Farmingdale (United States) (AFP) – Europe captain Luke Donald credits an “anti-fragile mentality” for how well his golfers have handled raucous New York hecklers and taken a record lead at the Ryder Cup. Shrugging off profane insults and distracting yells as players tried to make shots, Europe seized an 11.5-4.5 lead over the United States on Saturday — the largest lead entering Sunday singles in the event’s current format.
“I didn’t expect to have as big a lead like this,” Donald said. “A lot of things have gone well for us, but very happy with how strong our team is, the firepower they have, the intensity — kind of the anti-fragile mentality.” Europe went 3-1 in Saturday foursomes and four-ball sessions despite harsher remarks as the day wore on, prompting police to walk with Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry in their 2-up four-ball win over Justin Thomas and Cam Young at Bethpage Black.
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“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.” McIlroy made an obscene gesture to the crowd on Friday and cursed at rowdy fans to “shut up” on Saturday after multiple times being forced to back off putts.
“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.”
Donald avoided the question when asked if US fans crossed the line. “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.”
Donald, who praised Europe’s “relentlessness,” had stressed coping with a vocal crowd in his preparation for he hopes will be the first road win in the Cup since 2012. “My preparation started when I became captain,” Donald said. “It’s a lot of communication. It’s a lot of talking. And it’s a lot of getting to know the players. If you get to know what makes them tick, how they want to be talked to, I think that helps, too.”
– Hovland uncertain – Donald learned Saturday that Norway’s Viktor Hovland has a neck injury that might sideline him Sunday. MRI results will help decide on Sunday if he plays. “It has definitely stiffened up a little bit,” Donald said. “He would love to play and he’ll do everything he can to play.” Hovland, set to play Harris English in Sunday’s last match, was replaced in four balls by Tyrrell Hatton, who sank the winning putt at 18 in a 1-up victory with Matt Fitzpatrick.
England’s Tommy Fleetwood could go 5-0 and become the first player to win five matches on the road since American Tony Lima in 1965. “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.
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