21/09/2025

theSun on Sunday SEPT 21, 2025

SPORTS 12

Eyes wide open

AN experienced Europe squad with 11 of 12 players returning from a 2023 triumph will be prepared for intense and passionate American spectators in next week’s Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black. So says Europe captain Luke Donald, whose only change in his lineup from a Rome romp over the United States will be having Denmark’s Rasmus Hojgaard replace his twin brother Nicolai on the roster in the biennial golf showdown. “You want to embrace what a Ryder Cup represents and part of that is embracing the crowd and embracing that atmosphere and certainly these guys will be ready for that,” said Donald. “If you’re prepared and you’re ready, we understand what’s going to happen to us. It’s our reaction to that that’s really important. “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.” Reigning Masters champion Rory McIlroy, whose emotional playoff victory over England’s Justin Rose at Augusta National completed a career Grand Slam, leads Europe. The world No. 2 from Northern Ireland is a five-time major winner. “We know how difficult it’s going to be. We’re under no illusion,” McIlroy said.

with people that have dealt with it and we will certainly share that and learn from it. “They will be very passionate and supportive of the US. We’re quite aware of that and we’ll be ready for the noise.” Europe conducted two days of practice at Bethpage Black after most of the lineup played in last week’s BMW PGA Championship. “We definitely are getting into Ryder Cup mode,” McIlroy said. “We’re all very excited.” Chemistry and camaraderie are built in with so many familiar faces in the Europe lineup trying to achieve the first road victory since Europe’s 2012 “Miracle at Medinah” fightback. “To have us all together and have the experience and team connection, hopefully it will serve as an advantage,” said England’s Tommy Fleetwood. Donald expects minimal rough and fast greens in the US course set-up but will rely on his veteran-laden squad to sort it out. “Excited about the continuity and having a team that’s very similar to Rome. I think that’s a massive benefit for us,” Donald said. “A lot of my thinking revolves around crowd management and how we react as a team. As long as you’re prepared for getting a little bit of stick from the fans, I think that’s OK.” – AFP

Donald says Europe ready to handle US Ryder Cup pressure

“We have a massive opportunity to do something that not a lot of Ryder Cup teams can say they’ve done. “I’ve been lucky enough to be part of one Ryder Cup team that won away. We have experience in knowing what it takes.” Europe’s other qualifiers included England’s sixth-ranked Tommy Fleetwood, who won last month’s Tour Championship for his first PGA victory; Scotland’s ninth-ranked US Open runner-up Robert MacIntyre, Hojgaard, 14th-ranked Rose and England’s Tyrrell Hatton from LIV Golf, whose events offer no world ranking points. Donald’s captain’s picks included world No. 11 Viktor Hovland of Norway, 15th-ranked Sepp Straka of Austria, 16th ranked Ludvig Aberg of Sweden, Ireland’s 24th-ranked Shane Lowry, England’s world No. 29 Matt Fitzpatrick and LIV Golf season champion Jon Rahm,

a two-time major winner from Spain. “I think we’re playing good enough and we’re a good and strong enough team to face what we’re going to face at Bethpage and hopefully end up with the Cup,” Rahm said. Donald has prepared players for the extra pressure of US President Donald Trump attending Friday’s opening day. “I guess he will want to be on the first tee,” Donald said. “He wants to be there to probably greet the players and I think the crowd is probably going to be loud no matter what.” Donald gave players virtual reality equipment to get critical audio while they practice to prepare for the New York crowds. “As long as you’re prepared for getting a little bit of stick from the fans, I think that’s OK,” Donald said. “It’s important that we have a good amount of experience in that team room

Scheffler like NBA’s Jordan or NFL’s Brady

WORLD NO. 1 Scottie Scheffler will be like NBA legend Michael Jordan and NFL star Tom Brady for the United States in the Ryder Cup, US captain Keegan Bradley predicted. Bradley sees the 29-year-old as a dynamic leader for an American squad trying to recapture the trophy next week at Bethpage Black as well as the sort of athlete who wants the pressure of victory or defeat on his shoulders. “That’s part of the Ryder Cup, when you’re the best player... you carry a big burden for your team,” Bradley said. “I think that happens with Michael Jordan, Tom Brady. You know, these guys are built for it. “In a sick way they look forward to it. They want that pressure. And not everyone wants that. People can say they do, but not everyone wants it. “Scottie, I think he would hope that it comes down to him in singles. I bet he dreams about it. That kind of separates Scottie from the rest of the guys.” Jordan won six NBA titles and Brady captured seven Super Bowl crowns while two-time Masters champion Scheffler had major wins at the British Open and PGA Championship among his six titles this year. After capturing nine titles in 2024, including Paris Olympic gold and the Tour Championship, Scheffler joined Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer as the only play ers in the past 65 years to win six or more titles in back-to-back seasons.

“He does a lot of things right. Shows up on the golf course, shows up in the team room, and obviously he’ll be a big part of our team at Bethpage.” Even without 12th-ranked Bradley in the lineup, the Americans have 12 of the world’s 23 top-ranked players. Others include third-ranked Xander Schauffele, a two-time major winner; 10th-ranked Harris English, LIV Golf’s two-time US Open winner Bryson DeChambeau, world No. 5 Justin Thomas, eighth ranked Collin Morikawa, Patrick Cantlay and Sam Burns. Scheffler was winless (0-2-2) at Rome in 2023 after going 2-0-1 in a 2021 US victory at Whistling Straits in his Ryder Cup debut, but he does not see his role any differently now. “My role on the team in ‘21 is the same role as it is now,” Scheffler said. “When my number gets called and it’s time to go out and play, my job is to go out win a point and I think that’s how we approach things. “That’s always what we’re focused on is hitting the right shots, doing the right things. And as far as roles on the team, I think it’s more personalities in the team room.” Bradley said he has most of his work sorted when it comes to planned pairings for foursomes and four-ball matches. “We pretty much have every thing planned out,” Bradley said. “It’s just putting these guys in the best position to play their best golf… The boys are really set up and I’m really happy with where they are.” – AFP

Michael Jordon. – AFPPIC

Tom Brady. – AFPPIC

“The Ryder Cup is a great challenge because of the pressure you feel not only playing for yourself but playing for your country, playing for your partner,” Scheffler said. “It’s a really cool event and one of the greatest expe riences in golf.” Bradley sees Scheffler as crucial for his four Ryder Cup newcomers – Ben Griffin, fourth-ranked Russell Henley, Cameron Young and seventh-ranked US Open winner JJ

Spaun.

“The more I’m around Scottie, the more I’m impressed with who he is,“ Bradley said. “We all know what a generational talent player Scottie is, but when you see Scottie around our guys, around the rook ies, the willingness of him to do literally whatever it takes

for us to win the Ryder Cup – and when your best player is

Scottie Scheffler. – AFPPIC

doing that, you know the rest of your team is going to fall in line of his lead.

Past 10 winners of the Ryder Cup

2023: Europe 16.5 USA 11.5

2021: USA 19 Europe 9

2018: Europe 17.5 USA 10.5

2016: USA 17, Europe 11

2014: Europe 16.5 USA 11.5

2012: Europe 14.5 USA 13.5

2010: Europe 14.5 USA 13.5

2008: USA 16.5 Europe 11.5

2006: Europe 18.5 USA 9.5

2004: Europe 18.5 USA 9.5