Luke Donald has warned the US team that it would be an error to anticipate “rinse and repeat” from Europe in the Ryder Cup this month despite confirming 11 of the 12 players who won in Rome two years ago will tee up at Bethpage.
Donald named his six wildcards on Monday, all of whom played in 2023. Shane Lowry, Viktor Hovland, Ludvig Åberg, Matt Fitzpatrick, Jon Rahm and Sepp Straka received the captain’s call. Rory McIlroy, Robert MacIntyre, Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood, Rasmus Højgaard and Tyrrell Hatton qualified automatically.
The only change in the Europe team is Højgaard replacing his twin brother, Nicolai, representing the biggest carryover of players in Ryder Cup history.
Donald is keen to emphasise the “different challenge” requiring “different strategy” when playing away. Europe has not won on American soil since 2012 and endured a 10-point defeat there in 2021.
“Just because we have a very similar team it doesn’t mean we are going to roll out the same pairings or the same lineup in foursomes and fourballs,” Donald said. “I think over a two-year period, these players do change. Their profiles change and we’ll adapt to that.
“This isn’t certainly a question of rinse and repeat from Rome. I’m trying to come at this one quite differently to what we did in Rome. It’s nice to have a continuity within the team, the memories, the experiences that we got to celebrate together. When it comes to this Ryder Cup, it doesn’t necessarily mean we are going to have the same partnerships.”
Donald shrugged off the widespread sense the US team gained an early advantage when their captain, Keegan Bradley, opted not to play. Last week, Bradley chose not to pick himself as a wildcard, prompting comment that the 39-year-old’s selflessness will galvanise the hosts.
“There’s been a lot of intrigue about whether Keegan would play or not,” Donald said. “That was obviously a big storyline at his press conference on Wednesday with his picks. We understand Keegan in whatever role as a playing captain or captain, is going to bring a lot of energy and spirit to the Ryder Cup. He loves it and is very passionate about it, and whatever role he plays he’ll be very good at it.”
Keegan Bradley’s decision not to play as captain of the USA team has been well received. Photograph: Seth Wenig/AP
Another theme has been the likely influence of an inevitably raucous New York crowd. There have been fears voiced that Europe’s players may be subjected to treatment that crosses the line. “We all live in America, or most of us do,” Lowry said. “We have all got a lot of fans in America. I don’t think they can turn on you that badly for one week but that remains to be seen.”
Donald will urge his players to enjoy the backdrop rather than wilt. “We understand what’s going to happen to us,” the captain said. “It’s our reaction to that that’s really important.
“So we all have fears. We all have anxieties and we all find Ryder Cups pressurised. But these are top athletes that understand how to walk towards that fear. You want to embrace what a Ryder Cup represents and then part of that is embracing the crowd and embracing that atmosphere. I think certainly these guys will be ready for that.”
Donald told Matt Wallace that he would not make the European team moments after the Englishman broke down in tears during a TV interview after the Omega Masters. Wallace knew he had fallen short of a Ryder Cup debut.
“I felt very emotional for him,” Donald said. “It just shows to me what the Ryder Cup means to these guys and how they are trying to desperately make the team and be a part of it.”
Donald will take his team to Bethpage for a scouting mission after the PGA Championship at Wentworth.
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