Don't Panic - The European Ryder Cup Team Looks Strong

MUCH has been made in some circles of what is perceived to be a lack of form by European golfers on the world stage. If that were the case it would give Luke Donald, Europe’s Ryder Cup captain, a major headache ahead of this year’s contest at Marco Simone Golf Club in Rome.

But was that not England’s Matt Wallace recently securing his first victory on the PGA Tour? And was that not Nicolai Hojgaard who finished second?

Did former world number one Justin Rose not win the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and contend at the Players Championship? Was it not Tommy Fleetwood who contended at the Valspar?

And correct me if I am wrong, but I could swear that Jon Rahm won in successive weeks, briefly reclaimed the world number one spot and leads the FedEx Cup standings after three victories so far in 2023?

And isn’t Rory McIlroy, the world number three and Dubai Desert Classic champion, a European?

Didn't Seamus Power win the Bermuda Championship, finish third at the Mayakoba Classic and fifth at the RSM Classic?

Wasn’t that Tyrrell Hatton finishing second at the Players Championship, fourth at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and sixth at the Phoenix Open?

The current US Open champion is Matthew Fitzpatrick. He is an Englishman. The world number nine is Viktor Hovland, who was born in Norway.

There are three Europeans in the top 10 in the rankings, five in the top 20, seven in the top 30, and 10 in the top 36. And don’t jump to the conclusion that the rest are Americans because that simply isn’t the case.

Crisis? What crisis?

(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)

If I were Donald I would be licking my lips at the prospect of taking on the Americans, with revenge in mind after the hammering delivered by the USA last time.

And let’s be honest, there are few winners on the PGA Tour this season who would have us trembling in our boots - Keegan Bradley, Russell Henley, Adam Svensson, Chris Kirk, Kurt Kitayama, Taylor Moore? Come on!

Surely it is American captain Zach Johnson who should be rather more concerned with the form of his team.

Yes, Scottie Scheffler is in sensational form. And Max Homa is also a shoo-in. But there has been little form of any note this year from the likes of Justin Thomas, Xander Schauffele, Patrick Cantlay and Collin Morikawa.

Of course it is still early in the year and much can happen between now and the end of September. But Donald will not be losing any sleep over the form of his players.