Iona Stephen: “It’s time for Europe to seek Ryder Cup revenge”
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TG columnist and Sky Sports golf broadcaster Iona Stephen shares her view on all the key talking points ahead of the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome.
Straight after watching Team Europe retain the Solheim Cup, I’m hot-footing it to the airport in Spain and heading to Italy for my first Ryder Cup. It’s like a fortnight sent from the golfing gods!
I’m incredibly excited. I covered the 2021 match at Whistling Straits for the BBC, but it was off-site due to Covid, so I cannot wait to experience the event and the atmosphere in Rome.
So much has happened in men’s professional golf since Whistling Straits so it’ll be nice for all talk about the tours, mergers, and money to be off the table for the week and to focus on what is one of the biggest events in all of sport.
Bob’s big moment
It’s a great couple of weeks for Scotland, with Gemma Dryburgh playing in the Solheim Cup, and Bob MacIntyre making his Ryder Cup debut for Team Europe. He joins a long list of Scottish golfers to play in the event (22 to be precise), following the likes of Sam Torrance, Gordon Brand Jnr, Sandy Lyle, Brian Barnes, Ken Brown, Paul Lawrie, Colin Montgomerie, and even some guy called Andrew Coltart – I wonder what he’s up to these days?! But Bob will be the first since Stephen Gallacher in 2014 and he put in one hell of a fight to be there.
The fact he qualified and wasn’t reliant on the pick has to play to his advantage and his authority within the team room. I had respect for him turning up to the Omega Masters, a venue that really doesn’t suit his game and a course he openly said he struggles on in a pressure tank situation.
Drawing Bob, Adrian Meronk, and Yannik Paul – three players vying for that final spot – together for the first few days made for fantastic entertainment from the DP World Tour but felt a bit cruel on the players. Meronk and Paul made good starts, but Bob knew he just needed to make the weekend to have a very strong chance of being in the team and he did so by holing a pressure putt for par on the 36th hole to scrape in on the number.
We have a strong Scottish contingent in men’s golf at the moment with Bob, Calum Hill, Conor Syme, and Ewen Ferguson. Paul Lawrie and Stephen Gallacher deserve a lot of credit because they will have inspired and invested in the next generation who are now starting to produce on the main stage. Who knows what impact Bob MacIntyre will have on the next generation by making this team?
Donald’s delight
It’s a strong-looking European team and with that Luke Donald must be feeling confident.
There were questions around the Ludvig Aberg pick, even before it was announced. People were making comparisons to Tiger and the fact even he didn’t get a pick at the start of his career despite coming out of the blocks so fast, but Ludvig has answered the critics emphatically since then with his win in Crans and performance at the BMW PGA. Ok, he let the lead slip on Sunday at Wentworth, but there’s no doubt left lingering that he is worthy of his pick. He’s only just beginning and I think we have a new star on our hands. He has a calm demeanor that lends itself well to handling all the hullabaloo and hype. Men’s golf is due a new star, particularly in Europe, so I really hope he continues to go from strength to strength.
Home advantage is always important in team golf, but this isn’t just any home advantage. It’s Italy. It’s Rome. It’s passion. There’s passion that exists in the earth over there so I think that is going to breed a fantastic environment for the Europeans.
The venue at Marco Simone is perfect for a Ryder Cup and has a series of amphitheaters as you journey the course. It has been redeveloped with the Ryder Cup in mind and the changes in elevation will make for great spectating. There is only one place to be come Friday morning.
What happened at Whistling Straits was demoralizing for Europe and it was made even worse with little to no support on the ground due to Covid. The fans play a huge role; they are the 13th player. To have no competitive support out there and to face a partisan crowd all day, every day, made an already tough challenge almost impossible. This will be very different, and I think every European player and spectator will be seeking revenge.
A brilliant backroom
There’s a lot more to winning the Ryder Cup or Solheim Cup than the team of 12 players. There are the fans, as discussed above, but, just as importantly there’s the captain and his vice-captains.
With Luke Donald leading the way, supported by Francesco Molinari, Edoardo Molinari, Jose Maria Olazabal, Nicolas Colsaerts, and Thomas Bjorn, I think Europe has a solid balance. There’s not a lot of ego among that group, which is important and reflective of Luke Donald’s own personality.
I think Luke will be a fantastic leader for this team. Every leader has their own style, and he has a quiet authority about him. He has a subtle presence, but it really packs a punch. He has vast Ryder Cup experience as a player and vice-captain, he’s a man who reached the peak of the game as World No.1, and let’s not forget, he never lost a Ryder Cup as a player. I think he’ll be as keen as anyone to avenge that 2021 defeat, where he was a vice-captain.
