Ryder Cup 2023: Has Luke Donald picked Europe's best side? We discuss...

When Henrik Stenson was announced as the 2023 European Ryder Cup captain the world of men's professional golf was considerably different.

Given just how good Europe are on home soil, it was anticipated once again the side would be packed full of firepower and experience. 

Stenson was sacked for reasons you will be all too familiar with. His departure from the helm presented a number of questions. 

How would the 2023 European Ryder Cup team look?

Who would they turn to in the absence of their record points scorer Sergio Garcia, their postman Ian Poulter and the ever-reliable Lee Westwood?

We now have our answer after months of speculation. 

Stenson's replacement Luke Donald announced his captain's picks on 4 September.

They are:

• Tommy Fleetwood
• Shane Lowry
• Justin Rose
• Sepp Straka
• Nicolai Hojgaard
• Ludvig Aberg

They will join:

• Rory McIlroy
• Jon Rahm
• Viktor Hovland
• Tyrrell Hatton
• Robert MacIntyre
• Matthew Fitzpatrick

Following on from our dissection of Team USA, GolfMagic's Andy Roberts and Ben Smith have offered their thoughts on the European side.

Don't hesitate to get involved and send us your thoughts on X or join us on Facebook. 

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Andy Roberts, Editor

Biggest surprise?

I think this one is a fairly obvious one judging by the uproar so far this week, but to me not seeing Adrian Meronk as one of Luke Donald's six picks was a huge shock. I found out late Sunday night by a number of sources, so I guess it wasn't actually a huge surprise when Donald took to Sky Sports to reveal the six picks, but it was certainly a surprise to me when I had it confirmed after the European Masters. Having since spoken to Meronk's golf coach Matthew Tipper, the Meronk camp is "hurt" by the decision but they wish Team Europe all the very best at Marco Simone, a venue where Meronk won the Italian Open earlier this season. The giant Pole has won three times since July 2022 and he currently sits third behind Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy in the Race to Dubai standings. He deserved his place in the team for sure. 

Biggest mistake? 

Shane Lowry could possibly become a huge mistake given his lacklustre run of form, but I do think the Irishman will be invigorated by the pick over these coming weeks in the lead up to the Ryder Cup. There are still three more weeks to get his game back to his former 2019 Open winning best. I don't imagine Lowry will play a great deal of matches if he hasn't improved his form, but he would seem a very suitable partner for the likes of both McIlroy and his good pal Fleetwood, so we will have to wait and see.  I wrote a column rant about how Meronk should have been favoured over Nicolai Hojgaard in the team, as I don't believe Lowry's place was ever in danger in all honesty. I think it was either Hojgaard or Ludvig Aberg that kept Meronk out the team. While I have absolutely no issues with Aberg getting the pick following his impressive maiden victory in Switzerland on Sunday, I honestly don't see what Hojgaard has done that is any more impressive than Meronk. To me, I think Donald's Danish vice-captain Thomas Bjorn has pulled a few strings for Hojgaard. Yes, Hojgaard won the Italian Open in 2021 and he has had two top-five finishes the past two weeks on Tour, but the 22-year-old is winless since February 2022 and Meronk, as I say, has won three times since then. It really baffles me in all honesty why Meronk got pipped to the post by Hojgaard. I don't see Hojgaard playing a great deal. 

Who will feel let down the most?

Meronk for sure as I've already touched on, but also Yannik Paul, who finished agonisingly short of the automatics behind Robert MacIntyre, who I must admit was a tad fortunate to play his way into the team given his recent form. I would definitely have taken Meronk over Paul in the team, but in terms of feeling let down you could argue Paul will definitely feel short-changed following his stellar season. The runner-up spot to McIlroy at the Scottish Open really was the saving grace for MacIntyre as he stumbled his way over the line in Switzerland at the weekend. Similarly to Hojgaard, I don't think Bob Mac will play any more than two matches at the Ryder Cup. I could be wrong, but I think he is a real weak link in the team on current form. 

Overall thoughts?

