Rory McIlroy has been told the main difference between Team Europe and Team USA’s motivation ahead of the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black
Rory McIlroy has been told Team Europe will be more determined than Team USA to win the Ryder Cup following pundit Brandel Chamblee’s bold prediction. The esteemed tournament is set to tee off at Bethpage Black later this month, with the teams now confirmed.
McIlroy is optimistic that he and his teammates can secure the first away triumph since Medinah in 2012 as the Masters champion continues his preparation by attempting to win the Irish Open. Team Europe skipper Luke Donald guided his squad to victory in Rome two years ago, while Keegan Bradley has chosen not to become the first playing captain since Arnold Palmer in 1963.
American golf pundit Chamblee believes Bradley’s decision could swing momentum in the USA’s favour, but has admitted that the European squad will be far more driven to claim the Ryder Cup than their rivals – a viewpoint emphasised by the two teams’ contrasting attitudes when the selections were revealed.
“I’ve got to admit though, when I was watching it live, they did look like they were all in hostage videos, every one of them. They looked sad, like their dog had just died. They did,” he said on The Favorite Chamblee podcast.
“The Europeans, they had the benefit of probably seeing all of the posts and were like, ‘We’re going to give the opposite view’. People roll their eyes when you say this, but it is demonstrably true that the Europeans are more passionate about the Ryder Cup.
“It’s not to say that the US doesn’t want it. They do. But Europe wants it more. And if you doubt that, here it is: Sergio Garcia goes to LIV, but in order to be eligible and play on the Ryder Cup team, he had to pay a few million dollars in fines. He happily paid those fines so that he could be eligible and considered to play on the Ryder Cup team.
“So you’ve got the Europeans who will pay millions to be on the Ryder Cup team, and you’ve got the US team who’s asking to be paid just to play on the Ryder Cup team. Nothing to me screams ‘we want it more, we’re more passionate’ than that. That tells the story of both sides.
“One side will pay to play on it. The other side wants to be paid to play on it. And I think that’s the difference.”
McIlroy has remained focused on steering Europe towards success at Bethpage Black since their triumph in Rome two years ago. USA skipper Bradley suggested that McIlroy’s previous comments would help motivate his team and strengthen their determination to prove him wrong.
While Chamblee believes Team Europe possesses more passion for the Ryder Cup, the 63-year-old previously argued that Bradley’s decision not to pick himself as a player will give Team USA extra motivation. Bradley finished 11th in the qualification standings but his personal sacrifice could prove crucial in driving his team to victory.
Chamblee compared it to a different moment from Donald in 2023, which highlighted the significance of team unity. “I think he may well have won the Ryder Cup in making that decision,” Chamblee said on the Golf Channel following Bradley’s announcement.
“When you start to look at a captaincy or at a team, it’s never any one thing that makes a great player or a great captain, but it’s an assembly of a lot of little things like a mosaic.
“And in the same way you got the sense when Luke Donald, in opening ceremonies in 2023 got up and spoke Italian for two or three minutes, you thought, this Ryder Cup is over.”
He added: “So Keegan Bradley, just thinking about the decision to pick himself, that’s what a leader does, make a personal sacrifice for the collective good of a team. It’s the kind of thing a leader would do that would get his team to sort of run through a wall for him.
“Imagine the rest of that week; he’s going to look at them and be like, ‘I stepped aside to focus on every little detail to help you guys,’ and how empowering that must be for his team.”