Luke Donald’s Europe outclassed Keegan Bradley and Team USA at the Ryder Cup.
The 15-13 final score might not tell that story, but Sunday’s American comeback saved their blushes in what was otherwise an outright humiliation on home soil.
Europe led by seven points after the team events concluded on Saturday evening. Donald had his players prepared, his pairing optimized, and his game plan set to perfection when he rocked up to Bethpage Black.
Meanwhile, Bradley was criticized for his pairings, and there didn’t seem to be much of a plan beyond Bryson DeChambeau hammering his drive off the first tee box.
But that’s not the lesson Presidents Cup captain Geoff Ogilvy took from the Ryder Cup as he prepares to take on Team USA at Medinah. Instead, he thinks the result was the culmination of a much bigger picture.
Geoff Ogilvy reveals what he learned from Luke Donald and Team Europe at the Ryder Cup
As the captain of the international team, Ogilvy has to change the fortunes of his team at the Presidents Cup. The internationals have won Presidents Cup only once, and the Americans have taken victory in the last ten tournaments.
But Ogilvy noted that this is the scenario that Europe faced in the Ryder Cup years ago. That was until they turned the tide in the 1980s, and since then they’ve been the dominant force, not the Americans.
Justin Rose summed it up perfectly. He said he raises his game for “the badge and the boys” after winning in New York, and that’s the same attitude Ogilvy wants to instil within his side.
The Australian said that his international team have learned from Europe’s growth as a Ryder Cup force in the last few decades. Speaking on the Fore Play podcast, he explained: “There’s so much to this event.
“It’s so much more than picking the right pairings and putting them out at the right time. There’s so much more to it. Building the team bond, you take a lesson out of Europe’s book.
“Their build-up of this, and the way they are at the Ryder Cup, you can go back to Seve [Ballesteros]. You can go back to the early 80s, and the belief and passion he brought into the team room. It still echoes today for them. That’s still there.
“Someone like an Ernie Els was like that for us. You don’t start winning instantly, but you create this momentum behind the international team that’s been building and building every year.
“We have young, passionate guys. We have kids who come on tour now, passionate about wearing the shield. They look forward in the future to making the team. That wasn’t as true before as it is now. It’s becoming more and more powerful as the years go on.”
Ballesteros became the emotional heartbeat of Team Europe throughout the 1980s and revolutionized the way the team approached the competition. Ogilvy is now hoping for the same revolution in his team as they hope to claim a win over Team USA next year.
How the international team can benefit from the Ryder Cup
The Ryder Cup is often seen as an advantage for Team USA going into the Presidents Cup. They have an extra event to team build, set their pairings, and evaluate their players in a team setting. But it doesn’t have to be an edge for the Americans.
Team Europe doesn’t have the benefit of an extra event like Team USA, but they are still better at the Ryder Cup. In fact, the international team can use it to their advantage.
The Presidents Cup is partially seen as a test run for Team USA. It’s a chance for the team to calibrate itself for 2027, as they look to snatch back the Ryder Cup from Europe.
But while Team USA could be looking ahead, it allows their opponents to focus solely on the present. If they can capture Europe’s passion for the Ryder Cup, they can overcome any talent deficit they may have.
That’s what Ogilvy is aiming to do. Many say Europe simply cares more about the Ryder Cup, which gives them an edge in their meticulous preparation for the event. There’s no reason that can’t be the case for the internationals.
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