The value of the vice-captains can’t be underestimated, and Luke has chosen wisely.
Francesco Molinari is a Major champion, the only European to win five out of five matches in a Ryder Cup (Paris, 2018), and he’s Italian, so will be a huge motivator.
Edoardo Molinari is a key cog. Not only is he a statistical mastermind, but he, like Francesco, will be able to get that home support going even more. Plus, he’s still active on tour, works closely with several of the team on their statistical analysis, and is connected to what’s happening in the game.
You’ve got the heart, spirit and experience in Jose Maria Olazabal, a man who inspired the Miracle at Medinah and has a strong connection to Seve. Together they were synonymous with the Ryder Cup. There are players in that room who played for him at Medinah and others who will have watched him playing in this event when they were young and who will want to ensure they don’t let him down.
Then there’s Nicolas Colsearts, who has charisma and authority and who played a key role in Medinah, all of which will be vital in the team room. He’s spoken powerfully about what his Ryder Cup appearance means to him and will prove a great support for the rookies.
And, finally, Thomas Bjorn, who masterminded Europe’s dominant win in Paris in 2018. He brings an intimidation factor, which is essential, but many of the team have also played for him and have a special relationship with him. He has a tattoo of the trophy and winning score from Le Golf National on his posterior. If that doesn’t show what being part of Team Europe means to him, I don’t know what does.
Rose blooms again
We’re seeing a changing of the guard this year, but it’s impressive that Justin Rose is in this side once again. To still be playing at this level and performing at this age and stage of his career reflects his professionalism, attention to detail, and work ethic.
He’s a Ryder Cup legend and is arguably the last of that previous generation who tasted so much success. Now he has the chance to pass on his vast experience and learnings to the likes of Hojgaard, MacIntyre, and Aberg, who are the next generation for Team Europe.
Of course, he’s in this side to win points and there’s nothing to say this will be his swansong, but he has vast knowledge from inside and outside of the ropes having played his first Ryder Cup 15 years ago and he’ll prove a key figure in Europe’s bid for victory.
A point to prove
Matt Fitzpatrick is a Major champion and one of the best players in the world, but he still comes into this Ryder Cup with something to prove. He’s made two previous appearances and is yet to get off the mark with any points, so he’ll be determined to do that this year. I have no doubt that he will. His caddie, Billy Foster, will play a crucial role. I think Matt and Billy are one of the best teams in world sport and this will be a very special and memorable Ryder Cup for the pair of them.
Will there be revenge in Rome?
The big question… will Europe win? I think this is going to be extremely tight, but my heart says they will and I’m sticking with it. They’re going to have to be clinical and get a lot right because the talent, on both teams, means there’s no real room for mistakes and any that are made will be punished. But I think the desire for revenge, players peaking at the right time, and the home advantage will prove enough for Luke’s men to get the job done and keep the winning home run going.
But who do I think will shine for Europe? I honestly believe Ludvig Aberg will be a star across the week. And my heart says Bob will shine. He’s a fiery player who loves matchplay and rises to the big occasions. His Major record shows that – he’s missed only one cut in 12 starts and has excellent finishes at the Masters and The Open. He’s also a winner at Marco Simone having lifted the Italian Open there in 2022 when he beat Fitzpatrick in a playoff. The omens for the boy from Oban are good.
READ MORE FROM IONA STEPHEN
– I’d love to see a combined Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup
– I don’t want to see a golf ball rollback
– Slow play has to be punished
About the author
Iona Stephen – Broadcaster and Today’s Golfer contributor
Iona Stephen is a former professional golfer, who has played on the Ladies European Tour, and is a highly-respected golf broadcaster.
She joined Today’s Golfer as a regular contributor in 2023 and offers insight into the professional game from her life working on the world’s biggest tours.
Stephen’s career has seen her work for Sky Sports Golf, CBS, the BBC, and NBC Golf Channel covering everything from The Masters and The Open, to the Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup. She has also hosted prize presentations to a global audience at some of the DP World Tour’s flagship events.
Alongside her television work, Stephen also has her own YouTube channel – On The Road With Iona – which has welcomed guests including Jon Rahm, Niall Horan, Rick Shiels, Bronte Law, and Martin Slumbers.
Follow Iona on Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok and find out more at ionastephen.com
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Iona Stephen shares her views ahead of the 2023 Ryder Cup
