Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry enjoyed a Ryder Cup weekend to remember - even if it brought more nerves than Team Europe might have expected after Friday morning's wipeout.
Europe came out of Friday morning 4-0 up, before consolidating their lead that afternoon. By Saturday evening, however, the damage had been somewhat undone, and the momentum was with the Americans going into the final day.
Both McIlroy and Lowry would do the business on the final day, contributing a win [McIlroy] and a tie [Lowry] to contribue a point and a half towards the Europeans' eventual victory, after a weekend on which both dramatically improved on their performances from Whistling Straits in 2021.
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McIlroy, in particular, was a standout, claiming more points than anyone else on the European team, as he won four matches from five in a dramatic response to his disappointing showing on American soil two years ago, when he was left in tears after losing three games from four.
For the Holywood man, much of the last two years has been spent fighting the cause of the PGA and DP World Tours against the rise and rise of the breakaway LIV Golf League, with McIlroy among the loudest voices speaking out against the Saudi-backed series.
Players from LIV were automatically barred from playing for Team Europe at this year's Ryder Cup, thanks to the qualification system disallowing them from the chance to earn a spot on the team - and McIlroy and Lowry concurred in the aftermath of the tournament that they and their teammates had felt a positive impact from their absence.
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"It let other guys have that chance to flourish and shine"
30 September 2023; Rory McIlroy of Europe celebrates a putt on the 15th hole during the morning foursomes on day two of the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome, Italy. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
LIV golfers Lee Westwood, Sergio Garcia and, perhaps most of all, Ian Poulter, have developed reputations in recent years for being Ryder Cup specialists, and their absence from Rome last weekend was one of the biggest talking points for the European side in the buildup to the tournament.
In the void of their experience and leadership, senior players Justin Rose and Rory McIlroy stood up, while McIlroy [#2], Jon Rahm [#3], and Viktor Hovland [#4] showed why they are in the top five of the world rankings with stellar weekend showings on the course.
Speaking in the aftermath of the Ryder Cup, McIlroy was asked for his thoughts on the absence of the European LIV Golf stars - and said that he felt their omission gave himself, Rahm, and Hovland the opportunity to stand up and fill the leadership void:
The one thing I will say is that they've had unbelievable Ryder Cup careers and they've made their choices. They've done what they've done and no one can take away the impact that they've had for the European team over the years.
But I feel like, this week, not having those big personalities in the team room let other guys have that chance to flourish and to shine - Viktor, Jon, myself.
There wasn't a ton of space taken up in that room by some of the other big personalities and I think that let the rest of the team just sort of flourish. It's a young team. We can all grow together.
I could potentially be the oldest person on the team next time. It's a new era - and it's a pretty good one.
McIlroy's comments were echoed by Shane Lowry.
1 October 2023; Shane Lowry of Europe celebrates after going one up on the 17th green during the singles matches on the final day of the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome, Italy. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Lowry went 1-1-1 for the weekend and, though his solid performance wasn't quite as spectacular as McIlroy's, he more than led the spirit of Team Europe throughout the weekend, with his enthusiastic celebration of Viktor Hovland's dramatic putt on the 18th on Friday afternoon arguably the early highlight of the weekend.
On Monday, Lowry backed up McIlroy's comments on the absence of LIV Golf players from the Ryder Cup, and praised his fellow Irishman - as well as Rahm and Hovland - for stepping up to the mark:
I think not having those guys there this week gave certain guys the opportunity to be something different in the team room. I think that made a big difference.
We have had three of the world's top four players in the team room this week. Those [LIV] guys are obviously big Ryder Cup legends and have been amazing. But if they had been in the team room, maybe Rory, Jon, and Viktor wouldn't have been what they were this week.
Featured image: Sportsfile
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