A new documentary detailing the behind the scenes action of Europe’s Ryder Cup triumph in Rome last year reveals what truly sparked Luke Donald’s charges.
A 90-minute film titled Una Famiglia will be released on Tuesday December 3 on the Ryder Cup YouTube channel and in the show the European players reveal how becoming vulnerable with each other over a fireside chat, created an unbreakable bond within the team which helped them to victory over the USA.
Captain Luke Donald, who has been retained for the 2025 contest in Bethpage Black, took all twelve of his players to a practice session in Marco Simone in September 2023, a day before they competed at the BMW PGA Championship in Wentworth.
This unique method of preparation paid off in speeds as Europe regained the Ryder Cup in emphatic fashion and put a halt to a youthful USA team that was tipped to dominate.
“We had a great fireside chat where we opened up together as a team. It really created this amazing sense of togetherness,” Donald says in the 90-minute film.
Rory McIlroy enjoyed his greatest Ryder Cup performance and he added: “Playing the golf course and seeing Marco Simone was great, but the magic of that trip was what happened on either side of the golf.
“People became vulnerable and told their story, and I think that led others to open up in ways we’ve probably never opened up to each other.”
In the absence of some of the old brigade in Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter and Sergio Garcia, McIlroy seemed to relish his leadership role in the team as a senior member, while Spain’s Jon Rahm also spearheaded Europe in Rome.
“When you see great players, who’ve had the success they’ve had, be vulnerable with each other like that, I think it creates a bond and a sense of security that you can’t replicate.”
Donald admits in the documentary that he views the Ryder Cup as “an antidote” to the acrimonious split in men’s professional golf with Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton making moves to LIV Golf shortly after the contest.
A famous moment from last year’s Ryder Cup was the cap gate incident. McIlroy speaks about the fallout with Patrick Cantlay’s caddie Joe LaCava which spilled out into the car parkafterwards.
“As soon as I saw anyone with an American jersey, I went after them,” McIlroy said of losing his cool in the car park following the day’s play.
“Not my proudest moment, but I felt like what happened on the 18th green and then spilled over to the car park almost made us feel we were ready more than ever to go out on the Sunday to all win our points and get the Ryder Cup back.”
Leave a comment