After the group stage of the WGC-Match Play in Austin, the contingent of the best European players, already weak on the starting line, was decimated. Only Rory McIlroy had managed to get out of the pools before losing in the semi-finals. Not a very good omen six months before the 2023 Ryder Cup…
Jon Rahm, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Tyrrell Hatton, Tommy Fleetwood, Alex Noren, Viktor Hovland, Shane Lowry, Victor Perez, Sepp Straka, Adrian Meronk, Seamus Power : these eleven Europeans were all eliminated in the group stage in a tournament necessarily closely scrutinized in the perspective of the Ryder Cupgiven its match-play format.
Soiled European honor was simply saved by Rory McIlroy, semi-finalist, but the overall results are worrying, very worrying. Not sure if this is enough to reassure Luke Donald.
The main disappointment came from Jon Rahm. But not only.
Ghostly Rahm, Transparent Fitzpatrick
In position to qualify despite a loss to Rickie Fowler on the first day, the world No. 2 was a shadow of himself against Billy Horschel in the decisive match of group 2. With two double bogeys, a bogey and not the slightest birdie in this 3rd decisive match, “Rahmbo” literally offered victory on a plateau to the American.
Should we put it down to the intestinal virus that caused him to be abandoned in the Players two weeks ago ? Reply in ten days to Masters.
It’s still far too early to worry about the Spaniard, of course, but barring a prolific association with Whistling Straits with Sergio Garcia (3 doubles, 3 wins), he has not yet shown the extent of his talent in match play. At Golf National a 2018he had lost his two doubles before beating Tiger Woods in singles.
His case, however, is not the most worrying.
Another member of the last Ryder Cup team who could hope for a “qualifying” on the wire on the 3rd day, Matthew Fitzpatrickwas dominated by Sahith Theegala. The winner of theUS Open is also a little diminished by neck pain that he has been dragging on for several weeks, but that is not enough to explain his mixed start to the year. In 2023, he has already missed four cuts in seven tournaments!
Missed opportunities and real sources of concern
Tyrrell Hattondiminished by pain in his right wrist, has himself suffered three defeats in three matches, while it seems certain that the Englishman will be part of “team Europe” in Rome, as his pedigree makes him almost essential.
Tommy Fleetwood, Viktor Hovland et Shane Lowryalso supposed to be sure values on which Donald should rely, disappointed, in their game but also, a little, in their attitude, not very conquering.
None of them gave reassuring pledges in 2023, although Hatton and Hovland finished on the Players Championship podium. Lowry, he is frankly in the hard. His season skates to the point that the caddy with which he won The Open in Portrush 2019 acted as a fuse a few weeks ago.
And then the outsiders Victor Perez Of course, Alex Noren, Adrian Meronk, Sepp Straka or Seamus Power failed to seize the opportunity to score big points in the Ryder Cup standings, but also strike the mind of captain Luke Donald.
With the possible exception of Meronk, eliminated by a birdie from wolf katayma in the play-off, none of them really saw the round of 16. The good behavior of the continentals at the Hero Cup seems far away.
Where are the young people?
These five are of course players that Luke Donald is watching closely, but the skipper of the Blues has no choice anyway. The young European guard is slow to shine. Neither the brothers Rasmus et Nicolai Højgaard, nor the Scottish Robert MacIntyre weren’t qualified in Austin and they’re pretty far up in the standings. In big tournaments, Luke Donald doesn’t see much new coming…
The overall picture is all the more alarmist for Europe as at the quarter-final stage, there were six Americans in contention.
The dominance of “US” players was expected, as it is in all major tournaments. But besides the robustness of its stars (Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Max Homa), the American captain Zach Johnson was able to appreciate the performances of the young wolves, the two finalists Sam Burns et Cameron Young. With the newcomer as a bonus Kurt Katayama winner of the Arnold Palmer Invitational and quarter-finalist in Austin.
All the lights are therefore green for the USA.
Rory barely saves the board
So of course, Rory McIlroy nevertheless signed a positive result (semi-finalist) with in particular a flamboyant day on Saturday. In the quarter-finals, he overcame Xander Schauffele, an American in the world’s top 10, with a decided birdie putt on the 18th hole. But he let slip a victory that stretched his arms in the face of Cameron Young (2 up with three holes to play). And one man alone cannot save such a sad record.
The Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts, whom we questioned on this subject, declares that he is not concerned by this poor overall result, considering that there is still a lot of time before the announcement of the selections. The European vice-captain is also in his role. No question of lapsing into gloom. But Europe is going to need good news in the months to come. From the Masters? Let’s hope so.
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