The Entire European Ryder Cup Team Took a Scouting Trip to Italy
SURREY, England — It's noon and Tommy Fleetwood has just arrived on the range at BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.
The reason for tardiness on a Tuesday is that Fleetwood and his 11 Ryder Cup teammates, caddies, captain and vice captains had just arrived after their pre-Ryder Cup visit to Marco Simone Golf and Country Club outside of Rome.
It was the first time that the European Ryder Cup team had made a scouting trip ever to any Ryder Cup venue and captain Luke Donald was looking for some bonding time in Rome.
By Fleetwood’s account: mission accomplished.
“It was just cool to be part of a team and get the team together,” Fleetwood said while looking tired. “The Ryder Cup is special, and I think started getting that experience a week or two earlier than you know the week of the tournament was really good.”
Tommy Fleetwood is playing in his third Ryder Cup.
Adam Hagy/USA TODAY Sports
The 32-year-old Englishman will be playing in his third Ryder Cup. Other veterans on the team are Rory McIlroy (playing in his seventh), Justin Rose (sixth) and Matt Fitzpatrick, Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton (all playing their third).
In Rome, Fleetwood saw some of the deepest and thickest rough, but as in the past when European setup generally had high rough to counter American length, Fleetwood doesn’t see it as advantage since both sides will have some of the best players in the world competing.
”I think it's hard to claim that separately either side has an advantage over the other, but I don't particularly see the core setups as advantageous," Fleetwood said. “Obviously, we'll do everything we can to make it more that way. For Europe playing the best golfers in the world, it's very difficult to do.”
It wasn't difficult in 2018 in Paris, where the U.S. seemed ill-prepared to play against the Europeans at Le Golf National, continually looking like a fish out of water in the 17.5 to 10.5 rout. The Hubert Chesneau and Robert Von Hagge design was a consistent problem for the Americans.
Knowledge was clearly key in Paris, but according to Fleetwood not as much this time in Rome.
“No, no, we have a long time to prepare for it,” Fleetwood said. “It's a busy week, but we all arrive on Monday, we do three days practice everywhere we go, so there's no massive differences there.”
Oddly, the Europeans may have an advantage when they decided to bring their caddies on the pre-Ryder Cup trip.
The U.S. team that visited over the weekend decided not to bring their caddies with the exception of Rickie Elliott, Brooks Koepka’s caddie, who was already on this side of the Atlantic and made the trip to Rome.
Could this be a mistake that will cost the U.S. in the end?
“Caddies are such an important part and it's important for them to see the golf course just like us and just get everyone together,” Fleetwood said. “It's a huge week for everyone and I think there's always like a bedding-in period Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday of the Ryder Cup when you get in, everyone being together and being part of the team.
"But I think doing it this early, I think it was great and everybody, clicked so early, you're in that team environment with weeks to go and I think it was perfect.”