Changing of the guard for Team Europe
The 2020 Ryder Cup was a disaster for Europe at Whistling Straits as USA won by a score line of 19-9. The 2020 European Ryder Cup Captain Padraig Harrington went with experience by picking Ian Poulter (The Postman) and Sergio Garcia as wildcards for Whistling Straits. These picks backfired as 2012 Medinah hero The Postman only won one game at the 2020 Ryder Cup. The Postman wasn’t the only European to disappoint as fellow Englishman and 10-time European Ryder Cup player Lee Westwood also only won one point at Wisconsin. Europe had no answers for the fantastic form shown by the USA superstars which included 2020 US Masters Champion Dustin Johnson winning five points from five matches.
Breakaway
A lot has happened both on and off the course in the last 12 months since the 2020 Ryder Cup. LIV stands for 54 in roman numerals which equals the number of holes that will be played at each LIV event. LIV was first set up in October 2021 with 1986 & 1993 Open Championship winner Greg Norman who was confirmed as their Chief Executive Officer (CEO). LIV is funded by Saudi Arabia. There is 8 events scheduled in 2022 with each winner receiving $4 million and earning $120,000 for finishing last in an event. LIV was set up to rival the PGA Tour and in my opinion LIV is not competitive and lacks motivation.
Contract
Ian Poulter is famous for his role in Europe’s incredible comeback against USA at Medinah in 2012 as they came from 10-6 behind to win the Ryder Cup but he joined LIV for a reported figure between $20 and $30 million. Poulter wasn’t the only European to join LIV as fellow Englishman Lee Westwood joined for $30 million and 2017 Us Masters Champion Sergio Garcia joined for $125 million. Fellow Europeans Paul Casey and Martin Kaymer also joined LIV. The biggest disappointment for the DP World Tour was when 2023 European Ryder Cup Captain Henrik Stenson jumped ship to join LIV instead of been the leader of the team in Rome next year.
On the course
Rory McIlroy continues to be the spokesperson for keeping the traditional tours strong and used this as a motivator to become the first golfer to win the FedEx Cup three times. BMW PGA Championship was the first tournament to count for points towards the 2023 Ryder Cup. Shane Lowry was one of a few highlights at Whistling Straits in 2021 and the 2019 Champion Golfer Of The Year finally won his first event in three years. Jon Rahm had an extraordinary finish at the BMW PGA Championship when he shot a round of 62 to post 16 under. Rory continued to be consistent but left his eagle putt on the lip at the 18th hole which ruled him out of a play-off. Lowry then went on to win the flagship event on the DP World Tour. If Lowry continues that form he will be a huge part of the 2023 Ryder Cup team next year. The Irish had their win at Wentworth but then it was Scotland’s turn as Robert MacIntyre won the Italian Open.
Conclusion
It will be a different team next year without the stalwarts that joined LIV but Europe still have a strong core of players which includes Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Tommy Fleetwood, Tyrrell Hatton, Matthew Fitzpatrick and Victor Hovland. The second half of the team will include the likes of Shane Lowry, Robert MacIntyre, Thomas Pieters and Victor Perez. Pieters is returning to form after his top three finish at 2022 Open de France and Perez has a point to prove after not making the 2020 Ryder Cup team. Danish brothers Nicolai and Rasmuis Hojgaard will also have a say about making the team as they are both exceptional. With the Ryder Cup in Rome, Italian Francesco Molinari will also be looking to return to form or you might see the rise of 2022 Open de France winner Guido Migliozzi make his debut in Italy. USA still have a strong team as they beat the Internationals by 17.5 to 12.5 at 2022 Presidents Cup and Europe will need their best players playing well at 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome.