I consider the Europeans will win at Bethpage, though they’re at the moment underdogs at +155, in line with FanDuel.
Here’s a long-winded purpose as to why I really feel this manner 9 months out:
On the U.S. facet, all of the discuss is about cash this and cash that — $200,000 right here or $300,000 there. Will all of it be donated to charity? Or will it stay of their pockets? No matter what occurs with that extra capital, it’s a nasty look and smears the favored American crew, which has the 2 finest gamers on the earth, Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele.
In the meantime, the Europeans stated they would pay for the correct to play within the Ryder Cup. For them, it’s greater than only a competitors.
Look no additional than what occurred final week in Abu Dhabi.
Tommy Fleetwood helped lead Nice Britain and Eire over Continental Europe in a Ryder Cup preview on the Hero Staff Cup. This occasion not solely will get the Europeans in a match-play mindset but additionally helps the Euro facet determine up-and-coming expertise who fares nicely in these codecs. Tom McKibbin, Aaron Rai, and Rasmus Højgaard come to thoughts. Perhaps the U.S. crew ought to undertake one thing related. The Hero Staff Cup happens solely throughout Ryder Cup years and was established in 2023. Coincidence? I believe not!
Many who performed within the Staff Cup are actually teeing it up at this week’s Hero Dubai Desert Basic, which solely helps total camaraderie. It jogs my memory of the 2023 BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, the place all 12 gamers competing in Rome performed collectively.
Earlier than that occasion, the Europeans flew to Rome for a scouting journey and had been greeted by an amazing opera on the first tee. Tears streamed down gamers’ faces as everybody was overcome with emotion. The Ryder Cup is all the things to those gamers. No marvel Luke Donald returned as captain for 2025.
Quick ahead to this week, and becoming a member of these European stalwarts who performed within the Staff Cup are Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy, the 2 finest Euros of their technology. Rahm and McIlroy have mixed to win 25.5 factors throughout their 10 appearances and will probably be formidable forces once more on Lengthy Island. They gained’t be fazed by the rowdy New Yorkers both. They feed off that.
Everybody has been discussing the Ryder Cup in Dubai this week, too, with Rahm notably saying, “I plan to be at Bethpage,” regardless of the sanctions levied in opposition to him by the DP World Tour. You understand the DPWT wants Rahm on their crew as a lot as he wants them, so it will be surprising to not see him play. It could be silly to extradite him from the crew.
However what struck me probably the most from Tuesday’s press conferences had been Fleetwood’s feedback about Jose María Olazábal. The European facet has at all times impressed me with how their long-lasting bond amongst gamers extends throughout generations. From Seve Ballesteros to Ludvig Åberg and past, that concord will proceed for many years to return.
Here’s what Fleetwood stated about Olazábal:
“[Jose María] at all times been so nice with me from my early days on tour. I performed with him in The Italian Open and a few occasions, and he gave me actually good recommendation about the place my recreation was at. I bear in mind taking part in with him, , I can’t bear in mind the place, however it was about six or seven months later, and he shook my hand on the finish of the spherical, and he stated I had improved on what he advised me I ought to enhance on,” Fleetwood stated.
“You continue to take a look at now, one among my favorite moments of the Ryder Cup in Rome was after we embraced one another on the seventeenth gap, and he had some actually sort phrases to say about me.
“You take a look at [the Team Cup] final week, how he captivates the crew room when he talks about Seve. I believe he’s somebody that I actually look as much as and aspire to be as an individual and as a golfer.”
Though we’re 9 months out and the groups of 12 haven’t even come near being shaped but, the European camaraderie is already rather more potent than that of their American counterparts. That ought to scare any supporter of the purple, white, and blue whereas instilling a wholesome dose of confidence within the visiting underdogs.
Granted, a highway Ryder Cup crew has not gained since 2012, when the Europeans stormed again on Sunday to interrupt the hearts of the house crew at Medinah. However I consider that is the 12 months that drought snaps. All indicators level to the highway crew rising victorious at Bethpage Black, though the environment will show troublesome.
Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By way of. Comply with him on X @jack_milko.