VIRGINIA WATER, England — Europe captain Luke Donald stuffed out his 12-man roster for this month’s Ryder Cup with six gamers who helped the staff win again the trophy in Rome two years in the past.
Shane Lowry, Jon Rahm, Sepp Straka, Viktor Hovland, Ludvig Åberg and Matt Fitzpatrick have been introduced Monday as Donald’s picks for the Sept. 26-28 matches towards the US at Bethpage Black.
EUROPEUNITED STATESLudvig Aberg*Sam Burns*Matt Fitzpatrick*Patrick Cantlay*Tommy FleetwoodBryson DeChambeauTyrrell HattonHarris EnglishRasmus HojgaardBen Griffin*Viktor Hovland*Russell HenleyShane Lowry*Collin Morikawa*Robert MacIntyreXander SchauffeleRory McIlroyScottie SchefflerJon Rahm*J.J. SpaunJustin RoseJustin Thomas*Sepp Straka*Cameron Younger** – Captain’s decide
Donald can be taking a well-known lineup to New York, returning 11 of the 12 gamers who gained the Ryder Cup for the European staff in 2023. Certainly, the one change two years on sees Rasmus Hojgaard play as a substitute of his twin brother, Nicolai.
Hojgaard is the one Ryder Cup rookie, having routinely certified together with Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood, Robert MacIntyre, Justin Rose and Tyrrell Hatton.
The final time Europe had just one rookie was in 2012, when Nicolas Colsaerts helped ship a well-known last-day comeback within the so-called “Miracle at Medinah.” That is the final time a staff gained a Ryder Cup on the street.
“Clearly a number of continuity from Rome,” Donald mentioned. “That is uncommon to have so many individuals coming again, but it surely simply exhibits how good these gamers are.
“However although we now have a number of continuity, this can be a completely different animal to play away in America. We perceive how tough that’s.”
Sticking to the rankings
Lowry, Straka, Aberg, Hovland and Fitzpatrick positioned No. 7-11 on Europe’s Ryder Cup rankings, so No. 12 Matt Wallace — who shed tears Sunday when discussing how a lot getting picked for the staff would imply — would possibly depend himself unlucky to overlook out.
Chosen as a substitute, nonetheless, was Rahm, who’s a two-time main champion, a former world No. 1 and was lately topped as LIV Golf’s particular person champion for the second straight yr.
U.S. staff already introduced
U.S. captain Keegan Bradley introduced his picks final week and the large information was they did not embrace himself.
Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, Cameron Younger, Ben Griffin, Sam Burns and Patrick Cantlay have been picked to affix Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Harris English, Bryson DeChambeau, J.J. Spaun and Russell Henley on the staff.
The People may have 4 rookies: Spaun, Henley, Younger and Griffin.