HOW are your nerves? Flayed? Frayed? Frazzled?!?!
As noted in last week’s preview, the Ryder Cup was due a nail-biter and we got one. At one stage, our tip of a tie was looking good as the match hurtled towards a photo finish, but ultimately Europe edged it, winning by a neck. Viktor Hovland’s neck.
Of course, in reality, the injury to the Norwegian was not only the difference between the two teams, but the American captain Keegan Bradley was not very happy about the Cup’s ‘Envelope Rule’ which means that when an injured player pulls out of the singles a member of the opposition (named in a sealed envelope) also sits out and the point is halved.
Bradley says the rule “has to change” for the future and others have noted that in the Solheim Cup a point is lost rather than halved. It happened in 2011 when Cristie Kerr couldn’t tee it up and Karen Stupples was credited with a 10&8 win.
Is that a better resolution? Let’s assume a Ryder or Solheim Cup match in which the matches that actually took place saw each side win 13.5 points. In the Ryder Cup there would be a 14-14 tie. In the Solheim Cup one team would win 14.5-13.5. Is that fairer?! Make your own minds up.
The other big talking point of the week was the captaincy of Luke Donald and there can be little doubt that he has a mastery of messaging, is a shrewd tactician, and has a fine eye for detail. Of the latter quality, he said: “I’ll give you an example. At the hotel this week, the doors to our rooms had a big crack that let in light. We covered the light. We upgraded the shampoo. We changed the bedding. It’s the little things.” All very impressive, but you could argue that it would have been easier to book a good hotel in the first place!
Will Donald remain in charge for a third Ryder Cup? He’s not ruled it out and all of Europe would love him to remain in charge, but would he really want to commit himself to another two years leadership? It might be more than that because Europe’s think tank demanded an experienced captain for this away game. Surely they’ll want to repeat the strategy for 2029?
You suspect that the Molinari brotherd are world class lieutenants rather than leaders so who else might step up? Justin Rose is the obvious candidate. He’ll be 47 in two years time and, if a home-and-away double header is on the card, he’d be wanted before he turns 50 rather than after. The problem is that he was a star last week and has threatened to win two of the last five major championships – is he ready, willing and able to put his individual ambitions aside? When pressed he said: “I’ve spoken to ex-players and they’ve all said play as long as you can.”
There are big decisions ahead and there is sure to be chatter as the DP World Tour heads to the home of golf for the annual celebration of seaside golf, the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. Every two years it also acts as a Ryder Cup after-party although this year only four of Europe’s stars will be teeing it up.
The four have good claims. Tyrrell Hatton is a three-time winner and the defending champion, Matt Fitzpatrick won it in 2023, Tommy Fleetwood has finished in the top 10 seven times, and Robert MacIntyre is on home soil.
If you were going to pick one of those it might be Hatton. He missed the tournament’s 54-hole cut in his first two visits and has since gone: 1-1-2-12-27-1. In contrast, for all his consistency Fleetwood is yet to win the event, Fitzpatrick’s win is his only top 10 in eight starts, and MacIntyre is on record as saying he finds The Old Course a tricky challenge.
For picks we’ll look elsewhere and hopefully ride the wave of last week’s successful tips on an early European lead and Tommy Fleetwood to top score.
Daniel Brown
The Englishman Daniel Brown likes the seaside. Last year he made a fast start in the Scottish Open at Renaissance, was the first round lead when T10 in the Open at Royal Troon, and he added fourth place in the Irish Open at Royal County Down. He’s yet to catch fire in this event, but he has the potential. He’s also in fine form with a win in June and four top 20s in his last five starts.
Grant Forrest
Scotsman Grant Forrest has finished T10 in two of the last three editions of this event and plenty of very good seaside golf beyond that. He has top 20s at Lahinch, Renaissance, Hillside, Yas Links and Royal County Down. His first DP World Tour win was at Fairmont St Andrews and in August he won the Nexo Championship at Trump Aberdeen.
Joakim Lagergren
The Swede loves this event. He was fourth in both 2015 and 2016, T12 in 2017, then third and second in 2019 and 2021. Not a bad return from just eight visits. This year, off the back of two wins on the second tier in 2024, he’s been second in the KLM Open and second again in the Irish Open a month ago.
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