Former Rugby World Cup-winning head coach Sir Clive Woodward has backed Crew Europe to assert a well-known Ryder Cup away victory and praised Luke Donald’s ‘unbelievable’ management as captain.
Crew Europe head to Bethpage Black this month, stay from September 26-28 on Sky Sports activities, trying to retain the trophy on American soil and declare the primary away victory within the Ryder Cup since their ‘Miracle at Medinah’ success in 2012.
Donald returns as captain after main Europe to a 16.5-11.5 victory in Rome two years in the past, with the Englishman maintaining 11 of his 12-man aspect and 4 of his 5 vice-captains from their 2023 success.
Donald with the Ryder Cup trophy forward of their apply journey to Bethpage Black
Europe have solely gained 4 away Ryder Cups of their historical past however Woodward, who guided England to World Cup glory on away soil in 2023, believes Donald’s aspect are in a robust place to defeat Crew USA.
When requested whether or not Europe will win in New York, Woodward advised the Sky Sports activities Golf podcast: “Positively, sure. After I noticed the crew and once I see how properly Fleetwood, McIlroy and Rose are enjoying – they’ve all been profitable the previous couple of weeks.
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“I feel we have a very robust aspect and I feel we have good characters as properly. I can see all of them wanting ahead to going there and having a little bit of a second with the gang.
“We have got some powerful characters there – do you pair two robust ones up collectively or do you set your robust characters with the not fairly so robust characters? If something was to occur throughout a spherical of golf, which occurred final time with the caddie or with the gang saying, you want the powerful man there.
“I feel that the gang additionally respect our crew. They know we have some powerful characters on the market, winners, so if you happen to’re going through as much as McIlroy or Rahm or these guys then they don’t seem to be going to again off it. That is going to be a tremendous occasion.”
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Donald is the primary back-to-back Ryder Cup captain since Bernard Gallacher within the Nineteen Nineties, with Woodward impressed by the previous world No 1’s work and believing it places them in a “actually good place” to assert a profitable title defence.
“He is like us all – he is an obsessive and his element is completely large,” Woodward added. “For him to show across the Ryder Cup crew a pair years in the past in Italy was simply superb.
Donald seems forward to the Ryder Cup and discusses the problem going through the European gamers
“The largest factor from a coach’s viewpoint is do the gamers belief him. You do not get belief or respect by being the boss, you get it by the standard of your actions. What he is achieved since he is been the Ryder Cup captain has been superb.
“His spouse’s bought a giant half to play in that as properly – she’s achieved an excellent job, which is admittedly necessary behind the scenes. Between the 2 captains, we’re a bit forward there and he is forward of Keegan Bradley. we’re in a very good place.
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“It was simply fascinating after they gained two years in the past, they had been nonetheless celebrating they usually had been shouting two extra years, two extra years. When you’re the coach, if you happen to’re Luke, you may by no means admit it, however that may be a large buzz.
” the crew’s proper behind you. As a result of you have to make massive calls, you have to make calls that aren’t going to be in style with all of the crew. That is when you are going to know you have bought a great crew. Everybody takes it on board – it is a crew recreation.”
Talking at Wentworth, Donald shared his ideas on his potential European pairings forward of the Ryder Cup
Donald stated forward of the BMW PGA Championship that there could be doubtlessly completely different teams enjoying collectively in comparison with two years in the past, regardless of the same line-up, with Woodward warning in opposition to Crew Europe absolutely counting on information to pick out his pairings.
“Information is admittedly necessary but it surely’s bought to strengthen your intestine feeling,” Woodward insisted. “I nonetheless completely consider as the pinnacle coach, your mind, you have to use your frequent sense or your data.
“If the info backs that up, then massive, massive tick. However, if you happen to and the info cross and say, ‘really, that does not make sense to me’, you have nonetheless bought to go together with your personal intestine feeling. That is actually necessary.
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“I would all the time go together with my determination on the finish, however I listened to different individuals and all the info. On the finish of the day, if you happen to win, you are usually proper. And if you happen to lose, you allow your self fairly well-known for this.”
Hearken to the total Sir Clive Woodward interview on the newest version of the Sky Sports activities Golf podcast, hosted each week by Jamie Weir, the place he additionally mentioned his function with the “Stryve Golf” app he has been working with to assist golfers with their recreation.
This week’s episode additionally incorporates an interview with Nicolas Colsaerts, who featured within the 2012 Ryder Cup and served as a vice-captain in 2023. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Spreaker, whereas vodcasts will be discovered on the Sky Sports activities Golf YouTube channel.
When is the Ryder Cup stay on Sky Sports activities?
There can be prolonged stay protection from day by day of Ryder Cup week, beginning on Monday September 22, the place Crew Europe look to regain the trophy with a historic away win in the USA.
Round the clock protection of the opening day’s play will start with stay build-up from 9am on Friday September 26, forward of full protection from noon. Not bought Sky? Get Sky Sports activities or stream with no contract on NOW.