On the whole, Team Europe looks solid. A lot more solid than I thought it would look like at the start of the season in all honesty. I thought it could very well be another walkover for Team USA when I considered the teams 12 months ago. But on paper, and on current form at least among the leading stars in both teams, you would have to say Europe has every chance of holding their own at Marco Simone. Team USA are undoubtedly the stronger lineup when you consider all 12 players in each side, testament to their vastly superior average world ranking, but at the same time they have not won a Ryder Cup on European soil for 30 years so that will be on their mind. The big guns for Europe need to turn up, and if they don't then it will become a walkover. For me, I think Europe needs to take the lead into Sunday to have any chance of victory because I just fear the back end of the European team could cost them in the Sunday Singles. 

Has your opinion changed on who you think will win? 

No, I do think Team USA will win their first Ryder Cup in Europe since 1993. They have too much strength in depth. If Justin Thomas can somehow discover some of his former World No.1 best form then Europe could be in trouble, especially given he will be out there with Spieth. If those two turn it on it could be huge for USA, but if they struggle then that could pave the way for European success. It really depends how much faith Zach Johnson wants to put in his controversial pick, JT. I really like the look of Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele together, although you could argue Donald may look to counter that with a pairing of Rory McIlroy and Viktor Hovland. I think the USA will win 15-13 or 16-12. 

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How many points will Rory McIlroy earn at the 2023 Ryder Cup?

— GolfMagic (@GolfMagic) September 5, 2023

Ben Smith, News Editor

Biggest surprise?

This is pretty much a no-brainer isn't it? Adrian Meronk. The giant Polish golfer admitted he was shocked, sad and angry when Luke Donald called with bad news and it appears even his peers agree that it was a reasonable reaction to have. Hilariously, he said he just stopped listening when Donald was waffling on about how 'someone' had to stay at home. Meronk has been in superb form all year and has three victories since last June. One of which was the Italian Open at the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club. It begs the question, what more do you have to do? Shortly after Donald announced his picks I was listening to a podcast in which Eddie Pepperell suggested six picks was far too many for a captain to have and I'm inclined to agree. He also suggested the qualifying system isn't meritocratic enough given the scale of the Ryder Cup. It seemed evident at the time and even clearer now that the move to sick picks was a ploy by the powers that be to prevent LIV Golf players' involvement in this content when things were far more up in the air in men's professional golf than they are now. Under normal circumstances Meronk would have been in. 

Biggest mistake?

I'm inclined to agree with Andy and say Shane Lowry. By his own admission he's not been in great form. He missed the cut at the Czech Masters, missed the cut at the Open. His best result on the PGA Tour this season came when he posted a T-5 at the Honda Classic. Worryingly, Lowry has lost strokes in putting in the 2022-2023 season against the field and that department is usually a strength of Lowry's. That being said, Lowry posted top-20 finishes at the Masters, PGA Championship and the US Open - meaning that you could argue that he does show up on the big occasions. My current feeling is that Lowry and Bob MacIntyre are the weak links for Team Europe and they can ill afford any passengers if they are to beat Team USA.

Who will feel let down the most?

I could sit here all day and argue the case for Adrian Meronk. I genuinely thought he would get a pick. Still, there are a few players that you could argue the case for. Andy has expressed sympathy for Yannik Paul and whilst I agree he has been hard done by I have a streak of ruthlessness when I think about the German's situation. He was close to Bob MacIntyre in the standings but chose not to play a crucial event towards the end of the qualifying campaign despite being fully fit. You reap what you sow. You could also argue that Adrian Otaegui and Victor Perez could have warranted a thought from Donald. 

Overall thoughts?

It's a nice blend of youth and experience. Like most, I was surprised Ludvig Aberg was included but when you have Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm saying how good this lad is perhaps we should just shut up and watch. He's an exciting pick and he'll have thunderous home crowd supporting him. I've always liked Viktor Hovland but have felt in the past he lacked something. I could never put my finger on it but there was a clear gap between the Norwegian, McIlroy, Rahm and Scottie Scheffler at the very top of the game. Hovland is getting better and better and is the most in-form player on the planet. Seeing McIlroy, Rahm and Hovland in the team is frightening on paper. Matthew Fitzpatrick has also improved since his last Cup and is now a major winner. I'd back Tyrell Hatton and Tommy Fleetwood against most of the U.S. side given the course set-up and Justin Rose has so, so much experience. 

Has your opinion changed on who you think will win?

No, I still think the U.S. will win but it will be a lot closer than I previously anticipated. Zach Johnson probably had about 12 top players to choose from with his picks whereas you cannot say that about Europe. 

Watched our Ryder Cup video with Good Good?