Luke living the dream that LIV cash can’t buy
A PENNY for Henrik Stenson’s thoughts. It should have been the Swede in the captain’s buggy.
Instead it was Luke Donald zipping around Marco Simone, cheered at every port of call by European fans, masterminding the Ryder Cup triumph which surely awaits Europe today with only four singles points needed.
You make your choices in life, you live with the consequences.
Stenson had the job last March but was sacked four months later after signing with LIV.
Perhaps he bought himself a big TV and a comfortable sofa with his pot of Saudi gold so he could take it all in from a distance.
There are some things that money cannot buy and the vivid experience
Donald (right) is currently living in Rome is one of them.
He must feel like
Caesar Augustus.
His blue and yellow foot soldiers have put the Americans to the sword over the first two days, winning three sessions out of four.
The belated rally from the US in the afternoon fourballs yesterday felt like too little too late.
If there were concerns over how the void left by the likes of Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter would be filled they have been scattered to the four winds over the first two days. Rory Mcilroy had it spot on before the starting gun was fired on the contest when he predicted the LIV defectors would miss the Ryder Cup more than Europe would miss them.
The A-listers have delivered. Jon Rahm is unbeaten, Mcilroy has been strong and Viktor Hovland has been a Nordic force of nature. The role played by Justin Rose, who held back the red tide with Europe’s only win in the afternoon fourballs yesterday, has been critical, too.
He babysat rookie Bob Macintyre expertly for the second day running to deliver a 3 and 2 win over Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth.
“I just knew there was a huge opportunity here today,” said Rose.
“I was barking at him all the way those last few holes. We did exactly what we had to do.”
Rose was one of those offered a king’s ransom to switch to LIV and effectively call time on his Ryder Cup career.
He turned it down because he wanted the taste of Ryder Cup glory again and feelings only this contest can provide.
How many regrets do you think he has after the rush of draining the 16ft victory putt at 16 and triggering a roar which rocked Marco Simone to its foundations.
How energised must he have felt after his Friday final hole smash and grab and the manic ‘you, you, you’ celebration which followed?
The sound of his Ryder Cup theme song – Spandau Ballet’s ‘Gold’ warped to ‘Rose’ – rang out after he got up and down from the sand at 14 after an experience that only a Roman Ryder Cup could provide.
Rose nipped into the players’ toilets after his drive only to find himself answering nature’s call next to a fan dressed as a centurion.
This has been a joyous romp played out in front of lively, but good-natured, crowds.
The setting may be different but the Ole and USA chants, the cheers and the jeers from the 50,000-strong daily crowds have been comfortingly familiar.
The fancy dress yesterday included Super Marios, astronauts and one lady dressed as a furry American eagle.
“I’m hot but I’m committed,” she said.
Actual Romans have been a rarity but those that have come along have enjoyed the show. Well who wouldn’t have done?
For Donald, who stole a kiss with his American wife Diane on the 10th green as the battle raged around him yesterday, it has been a dream made real.