Europe Finalizes Ryder Cup Team with Six Key Selections
European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald has officially announced his final six at-large selections for the upcoming tournament at Bethpage Black, taking place from September 26-28, 2023. This announcement comes ahead of the highly anticipated event, where Europe hopes to reclaim victory on American soil for the first time since their memorable win at Medinah in 2012.
In a press conference held outside of London, Donald revealed that he has retained 11 players from the victorious team that triumphed over the United States at the Marco Simone Golf Club two years ago. The six players selected include Shane Lowry, Jon Rahm, Sepp Straka, Viktor Hovland, Ludvig Aberg, and Matt Fitzpatrick. They will join the automatic qualifiers: Rory McIlroy, Robert MacIntyre, Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose, Rasmus Hojgaard, and Tyrrell Hatton.
The only change in the roster is the inclusion of Rasmus Hojgaard, who qualified on points after a strong performance at the British Masters. He takes the place of his twin brother Nicolai, who was part of the winning team in Rome but did not qualify this time.
Straka’s participation was uncertain due to a personal matter that kept him from competing at the BMW Championship two weeks ago. He also had an ordinary performance at the Tour Championship and opted out of the upcoming BMW PGA Championship on the DP World Tour. Nevertheless, Donald confirmed Straka as a valuable member of the team during the teleconference.
The European squad is aware of the challenges that come with competing in the United States. Many members of the team, including McIlroy, Rahm, Hovland, Lowry, Fitzpatrick, and Fleetwood, faced defeat at Whistling Straits in 2021. Hovland reflected on his previous experience, stating, “Without speaking too much about the results from ’21, it was very valuable to me… I was way more ready for the experience this time.”
As the team gears up for the competition, they are expected to arrive in New York three weeks prior to the event. Donald expressed his pride in the selected players, emphasizing the continuity from the previous team. He remarked, “I feel amazingly proud of these guys and how well they played. This is a different animal to play in America.”
The European team is preparing rigorously as they aim to write a new chapter in Ryder Cup history. With a blend of experience and fresh talent, they are set to face a formidable U.S. team led by captain Keegan Bradley, who was part of the losing side in 2012. The upcoming tournament promises to be an exciting showcase of talent, strategy, and fierce competition.
