This episode of GOLF’s Subpar Podcast was recorded in November, previous to Jon Rahm signing with LIV Golf. For extra on Rahm’s departure for LIV, click on right here.
The buildup to the 2023 Ryder Cup was palpable. After a altering of the guard for Europe, and an inflow of younger expertise for the Americans, it appeared every part was arrange for a Team USA victory. Marco Simone was purported to be the location of a decisive — and symbolically important — American victory.
It didn’t fairly work out that approach.
Following the script of the final three a long time, the Europeans viciously defended their house turf. Despite their underdog standing, Luke Donald’s bunch by no means flinched. They dominated the opening session 4-0 and by no means seemed again. By Sunday afternoon, they had been but once more hoisting the Ryder Cup.
“Simply put, we played better than they did,” Jon Rahm mentioned on this week’s episode of GOLF’s Subpar., which was recorded in November. “That’s all I can say.”
Rahm additionally went on to clarify a crucial member of the European team room: vice captain José María Olazábal, a Ryder Cup legend himself.
Subpar co-host Colt Knost informed Rahm, “I heard Jose was unbelievable in the team room.”
“Hard to explain,” Rahm mentioned, including Olazábal’s charisma and legacy had been paramount. He mentioned you could possibly additionally inform how a lot the occasion meant to him, and that rubbed off on others. “I’ve an image on my cellphone that might inform you proper there precisely what it means.
“[Captain] Luke [Donald] made a soccer-like locker room where we all had our name and a sentence in our native language, which some people didn’t even know they had. In the middle they had Seve and the last-ever shirt he ever wore as a Ryder Cup player. And there’s a picture of [Olazábal] on Sunday after everything happened.”
Rahm mentioned Olazábal went into the room alone.
“He just puts his hand on the glass [on the Seve photo] and he’s just face down kind of holding himself like that,” Rahm mentioned. “Obviously trying to feel that connection with Seve. And that tells you everything you need to know.”
As we all know by now, the Euros executed to perfection. After taking the early 4-0 lead, they by no means let the competitors get shut, ultimately closing out the Americans 16.5-11.5 throughout Sunday singles.
“You don’t want to be the team that lost it at home,” Rahm mentioned. “There was pressure for sure, but it was also motivational.”
You can count on that starvation to hold over to the subsequent Ryder Cup, which is at Bethpage Black in 2025. Although will Rahm be there after his current signing with LIV Golf? We’ll have to attend to search out out.
Check out all the episode of GOLF’s Subpar beneath.
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