European Ryder Cup stalwart Colin Montgomerie has warned his former team have their work cut out to win the latest edition and continue their remarkable run on home soil.
Europe have not lost at home since 1993 and are bidding for their seventh consecutive victory on this side of the Atlantic.
Montgomerie played in eight editions of the Cup — winning five — and captained Europe to victory in the biennial event in 2010 at Celtic Manor in Wales.
But despite the growing fanfare around the European team going into Friday’s event here in Rome, he warned Luke Donald’s side might struggle for respectability against the United States, let alone have ambitions for winning.
The defending champions trounced Europe 19-9 at Whistling Straits two years ago, a record defeat for Europe in the competition.
And Montgomerie, fifth in the all-time points-scoring standings for Europe in the Ryder Cup, said: “It’s going to be very difficult with that heavy defeat. How can you possibly have that heaviest defeat and come back and even get to it close, never mind win?”
Europe boast three of the world’s top four players, but Montgomerie argued the Americans’ greater strength in depth could see them over the line come Sunday’s singles at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club.
“The main advantage we’ve got is Rahm, McIlroy, Matt Fitzpatrick is now becoming a world star and Viktor Hovland. That’s a third of our team,” he told CNN. “The four of them can compete against any Americans but it takes more than four. We’ve got four or five world-class players, America have eight or nine. We’re behind the eight ball in that sense.”
Despite his warning, Montgomerie pointed towards Europe’s home advantage but insisted they needed their top two in Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm to catapult them to victory. He said: “We’re at home, we’ve got a passionate Italian crowd behind us and fervent European support, so let’s pray we do okay. McIlroy and Rahm — they’re one and two and we need them to perform.”
McIlroy was greeted to rapturous applause as he took to the range ahead of his practice round in a quartet with Tommy Fleetwood, Robert MacIntyre and Justin Rose. And the Northern Irishman called on the home supporters to bring on the noise when the foursomes get under way tomorrow morning.
Asked if he felt the partisan support might go too far at this year’s event after instances of player abuse at past Ryder Cups, he said: “No, because I think that’s all part of the Ryder Cup. There’s not a lot of other instances in the game of golf where that happens, but there’s certainly a line.
“Most fans that come out to watch golf are very respectful and they know what that line is. I have no issues about that. Yeah, we have all had our fair share of heckles over the years and whatever, and that’s a part of it. Someone said to me once, ‘If you want to be part of the circus, you have to put up with the clowns’.”
Ryder Cup players from both sides converged on Rome city centre last night for essentially date night, photographed with their wives and girlfriends on the iconic Spanish Steps.
One of Europe’s key players this weekend, Hovland, without a partner at the event, jokingly arrived hand in hand with one of the team’s vice-captains in Jose Maria Olazabal.
Europe also boast some star-studded back-up away from the golfing fraternity. Gareth Bale and Novak Djokovic are in Rome this week, having lined up for the celebrity match-up on the course on Wednesday.
Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam tennis champion, has been tasked to give a team talk to Donald’s 12-strong line-up in the build-up to the contest.
Meanwhile, American Brooks Koepka is relishing having the crowd against him and looking forward to being a pivotal figure for the visiting side.
“I love guys with a chip on their shoulder,” he said. “I love that guys are very gritty, gritty players. That’s something when I first came out, that was who I kind of emulated. You know people are going to cheering against you.
“You’ve got to think you’re the best player on the golf course, best player on the team, best player in that current time and, if you don’t, then there’s something wrong with you. I think a lot of guys have it but I don’t know how many guys would want an eight-footer with this on the line.”
