Home SPORTS Luke Donald Praises Team's 'Anti-Fragile Mentality' After Record Lead

Luke Donald Praises Team's 'Anti-Fragile Mentality' After Record Lead

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Luke Donald
Europe's captain Luke Donald acknowledged the electric atmosphere at the first tee during day two of the 2025 Ryder Cup



Europe takes a commanding 11.5-4.5 lead over the US at the Ryder Cup, thanks to their 'anti-fragile mentality' and dominant performance.


“It was loud. It was raucous. What I consider crossing the line is personal insults and making sounds when they are trying to hit on their backswings...”



Europe's captain Luke Donald praised his team's mental toughness in handling the raucous New York crowd, saying, “It was loud. It was raucous.” Despite profane insults and distracting yells, the Europeans showed remarkable composure, taking an 11.5-4.5 lead into Sunday's singles matches - the largest lead entering the final day in the Ryder Cup's current format.


Donald commended his players for their poise under pressure, noting that they handled the heckling with “absolute class and poise.” Europe's shot-making success kept American supporters somewhat subdued, despite jeers for missed putts and errant tee shots.


The European team, fueled by an “anti-fragile mentality,” has silenced doubters with their dominant performance. Donald highlighted the team's resilience, saying, “Every time the Americans came at us, we came back.” He emphasized that his players' confidence and ability to work together have been key to their success.


Europe's captain, Luke Donald, expressed his surprise and satisfaction with the team's significant lead, saying, “I didn't expect to have as big a lead like this.” He attributed their success to the team's strength, firepower, intensity, and “anti-fragile mentality,” which enables them to perform well under pressure and adversity.


Despite facing harsh remarks from the crowd, Europe dominated the Saturday foursomes and four-ball sessions, going 3-1. Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry secured a 2-up win over Justin Thomas and Cam Young, showcasing their resilience in the face of heckling. McIlroy had a notable exchange with the crowd, telling them to “shut the **** up” before hitting a crucial approach shot.


The European team's performance demonstrates their ability to thrive in challenging environments and handle pressure. Donald praised his team's ability to take punches and come back even stronger, saying, “They were able to get better through those difficult moments out there. That's what makes me most proud as a captain.”


“Things got tougher out there and it fired them up even more,” Donald said.


“They were able to get better through those difficult moments out there. That's what makes me most proud as a captain, just their ability to take the punches and come back even stronger.”


Rory McIlroy had a heated exchange with the crowd at the Ryder Cup, where he was subjected to intense heckling and abuse from American fans. On Friday, he appeared to flip his middle finger at the crowd, while on Saturday, he told rowdy fans to “shut the f*** up” when they wouldn't quiet down during his pre-shot routine. McIlroy later explained that he didn't mind the abuse between shots, but it was tough when fans wouldn't give him respect and silence while he was hitting his shots.




“Sometimes the crowd going at you can be a motivator for some of these players and I think Rory and Shane certainly looked like they were sort of almost enjoying the difficult environment out there,” Donald said.


“We talked about that in the lead-up. We've talked about it for a long time. People have individually different ways to deal with it.”


“Crowds have energy and you can use it however you want. It's however you frame it. There's a stimulus, a response, and in between that is how you decide what you want to do with it. Some people find that motivating.”


When asked if the US fans had crossed the line with their behavior, Europe's captain Luke Donald sidestepped the question. Instead, he focused on his team's performance, praising their ability to handle the intense atmosphere and come out on top. Donald's response reflected his diplomatic approach, choosing not to engage in a potentially contentious discussion about the fans' behavior.




“It was loud. It was raucous. What I consider crossing the line is personal insults and making sounds when they are trying to hit on their backswings or very close to when they are trying to go into their routines,” Donald said.


“That did happen a little bit. It has happened at other Ryder Cups, too. It's something we prepared for and I can see, I think, how well they have dealt with it.”


Luke Donald, Europe's captain, emphasized the importance of coping with a vocal crowd in his team's preparation for the Ryder Cup. He praised his players' “relentlessness” and ability to handle the intense atmosphere, which he believes will be crucial in securing a win on US soil. Donald's goal is to lead Europe to their first road victory in the Cup since 2012.


“It has definitely stiffened up a little bit,” Donald said. “He would love to play and he'll do everything he can to play.”




Viktor Hovland was initially set to play Harris English in Sunday's final match, but Tyrrell Hatton stepped in for him in the fourballs session. Hatton partnered with Matt Fitzpatrick to secure a 1-up victory, sinking the winning putt at the 18th hole.


Tommy Fleetwood is on the cusp of making history. With a win, he'd become the first player to go 5-0 on the road since American Tony Lima in 1965. Fleetwood's impressive performance has seen him earn four points so far, partnering with Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose to dominate the competition.


“When you have a player as good as him in a comfortable mindset and in a happy mode, in a happy place, that's a very dangerous Tommy,” Donald said.



Key Highlights:

  • Record Lead: Europe's 11.5-4.5 lead is the largest entering Sunday singles in the Ryder Cup's current format.
  • Mental Toughness: Donald praised his team's ability to handle the loud and raucous crowd with class and poise.
  • Team Performance: Europe's shot-making success and resilience have been crucial to their dominant performance.






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