TEAM EUROPE IN SAFE HANDS

If there was doubt over Europe’s future Ryder Cup credentials then last month’s Hero Cup put most of those to bed with some impressive performances from the next generation of talent, many of whom will be a mainstay in the biennial contest over the next decade or so.

Team Europe’s thumping defeat at Whistling Straits last September certainly had alarm bells ringing, and that was before Ryder Cup stalwarts such as Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter and record points scorer Sergio Garcia made their way over to Greg Norman’s LIV Golf. Who would lead the charge in 2023 with those core members of the team gone as well as Henrik Stenson abandoning his captaincy in favour of the up-front stone-cold cash LIV Golf was offering?

Step forward the likes of Robert MacIntyre, Guido Migliozzi and Victor Perez, with the trio enjoying an unbeaten record over the three days at Abu Dhabi Golf Club. This tournament may not have had the pressure that the Ryder Cup possesses but don’t be fooled into thinking this was just an exhibition of golf with players enjoying themselves. Captain Luke Donald went above and beyond in making the event as Ryder Cup-like as possible, from the locker rooms representing a football changing room to a pairing ceremony on the first night to announce the first day’s play. The teams also met up for dinner both pre-event and post tournament to forge that famous ‘European spirit’ between players, some of which were meeting each other for the first time. At those dinners were European Ryder Cup greats of the past at the request of Donald, including Paul McGinley and José María Olazábal who famously led the European side to an unbelievable comeback from a 10-6 deficit going into the final day singles to a 14 ½ – 13 ½ victory at Medinah in 2012. Every player we spoke to that week told us how inspiring it was to have those icons of the game there and how eager they were to follow in their footsteps by making Donald’s team at Marco Simon Golf & Country Club later this year. With each team boasting three players with previous Ryder Cup experience, this tournament would have been an invaluable experience for those that have never played golf’s greatest contest before. There’s no doubt the American side will possess the greater talent and experience come September, and chances are Europe will probably succumb to another defeat, but events like this will only help the young guns of the European team for years to come. Yes, we may have lost Poulter, but we’ve gained another outgoing figure in Macintyre. We’ve lost the passion of Sergio, but we’ve got the fiery Jon Rahm. The Iceman has gone for the money, but we’ve gained a former World No.1 as our leader in Donald. Things don’t look too bad for Team Europe at all.