Rory McIlroy: I used anger to my advantage on way to Europe’s Ryder Cup triumph
Zach Johnson’s US Ryder Cup team was “splintered” during their humbling defeat to the Europeans in Rome. That’s according to Lucas Glover, who missed out on a wildcard spot in America’s final team of 12 but got the inside track from others who were there.
Top US golfer Patrick Cantley had been at the centre of alleged disharmony in Johnson’s squad after it had been alleged that he refused to wear the team cap in protest over not being paid to play in the historic competition – an accusation that he later denied.
But speaking to SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio, 43-year-old Glover said: “It broke my heart the week after to hear about how splintered the room was and things about money and different things.
“That’s not at all what the Ryder Cup stands for. And I’m not just going on what I’ve read and been told, I’ve talked to some people who were there in the fight, and it breaks my heart to hear that because that’s not what it’s about, that’s not what it stands for and it’s not why I want to play on that team.
“It’s easy to say three weeks after, two weeks after, and unfortunately they lost, but yeah I would have liked to have been there,” Glover said. “I think I could have brought some different things to the table.”
The USA had arrived in Rome as holders of the trophy following a record 19-9 home win at Whistling Straits in 2021, but it was a different story on European soil, where the Americans have not won once in 30 years, as Luke Donald’s side made the perfect start, winning the opening foursomes session 4-0, from which the USA team never truly recovered.
Europe went on to regain the Ryder Cup 16.5-11.5 with a performance rooted in team solidarity which appeared at odds with that of the visitors.
Another player missing from this year’s US Ryder Cup team was Bryson DeChambeau, whose LIV golf membership proved to be an obstacle for selection, even though nemesis Brooks Keopka was included.
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The big-hitting California has got over his disappointment fairly quickly, however, after his LIV Golf Crushers team – which includes Paul Casey, Anirban Lahiri and Charles Howell III – won the £40.8m ($50m) team prize in the Grand final event in Miami.
The Crushers walked away with 60 per cent of the prize money – which works out at £8.4m. Each player gets £1.1m.
Former US Open champion DeChambeau said: “Any time you get a win with a team, I’d say honestly that’s more important than individual stuff. Look, majors are great but there’s a team behind you there. I’ve got a team, my own team. I couldn’t be more proud.”
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