At Bethpage Black in New York, the 2025 Ryder Cup delivered a drama-packed spectacle, culminating in Team Europe clinching a hard-fought 15-13 victory over the United States. The triumph was more than just a matter of skillful swings and clutch putts; it was a masterclass in preparation, unity, and leadership, orchestrated by European captain Luke Donald and a squad determined to honor both their present and their storied past.
Justin Rose, the 45-year-old veteran, led all 24 players in strokes gained/putting over the week—a stunning feat that drew admiration from teammates and opponents alike. When asked about his magic touch on the greens, Rose offered a simple yet profound explanation: “I wish I knew. I wish I could be a bit more selfish and know that 25 weeks of the year. But do you know what I feel like the power of this, the power of the group, who knows what it is, that ability to lock in, the ability to just want it that little bit more. But the answer to your question is I don’t know, other than the badge and the boys, honestly. That’s all that matters, honestly, the badge and the boys.”
Those words—“the badge and the boys”—echoed throughout the European camp, encapsulating a culture that has powered Europe to win 11 of the last 15 Ryder Cups. Rory McIlroy, draped in the European flag, nodded in agreement during the press conference, reinforcing the idea that Europe’s strength lies in its collective spirit rather than individual stardom or national pride.
This ethos was on full display all week. While the American team, led by captain Keegan Bradley, drew heavily on patriotism—parading American flags and rallying the crowd with chants of “U-S-A”—the Europeans looked inward, drawing inspiration from their predecessors and the unity of their current squad. As Rose put it in Rome two years prior, “We are united by a culture and we are united by a generation of players that have come before us.”
But culture alone doesn’t win trophies. Luke Donald’s meticulous attention to detail proved just as vital. After the Americans’ rallying cry—Bradley’s infamous “WE ARE GOING TO GO TO BETHPAGE TO KICK THEIR F-ING ASS”—was captured in a Netflix documentary, Donald transformed it into motivational fuel, plastering the quote in giant letters across the team room wall. “No detail slipped by the wily captain,” noted Shane Lowry, who secured the crucial half-point to ensure Europe retained the Cup.
Donald’s leadership extended far beyond slogans. He became the first captain in three decades to lead Europe in back-to-back Ryder Cups, a move widely praised by players and European Tour officials alike. Jon Rahm, who called Donald “the captain of this ship,” added, “He’s led us better than I can see anybody leading us. He set the bar extremely high for the future captains.” Donald’s humility shone through, as he credited the win to “just having a good 12 guys,” but his team was quick to point out his communication skills, attention to comfort, and unwavering commitment to unity.
The captain’s eye for detail was legendary. When the team discovered that the doors at their Garden City Hotel let in too much light, Donald brought in covers to ensure a good night’s sleep. He even upgraded the hotel shampoo to Le Labo, a luxury brand, to make players feel at home. “We won’t need to change the bed linen at Adare Manor, I can tell you that,” Lowry quipped, referencing the 2027 Ryder Cup venue. Even the practice shirts paid homage to previous away victories, with years like 1987, 1995, 2004, and 2012 prominently featured.
Vice-captain Jose Maria Olazabal, himself a Ryder Cup legend, ensured that the silhouette of Seve Ballesteros—Europe’s spiritual leader—was sewn inside every player’s jersey, a subtle reminder of the team’s rich legacy. Donald’s leadership was so effective that, during the post-victory press conference, his players pounded the table and chanted “Two more years!” urging him to stay on for another captaincy.
Preparation went beyond creature comforts. Donald provided every player with a virtual reality headset to simulate the raucous Bethpage crowd, helping them acclimate to the hostile environment. “I don’t think that we were creative enough in those VR goggles to (mimic) what we’re going to hear this week,” Jon Rahm joked, but the intent was clear: leave nothing to chance.
Europe’s backroom team was stacked with experience. Alongside Olazabal, Donald consulted former captains Bernard Gallacher, Tony Jacklin, Bernhard Langer, Ian Woosnam, and Nick Faldo. Strategic advisor Paul McGinley explained, “We felt that there was a mistake going on the road with captains who haven’t done it before and trying to learn the job of being a captain, as well as dealing with the difficult challenge of playing away from home.”
Europe also overhauled its qualification system, merging two points lists into one and allowing Donald to select six wildcards—a move that paid dividends as the wildcards contributed 12 points to the European tally. Vice-captain Edoardo Molinari, dubbed a “genius with the stats” by Viktor Hovland, was instrumental in using analytics to optimize pairings and strategies. “Edoardo and I sit down and we chat for many, many hours about all the different stats and the pairings and the personalities and the course fits,” Donald revealed.
Team bonding was a priority. The squad made an early trip to Bethpage Black, played 27 holes, and spent evenings together to foster camaraderie. Donald’s wife, Diane, looked after the players’ partners, reinforcing the “one team” mentality. The team even received video messages from tennis legends Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, adding a touch of star power to the week.
On the course, Europe’s dominance in the team format was clear. Tommy Fleetwood won all four of his matches, and McIlroy contributed 3.5 points. The pairings were a blend of analytics and personal chemistry, with Rose’s high birdie-rate and putting prowess making him the perfect fourballs specialist. In contrast, the Americans struggled with questionable pairings, and their analytics lagged behind Europe’s sharp use of data.
As the dust settles on another Ryder Cup classic, Europe’s blend of tradition, innovation, and unity stands as the blueprint for success. With 11 wins in the past 15 editions and a captain who has set new standards, the badge and the boys have once again shown that, in this contest, they truly are greater than the sum of their parts.
