… Yas Island, Abu Dhabi
Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald has singled out Robert MacIntyre’s grit and determination as pivotal if his European Team is to wrestle the Ryder Cup off the Americans later this year in Rome.
MacIntyre’s GB & I Hero Cup squad went down fighting, eventually losing by four points and with Continental Europe winning six of the 10 closing Singles matches at the hosting of last week’s event in Abu Dhabi
Though the Oban lefty could hold his head high, handing out a 5 & 3 drubbing to Swede Alex Noren, a member of Europe’s 2018 winning Ryder Cup plus savouring success also in representing Europe as a member of the Royal Trophy and EurAsia Cup winning teams.
MacIntyre was 2up after two, 4up through four holes before Noren knew what was happening, and while back to 3 down after 13 holes, the Swede lost 13 and the match at 16 to the Scot’s birdies.
The Scot’s effort over the three days earned him three points from a possible five, first teaming to win their Friday Fourball match with Irishman Seamus Power and then was out early on Saturday joining Jordan Smith for a 1up Foursomes success.
And each time MacIntyre ended his matches, there was Donald ever-present to congratulate the young Scot and teammates.
Donald said: “Bob’s clearly got a lot of grit, a lot of heart. He’s a player that embodies everything you want in a player that has to go up against the strong players in the US.
“He’s a player you can really trust to deliver and it’s great for him to have another great week this week including winning his Singles match in fine style.
“He’s got that demeanour and that look in stepping onto the first tee that he means business, and it’s the same with most players as we each have that look but Bob comes across as very gritty, very determined. That’s a very important characteristic when it comes to match-play.
“I’ve noticed Bob’s also been good at mixing well with the team, in general.”
More impressive was the efforts of the European captain, Francesco Molinari who has been somewhat in the golfing doldrums since the career high of winning the 2018 Open and a handful of months later teaming with Tommy Fleetwood to be undefeated in Versailles.
And while most observers already have Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Matt Fitzpatrick, Shane Lowry, Tyrrell Hatton and Fleetwood already seated in late September’s charter flight to Rome there must now strong talk Molinari is also worthy of a seat to his homeland.
Donald said: “Francesco’s individual efforts this week are very impressive.
“He’s got a good match-play head to me and that’s why a lot of guys call him ‘The Robot’ because he just hits it straight all the time, and just keeps putting pressure on his opponent.
“He just always seems to play the right shot at the right time and I’m happy for him.”
And while praising Molinari, Donald deserves plaudits for his own efforts in not only taking on the role in European captaincy after the controversy of Henry Stenson being stripped of the leadership but his role in getting the Hero Club off the ground and arranging for past winning European captains and others to be present in Abu Dhabi, and finding time to speak with both teams.
Donald said: “I am very pleased with how many people got behind this week, and also considering a lot of matters had to get rushed through a little bit over the past few months.
“So, to have put it all together it’s great what the European Tour managed and then to have the likes of McGinley, Gemma (Jose Maria Olazabal) along with Thomas (Bjorn), who is already part of my backroom team plus the likes of David Howell, Sam Torrance and Stevie Gallacher.
“I know that a few of them were here working for TV but then there were some who travelled a long way to be here the whole week. It just shows how passionate they are about the Ryder Cup and that they want to continue to give back their knowledge and share that with a younger generation.
“They combined to make a huge impact on the players”.
Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald has singled out Robert MacIntyre’s grit and determination as pivotal if his European Team is to wrestle the Ryder Cup off the Americans later this year in Rome.
MacIntyre’s GB & I Hero Cup squad went down fighting, eventually losing by four points and with Continental Europe winning six of the 10 closing Singles matches at the hosting of last week’s event in Abu Dhabi
Though the Oban lefty could hold his head high, handing out a 5 & 3 drubbing to Swede Alex Noren, a member of Europe’s 2018 winning Ryder Cup plus savouring success also in representing Europe as a member of the Royal Trophy and EurAsia Cup winning teams.
MacIntyre was 2up after two, 4up through four holes before Noren knew what was happening, and while back to 3 down after 13 holes, the Swede lost 13 and the match at 16 to the Scot’s birdies.
The Scot’s effort over the three days earned him three points from a possible five, first teaming to win their Friday Fourball match with Irishman Seamus Power and then was out early on Saturday joining Jordan Smith for a 1up Foursomes success.
And each time MacIntyre ended his matches, there was Donald ever-present to congratulate the young Scot and teammates.
Donald said: “Bob’s clearly got a lot of grit, a lot of heart. He’s a player that embodies everything you want in a player that has to go up against the strong players in the US.
“He’s a player you can really trust to deliver and it’s great for him to have another great week this week including winning his Singles match in fine style.
“He’s got that demeanour and that look in stepping onto the first tee that he means business, and it’s the same with most players as we each have that look but Bob comes across as very gritty, very determined. That’s a very important characteristic when it comes to match-play.
“I’ve noticed Bob’s also been good at mixing well with the team, in general.”
More impressive was the efforts of the European captain, Francesco Molinari who has been somewhat in the golfing doldrums since the career high of winning the 2018 Open and a handful of months later teaming with Tommy Fleetwood to be undefeated in Versailles.
And while most observers already have Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Matt Fitzpatrick, Shane Lowry, Tyrrell Hatton and Fleetwood already seated in late September’s charter flight to Rome there must now strong talk Molinari is also worthy of a seat to his homeland.
Donald said: “Francesco’s individual efforts this week are very impressive.
“He’s got a good match-play head to me and that’s why a lot of guys call him ‘The Robot’ because he just hits it straight all the time, and just keeps putting pressure on his opponent.
“He just always seems to play the right shot at the right time and I’m happy for him.”
And while praising Molinari, Donald deserves plaudits for his own efforts in not only taking on the role in European captaincy after the controversy of Henry Stenson being stripped of the leadership but his role in getting the Hero Club off the ground and arranging for past winning European captains and others to be present in Abu Dhabi, and finding time to speak with both teams.
Donald said: “I am very pleased with how many people got behind this week, and also considering a lot of matters had to get rushed through a little bit over the past few months.
“So, to have put it all together it’s great what the European Tour managed and then to have the likes of McGinley, Gemma (Jose Maria Olazabal) along with Thomas (Bjorn), who is already part of my backroom team plus the likes of David Howell, Sam Torrance and Stevie Gallacher.
“I know that a few of them were here working for TV but then there were some who travelled a long way to be here the whole week. It just shows how passionate they are about the Ryder Cup and that they want to continue to give back their knowledge and share that with a younger generation.
“They combined to make a huge impact on the players”.
