As ever in sports, the drama and controversy seems to never end. It has been no different for the Ryder Cup.
Team Europe weathered the storm over the weekend’s action under immense pressure from a raucous crowd at Bethpage Black, not to mention an admirable fightback from Team USA that made the final singles matches incredibly tense and consequential.
Luke Donald led the victors as captain to, in the end, a narrow 15-13 triumph, after dominating the first two days to carry a seven-point lead into Sunday, leaving Team Europe in a commanding position.
The victory, meanwhile, may yet be marred by the future omissions of two of Team Europe’s stars, with both having already launched appeals.
Team Europe Could be Without Key Players in 2027
Tyrell Hatton and Jon Rahm were both influential en route to the triumph on Sunday. The former particularly helped to fend off Team USA’s late surge, securing a half point alongside Robert MacIntyre to conclude proceedings in Manhattan.
However, both of them are potentially facing future jeopardy regarding participation in the next Ryder Cup, due to their links with LIV Golf.
The pair were only eligible after submitting an appeal against the disciplinary action of the DP World Tour, and due to the ongoing nature of the appeal, Hatton and Rahm were allowed to play in New York.
The latter’s focus was away from any news about the appeal, admitting: “To be fair, I completely forgot about it, which is a good thing. I hope I forget about it until it happens.”
It seems as though both players are embracing the victory and enjoying celebrations following the 45th Ryder Cup, while the outcome of the appeal remains entirely unclear. Such a dispute, meanwhile, has precedent.
Fellow European Players Have Been Punished
Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, and Sergio Garcia have seen punishments, the latter fairly recently. Garcia was especially impactful for Team Europe, with the Spaniard winning 25 of his 45 matches during his participation in 10 consecutive Ryder Cups from 1999 to 2021.
Rahm touched on his compatriot’s recent progress and their relationship, while noting Garcia’s level of golf has gone under the radar since his punishment came from the DP World Tour in 2023.
“He’s a good friend of mine, he’s a Spanish player, and the moments we shared in Whistling Straits and Paris. Personally, I’m always going to want him around. He did play good early on in the year, very, very good. He was playing incredible golf, maybe in some parts of the world that you weren’t watching.”
Despite the appeal, of which the outcome continues to loom over Rahm and Hatton, both were instrumental, particularly through the first two days playing together in foursomes, where they kicked off proceedings for Europe, securing the first point.