Europe is missing a lot of its Ryder Cup stalwarts at Marco Simone because of their defections to join LIV Golf
LIV Golf defections have cut off European stalwarts from the Ryder Cup, some of them for the first time in three decades. Rory McIlroy said Wednesday they are missing the Ryder Cup more than Team Europe is missing them.
McIlroy caught himself briefly, aware his comments would be interpreted as another dig at the defectors, especially given the“I’m not saying that’s like ... it’s just more I think this week is a realization that the decision that they made has led to not being a part of this week,” he said. “And that’s tough.”
Brooks Koepka made it back to the Ryder Cup, though only through an extraordinary performance in the majors, his only access to Ryder Cup points. He was runner-up at the Masters and won the PGA Championship.Team Europe had eight players at Whistling Straits at the last Ryder Cup who since went over to LIV Golf. Westwood, Garcia, Poulter, Paul Casey and Bernd Wiesberger played in the matches. McDowell, Stenson and Martin Kaymer were vice captains.
“We have some legends of the game that won’t be there that would have been a huge presence in the team room,” Tommy Fleetwood said before arriving at Marco Simone. “Being in the team room with Poulter, Sergio, Henrik, GMac ... until you’ve been with them at a Ryder Cup, you don’t know what they bring.
He felt it was best for them to start a Ryder Cup before a home crowd, especially since they are projected to play in the matches for years to come. For now, it’s about moving forward. Europe has a template of success — they have captured the cup 12 of the last 18 times — that it is not short on leadership from the old guard — Thomas Bjorn, Paul McGinley, Jose Maria Olazabal, Colin Montgomerie, Sam Torrance as examples.
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