(Guidonia Montecelio, Italy) Golfers who opted to join the LIV Tour deprived the European team of several of their Ryder Cup mainstays, with some of them missing for the first time in three decades. Rory McIlroy said Wednesday that they miss the Ryder Cup more than the European team misses them.
Lee Westwood, who has participated in every edition of the Ryder Cup since its launch in 1997, was conspicuous by his absence at the Marco Simone course. Sergio Garcia, who has shone at the Ryder Cup since 1999, tried to reestablish bridges with the European circuit in the hope of being in Rome.
Ian Poulter and his passion. Graeme McDowell and his crucial shots. They all joined the LIV Tour, meaning they are ineligible for the current edition of the Ryder Cup. It also includes Henrik Stenson, who was named captain of the European team before announcing his decision to join the controversial Saudi-funded tour last summer.
“It’s very strange to see their absence,” McIlroy said. But I think this week, in particular, will hurt them a lot. I think they will miss not being here, much more than we will miss them. »
McIlroy quickly corrected himself, well aware that his comments could be seen as another arrow fired in the direction of golfers on the LIV Tour, which began operations in June 2022.
“I don’t want to say that…I just feel like this week, more than any other, they’re going to realize that because of their decision, they’re not here,” he said. And it’s hard to digest. »
It is still unclear whether they could be invited again. The European Tour and PGA Tour have entered into a commercial agreement with the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, which finances the LIV Tour. This new commercial partnership must, however, be completed and approved.
In particular, the parties must determine how LIV Tour golfers can be reinstated.
The Americans have already had to deal with the LIV effect, having been without Dustin Johnson and Bryson DeChambeau at the Presidents Cup in 2022, among others.
Brooks Koepka punched his ticket to the Ryder Cup, but only because of his spectacular performances in major tournaments, which provided him with enough points to become a must-see. He finished second at the Masters and won the PGA Championship.
“I feel like I’m representing the United States. That’s what it says on my cap this week,” Koepka said. These are not individuals gathered in a locker room. We are a united team, and that is how we are going to approach this competition. »
For now, however, we must look to the future. Europe had developed its winning formula – Europeans have won 12 of the last 18 Ryder Cups – by banking on the experience of the old guard – Thomas Bjorn, Paul McGinley, Jose Maria Olazabal, Colin Montgomerie and Sam Torrance, For example.
“People are still attached to the European team, and I would even say that it is visceral. We always count on a winning culture within our team,” recalled Englishman Justin Rose.
“In life as in business and everything else, there is always a transition phase, where you have to start identifying your new leaders, and it is always better when you manage to get through it without feeling any adverse effects “, he continued.
However, it seems clear that the absence of many familiar faces from the European team entourage, including Westwood, Garcia, Poulter and McDowell – all of whom could have been named vice-captains – will have repercussions. But we must remain hopeful.
“The more young golfers we bring onto our team, the quicker they integrate into our culture and the smoother we are able to navigate this transition,” concluded Rose.