Luke Donald challenged his European side to make a “fast start” in Rome, and they certainly responded en-route to winning the Ryder Cup 16.5-11.5.
The hosts roared into a 4-0 lead in the opening foursomes session on day one after being encouraged to dominate their matches from the very first hole, which was a 407-yard uphill par four. In the 28 Ryder Cup matches played in Italy, Europe won the first hole 10 times, halved it 14 times, and lost it on only four occasions.
Those statistics were even more striking on day one when Europe didn”t lose the first hole at all – winning it three times with birdies and halving it in their five other matches.
Justin Rose, who went unbeaten down the first in his three matches, admitted it was no coincidence as he revealed some of the methods used to sharpen players up for the first tee, he smiled: “It’s called playing for a hundred bucks in practice.”
Skipper Donald, who opted to start the first two days with foursomes to play to Europe’s strengths, admitted it was a conscious effort to get his men focused on winning the first hole.
He reflected: “As a team, we knew getting off to a fast start was important. I guess the guys who were ready, they were ready on the first tee. They obviously had a clear plan for what they needed to do on the first.
“It wasn’t really a strategy thing in terms of setting up the hole. The hole was very similar to what we played in the first three Italian Opens. The fairways were pinched in a little on the left. Statistically, we’re pretty similar in accuracy off the tee to the US but as a team, we talked about getting off to fast starts. I think mentally, they were just ready for it.”
The hosts also made use of Edoardo Molinari‘s statistical expertise to set-up the golf course to suit their side, as DP World Tour stalwart and ex-Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley explained.
Edoardo Molinari who was one of Luke Donald’s vice-captains at the Ryder Cup
(Image credit: Getty Images)
McGinley, speaking on Sky Sports, said: “Edoardo is a nerdy kind of guy on a computer who does statistics and loves it. He still plays but does it personally for guys on tour, he has helped a lot of players. A lot of…
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