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Luke Donald Praises Team Europe's Mental Toughness at Ryder Cup

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Luke Donald
Luke Donald's team Europe takes commanding lead



Europe captain Luke Donald praises his team's mental toughness after a dominant 5.5-2.5 lead over the USA on day one of the Ryder Cup.


“To create a little bit of history with the three matches and how they were won was great. History is nice to...”



Europe captain Luke Donald was thrilled with his team's dominant performance on the first day of the Ryder Cup, but what impressed him even more was how his players handled the hecklers in the crowd. Europe took a commanding 5.5-2.5 lead at Bethpage Black, winning both the foursomes and four-ball sessions against a star-studded US squad featuring 12 of the world's top 23 golfers.


Donald praised his team's mental toughness, saying, “It gets loud, and the guys handled it with absolute class and poise. To be prepared for an away Ryder Cup, you have to deal with that. I thought they dealt with it amazingly.” The European players showed remarkable resilience, making crucial putts when it mattered most and keeping their cool despite jeers from the crowd.


The team's strong start didn't surprise Donald, given the talent and experience of players like Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy, who both had unbeaten showings. Rahm, known for his leadership skills, contributed significantly to the team's success, while McIlroy delivered a win and a draw, showcasing his skill and determination. England's Tommy Fleetwood also played a key role, going 2-0 and demonstrating his growth as a player after years of near misses.


“A lot of mental resilience,” said Donald. “You just look at some of the putts these guys holed when it mattered, it's pretty gratifying for a captain.”


“It gets loud, and the guys handled it with absolute class and poise. To be prepared for an away Ryder Cup, you have to deal with that. I thought they dealt with it amazingly.”


Europe's team showcased impressive shotmaking skills, which helped them maintain a strong lead despite some missed putts and wayward tee shots that drew jeers from the crowd. Meanwhile, Europe's captain, Luke Donald, addressed concerns about Rory McIlroy's alleged obscene gesture on social media, stating he was unaware of the incident.


Donald praised his team's dominant performance, highlighting that they won the first three matches for the first time on US soil. However, he cautioned his team against complacency, emphasizing the need to stay focused and keep working towards their goal.


“To create a little bit of history with the three matches and how they were won was great. History is nice to accomplish,” Donald said. “It doesn't mean anything unless we get 14.5 points on Sunday.


“Only thing people remember is who is the winner on Sunday. That's our goal.”


Europe's captain, Luke Donald, praised Spain's Jon Rahm and world No. 2 Rory McIlroy for their outstanding performances, describing them as “massive” in their unbeaten showings on the first day of the Ryder Cup. Both players played a crucial role in Europe's 5.5-2.5 lead over the USA.


“Jon is looking to always just help in any way he can to contribute to the team, but he has a good track record of going out first. He likes to lead,” Donald said of his two first-match session wins.

 



“He's someone that he wants to do a lot of his talking with his golf clubs, and that's what he brings to our team. People, all our teammates, really respect that. He's an incredible leader for us on and off the course.”




Rory McIlroy contributed significantly to Europe's strong start, securing a win and a draw in his matches. Although he narrowly missed an 11-foot birdie putt on the final hole that would have sealed another win, McIlroy's performance was instrumental in helping Europe take a commanding 5.5-2.5 lead over the USA.


“Rory has talked about what the Ryder Cup means and the disappointments we saw in Wisconsin (at Whistling Straits in 2021) and how much he relishes Ryder Cups.”


“He has made it quite clear that one of his big goals was to win an away Ryder Cup again. He played fantastic golf today.”




Tommy Fleetwood delivered a dominant 2-0 performance for Europe, building on the momentum of his recent win at the Tour Championship last month. This marked Fleetwood's first US PGA Tour title after years of coming close, and his strong form continued at the Ryder Cup.


“He's a world-class player that's won a bunch around the world,” Donald said. “Yeah, it took him a little time (to win on the PGA Tour) ... but he reframes it in such a positive way.”



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