Ryder Cup legends Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter and Sergio Garcia are all going to be absent for Europe this weekend after deciding to leave the World Tour for LIV Golf of Saudi Arabia.
Rory McIlroy has told the absent Rebels at LIV Golf that they will miss the Ryder Cup more than Europe will win.
This is the first Ryder Cup since 1995 without Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter and Sergio Garcia on the team. The three matchmaking legends were all ineligible after joining the Saudi-backed breakaway federation and were banned and fined.
Westwood was appointed as Rome captain – and Henrik Stenson had to step down as captain after joining LIV, allowing Luke Donald to take over. World number 2 McIlroy, 34, is now the team’s most experienced European player as he makes his seventh appearance at the tournament, which begins on Friday in Rome.
And the Ulsterman said:
“It was definitely a little strange not having them there. But I think this week of all weeks, they’re going to realize that, you know, they’re not here, and I think they’re going to miss them being here more than we miss them, so – and I don’t say it’s the same – it’s just more than that. I think this week people realized that the decision they made led to them not participating this week and that was difficult.
“The golf landscape is constantly changing and more dynamic, and we’ll see what happens and whether they become a part of it in the future. I always thought this week, that’s when we realized they weren’t going to be there.”
Justin Rose, Poulter’s close friend, added:
“There’s still a lot of winning culture in the team, with the people in and around the team, the captain, the vice-captain, Thomas [Bjorn], Luke [Donald]. Luke has an incredible record at the Ryder Cup. Wins the most from a percentage standpoint. As a result, our team’s winning culture is stronger than ever.
“I think when you look at our group room, [Paul] McGinley, Thomas Bjorn, like I said, José Maria [Olazabal], we have Monty in there, just guys who are always connected to the European team. Europe, and I would say that by investing in the European team, there’s still very much a winning culture around what we do.
“So obviously in life, in business and everything, there are obviously periods of transition where you have to look to new leaders, and the great thing is if you can get through the transition period. next without being affected and start looking forward. The next generation clearly has to come out of this and start to have that winning culture.
European star player Jon Rahm admitted to speaking to Garcia and Poulter for advice. He say:
“It won’t be easy to fill the roles of these two on and off the golf course, but just hearing them talk about what they’re thinking and how they’re feeling is obviously invaluable information.”