Ex-Ryder Cup captain issues warning to new-look Europe following LIV Golf exodus

12 September 2023 , 09:00

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Ex-Ryder Cup captain issues warning to new-look Europe following LIV Golf exodus

Former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley has warned Europe's class of 2023 of the task they face against their American rivals in Rome later this month.

Europe head into this year's event with a new-look team, with skipper Luke Donald in charge of four Ryder Cup rookies in Rome. Robert MacIntyre, Sepp Straka, Ludvig Aberg and Nicolai Hojgaard will all be making their debuts in the matchplay clash, amid a changing of the guard in the European setup.

The change comes on the back of a number of Europe's most experienced stars in recent years moving on from the Ryder Cup - albeit reluctantly - following their decision to join LIV Golf.

Three of Team Europe's most iconic players in Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood are all absent from this year's team after opting to resign their DP World Tour memberships earlier this year, after being sanctioned for making the Saudi switch. The decision to give up playing in the Ryder Cup will have been a difficult one for Garcia and co, having held such an affinity to the event throughout their careers.

It does however give the European bosses the chance to add a new lease of life to the setup, after a crushing defeat in Wisconsin two years ago. Even before the saga surrounding LIV Golf became an issue for the European team, changes were needed after falling to a record-breaking 19-9 defeat to the U.S. back in 2021.

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Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood are both missing from the European team (Getty Images)

Paul McGinley had a strong warning for Team Europe (PA)

And this has dually come, with Europe now donning one of their most exciting 12-man rosters in recent years. Despite the excitement around the new blood, 2014 captain McGinley has brought things back down to earth amid the obvious threat their American rivals pose following the demolition last time out.

Writing for Sky Sports, he said: "As Luke [Donald] himself has said, a lot of the guys are in form. It's a strong European team, but remember we're coming off a record loss two years ago so it's a steep hill we're climbing... It has been recognised for a few years now that there would be a changing of the guard, as a strong era of players who have stood for Europe slowly move into their forties and slowly depart the scene...

"It's a team of 12 players and we're giving ourselves a good chance but let's not overestimate as they're up against a strong American team. We're coming off a record loss and we're putting the pieces back together again, albeit with new names." The Americans will no doubt be out to defend the title they won so convincingly two years ago, and like Europe also boast and in-form team which includes three of this year's four major champions in Brian Harman, Wyndham Clark and Brooks Koepka.

Joshua Lees