After two days of dream golf inside the ropes amid nightmare conditions outside, the boys in blue and gold could feel the ground begin to crumble from underneath. The United States’ comeback bid was officially on, and it was real. After a substantial seven-point lead, the United States came back to win the Ryder Cup 15 to 13. The United States’ comeback bid was officially on, and it was real. Donald now joins Tony Jacklin in being the second person to lead Europe to Ryder Cup victory. Donald has a record of 7-1 in eight Ryder Cups as a captain, player and vice captain. His team was 8-2 over the 10 sessions in his primary role. As far as the Ryder Cup experience could go for a skipper, Donald’s first nine sessions were about as stress-free as one could desire.
Sunday more than made up for that, but in the process, it added another layer of context in when reviewing Donald’s captaincy. The Englishman never lost his cool or showed any doubts in his mind. He remained calm and composed as the pressure mounted on his team. The captain of the ship has led us better than anyone I’ve seen. He set a very high bar for future captains. “
Details differ in how Donald has had the most impact but it is clear that his presence gives Europe an advantage. Donald is meticulous in his attention to detail, whether it’s the lineup, the use of analytics, scouting missions, or any other small, but important, acts. This accountability brings a sense of calm to everyone under pressure. It can be something as simple as a few small things. Let me give you an instance: In our hotel rooms, this week, there was a large crack in the door that allowed light to enter. We brought items that would cover the light. We used shampoos with a nicer smell. We changed the bedding because the beds weren’t very good, and they just had sheets, and we created much nicer beds so guys could sleep, they could have more energy.
“Those are just little things. I will go into small details. Rory McIlroy laughed as he acknowledged the new shampoo. “
Le Labo, if anyone’s wondering,” chimed a smiling McIlroy. “Really nice.” Donald says that his players and staff would have been unable to discover such details without their contributions. Donald was the best player in Europe and the world in Medinah two years later. McIlroy filled the void left by Donald’s last Ryder Cup, strengthening the bond between captain and best player. Donald said that it was inspiring for his team. It’s really close. It is. It’s inspirational to see someone like Rory fight so hard for the team. It’s obvious that you can’t achieve it all by yourself, but having someone as dedicated and committed to the team like Rory makes it easier. McIlroy is 7-2-1 under Donald and has led Europe to a Ryder Cup victory in Rome in the wake of a record defeat in Wisconsin in 2021. After that victory in Rome, McIlroy (successfully!) called his shot in New York. We talk about it all the time. These individual accolades can be fun. We want to accomplish as much as possible individually. Rory’s place in history is set. Rory’s place in history has been secured. That’s a big part of my captaincy is to create an environment where these guys are having the best weeks of their lives, honestly.“We’ll always remember this. We’ll be remembered forever. We always talk about the people who came before us and paved the path for us. Future generations will remember this team and what they accomplished and how they overcame one of the most difficult environments in sport. This is what Rory and these 11 other guys also get. They move in unison as the best European captain and player to ever grace the game. The two are the best European captains and players to grace the game. They work together in perfect harmony. It’s a team of leaders – one who is inside the lines, calling the shots and the other outside. It adds up to another European Ryder Cup victory.Bonded by brotherhood and badge, Donald and McIlroy stand alone as the greatest captain-player duo in history.