since 2004 have all seen the winners finish at least five points clear on Sunday night. We’re due a tight one. Keegan Bradley’s passion and Luke Donald’s brains can provide it. (It is entirely coincidental, but Escape to Victory ended in a draw, too…)
Top Combined Points Scorer: Tommy Fleetwood
The European think tank has determined that the Ryder Cup tends to be won by the battle between the two team’s top three players. The numbers back this up because, in the 21st century, the team whose highest-ranked three players outscored the opposition’s leading trio also won the match itself. That means much will be asked of Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm and Tommy Fleetwood (this year we have to make some allowances for the world rankings being skewed by LIV). The first two will be under greatest pressure and they will likely be the focus of significant gallery abuse. Fleetwood has been flying this year and can rise to the occasion.
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