Rory McIlroy said winning an away Ryder Cup is one of the most difficult things to do in golf.
After Team Europe won in Rome two years ago, Rory McIlroy set his sights on Bethpage Black. He wants to win the Ryder Cup in the United States for the second time in his distinguished career.
It would be one of McIlroy’s greatest accomplishments to overcome a frenzied New York crowd at the Ryder Cup and retain the trophy for Europe. But despite both sides having evenly matched teams, Team USA are the favourite due to their home advantage.
That said, two-time Ryder Cup winner David Howell, who helped Europe to an away win in 2004, explained why he didn’t find it too much of a challenge to take victory in Michigan.
David Howell reveals the key to winning an away Ryder Cup
Howell played a small but significant role in the 2004 Ryder Cup. Paired with Paul Casey, he took down Jim Furyk and Chad Campbell with a birdie putt on the 17th hole. He went 1-1 in the tournament, which Europe won 18.5-9.
That was all Europe needed from Howell, and it was an unexpected point for the team. The likes of Sergio Garcia, Colin Montgomerie, Padraig Harrington and Lee Westwood carried the mantle and won the tournament.
That’s why Howell said from his perspective, it wasn’t too difficult to win. He told talkSPORT, “Well, it didn’t seem that difficult! It was my first match and I just contributed one point, which was my little ‘there you go.’”
But Howell’s contribution represented the most important thing for Luke Donald at this Ryder Cup. He continued, “I think the key to winning away from home or any Ryder Cup, ultimately, is for everybody to contribute.
“And let’s face facts, if you do that, you’re going to get close. That’s the reality, and that’s going to be key this time round. No doubt about it.
“It was easy for me, I just chipped in with one point. It probably didn’t feel so easy to those great names… I bow to those who can go out and play 36 holes and play well for all of them and come home with points in the afternoon. That’s a monumental effort.”
So, as Donald will look for the likes of McIlroy to carry the weight of the load for Europe, it’s the players further down the order that could well prove the difference. That was the case in Rome, when Ludvig Aberg and Viktor Hovland handed Scottie Scheffler a record-breaking Ryder Cup defeat.
A Hovland’s form could worry Donald entering this Ryder Cup. He’s not firing like he was two years ago. Howell, however, isn’t concerned by that.
David Howell predicts Europe to win the Ryder Cup
Howell confidently predicted a European win, which would be the first away win in a Ryder Cup since 2012. That said, he predicts a thriller that comes down to the wire.
When asked what he expects from the tournament, he said, “A European win. A couple of points. Hopefully a thriller all the way to the end, with a victory for us. That’s what I foresee.
“There’s always that moment on Sunday when you know it’s excitement. Is that going to go at 5:00 in the afternoon or is it going to be 3:00 where you feel like there’s a bit of a wobble or whatever? But a real thriller would be amazing, but more importantly, let’s hope that we win.”
No bias in that opinion! Winners of Europe’s past are getting behind the team, including Sir Nick Faldo, who predicted a European win.
No doubt about it, it’s a tall task. But if Donald’s Europe can pull it off, their legend will live forever.
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