RYDER CUP
The Badge & the Boys Europe’s Ryder Cup inspiration comes from within
Although hailing from different countries, the
European team’s commitment to one another sets them apart. BY JAMIE KENNEDY
It was an innocuous an- swer to a question about put- ting. Yet five words Justin Rose
said after the Ryder Cup have stuck with me for what they say about the 2025 European team. The 45-year-old Rose was brilliant on the greens at Bethpage, leading all 24 players in strokes gained/ putting, and my colleague Luke Kerr- Dineen asked him why. Rose shrugged and said he couldn’t explain it. “I wish I knew,” he said, with a celebra- tory beer resting next to his microphone. “I wish I could be a bit more selfish and know that 25 weeks of the year. But do you know what I feel like the power of this (pointing at his teammates), the power of the group, who knows what it is, that ability to lock in, the ability to just want it that little bit more.” Then he paused. “But the answer to your question is I don't know, other than the badge and the boys, honestly. That's all that mat- ters, honestly, the badge and the boys.” Rory McIlroy, draped in a European flag and sitting in front of Rose, nodded and said, away from his mic, “The badge and the boys, I like that.” Those five words from Rose echoed through the rest of a press conference that was full of laughs, some tears and players clinking their drinks. I thought back two years, to a Friday night in Rome when Rose rolled in a 10-foot putt on the final green to prevent the US from winning a single match on the first day of the 2023 Ryder Cup. You may remem- ber the putt. Do you remember the cel- ebration? Rose turned to his teammates, lining the edge of the green, and pointed at each of them.
ing to draw inspiration from the identity of their country. It may seem obvious, but I think it’s prescient to what I would later realise. The US team feels the need to represent their country while the Eu- ropean team seeks to draw inspiration only from those who have played before them. They don’t seem to be interested in playing for a country. They play for each other. They seem inwardly rather than outwardly motivated. As much as the Euros represent their continent, and wear their flag, they ultimately feel a responsibility to those who built Team Europe. I believe this plays out on the course. The US players came out on Friday morning, each carrying an American flag, to the sound of “Born in the USA” and “Coming to America.” They led chants of “U-S-A” and waved their flags. The patriotism was clear. But was it productive? When putts dropped for the Ameri- cans, players would look to the crowd and encourage them to cheer more.
“You, you, you!” he screamed, dedi- cating his half point to his 11 European teammates. He then beat his chest, slamming his right hand against the European team badge. His message that day was the same as it was in New York. The reason it reso- nated so strongly with me is because I saw it myself at Bethpage Black. It struck me for the first time on Monday when Keegan Bradley led his US team through the tunnel to the first tee, without their clubs, to soak up a moment together. They listened to the national anthem performed incredibly by New York City firefighter Bryan Robinson, and heard the moving words of Chris Mascali, a fire lieutenant who lost his father on 9/11. The only time you’ll hear the Europe- an anthem – “Ode To Joy”, before you ask – is at the opening ceremony. Ask the 12 players on Team Europe to name the anthem and I doubt the majority would know. After watching Bradley and his team on the first tee that morning, I realised that the Americans were seek-
16 GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2025
Made with FlippingBook interactive PDF creator