McDowell and McIlroy were part of the team that roared back to win the 2012 Ryder Cup. Photo: EPA/TANNEN MAURY
We might as well address the elephant in the room straight away. Yes, I'm very upset that I won't be in Rome this week.
Representing Europe at the Ryder Cup — which I was privileged to do four times as a player and twice as vice-captain — was the greatest honor of my career. Obviously, I knew that joining LIV would potentially cause me to miss out on being in that team room this time, and I accept that. I came to terms with this over a year ago and now that it's Ryder Cup week, I'm looking forward to cheering on Team Europe from afar.
To me, it doesn't matter which world tour you choose to make a living from, when the Ryder Cup comes, we will all bleed. Hopefully there will come a time when we can all put our differences behind us and guys like Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter, Paul Casey, Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer, Henrik Stenson and myself can be part of the Ryder Cup ecosystem again. Time heals.
There is nothing like the Ryder Cup. My victory at the US Open at Pebble Beach in 2010 was incredible for me personally and for my family and loved ones. But winning as part of a team is another level. Hitting that putt on the 16th green at Celtic Manor in 2010 was undoubtedly the most special moment of my career.
Not that I really liked it at the time, because it's hard to enjoy moments of absolute tension. They're tough. But now, when you watch the replays, you see Rory standing on the side of the field, Sergio Garcia kicking for them, for his teammates, who was lucky enough to play the final match… there is no better feeling.
Even the years when we didn't win have special meaning for me. Valhalla in 2008 was incredible because it was my rookie year. I was 29 and it was a turning point in my career. Suddenly you find yourself next to these guys you've idolized your entire life, shoulder to shoulder on golf's greatest stage. There were so many moments to pinch yourself.
Golf is such an individual sport. It's all on you. But suddenly you're not just playing for yourself. You're surrounded by the best players in the game, and unlike normal tournament weeks, everyone wants to make each other better. I remember back in 2008 I was having trouble with the short game and Jose Maria Olazábal gave me a full lesson on chipping greens! One of my heroes shared his extensive golf knowledge with a Ryder Cup rookie.
McDowell's shot seals Team Europe's win at Celtic Manor in 2010 year. Photo: Getty Images/Richard Heathcote
I said that this was crucial in my career because before Valhalla I felt that I might be ready to compete in major tournaments. After that I was ready to compete in the majors. There is no way I would have won at Pebble Beach without that experience of playing under the most pressure imaginable.
But the point is really different. Being in the back nine of a major on Sunday is tough, but to be in that situation you have to play well and just keep going. The Ryder Cup is like the first tee shot on a Friday morning and you haven't made your competitive shot yet. Your game may or may not be there. Too late. Time to polish.
Medina 2012 was a little bittersweet because I personally didn't play very well, but the weekend was special in many ways. Flashback to Poults birdieing the last five holes on Saturday afternoon, eyes popping out of their sockets, everyone bouncing off the walls in the dressing room, going crazy, and we were trailing 10-6! Something magical happened that evening. Everyone could feel it. A miracle was supposed to happen that Sunday.
I lost my only Ryder Cup singles that day to tough 17-year-old Zach Johnson, but since I was the guy everyone was watching two years ago, it was time to cheer for my team. And when Martin Kaymer scored his shot to secure the win, the feeling was incredible. It was evening and I seem to remember that Team USA was not in the mood to drink drinks with us.
At Gleneagles in 2014, for the first time I was experienced enough to take on a beginner. I played Victor Dubuisson in the afternoon fours on both Friday and Saturday and we were lucky to win both matches. Victor played great and I feel like I worked so hard to take care of him that I was less focused on myself and could take a step back and take it all in. I didn't know then that it would be my last time. Playing in a Europe shirt and looking back, I'm glad I absorbed a little more. I had the honor of leading Team Europe on Sunday, beating Jordan Speight 2-1 to earn their third point. Rory got rid of Fowler and was there on the 17th to hug me after my match as Europe cruised to victory.
So many memories are indelibly etched in my mind and I will always be proud to say that I did. gave to the European team.
For the first time since 2016, I will be watching the Ryder Cup from my couch. The game will start at 1am local time in Florida, which is certainly not ideal! I have an event in Singapore next week, so I might just try to jump straight into that time zone and stay up all night. I'm not sure my wife will like it, but it will be hard to sleep when the action takes place in Rome.
I know how they feel now; dinners, opening ceremony, atmosphere in the team room. I've been asked at corporate events how a European team room is different from an American one, and I've joked that they have ping pong tables, video games, and everything else you could want. What did we have, they ask? Bar. Of course, a lot of team bonding happens over a glass of wine!
McDowell was part of European victories at Celtic Manor, Medina and Gleneagles. Photo: Getty Images/Jamie Squire
The truth is that these days we also have ping pong tables, pool tables and everything else. I'm sure Luke Donald will leave no stone unturned this week. He's the kind of captain that players will respect because he's been there, done that and become number one in the world. very smart and measured. He will send this team 100 percent ready.
The bookmakers don't agree, but for me Europe is a slight favorite. There's a lot of talk about home advantage, about how the US hasn't won in Europe for 30 years. Raymond Floyd was on that team and is now 81 years old, which gives some idea of how long ago it was!
Captain Donald and his team will prepare the course to the best of their statistical capabilities. But the biggest distinguishing feature of a home Ryder Cup is the fans. I remember at Valhalla playing top ball Padraig Harrington on a Friday afternoon in my first match and celebrating hitting the eighth only to be met with eerie silence. Nobody applauded. It was very unnerving.
It's the complete opposite when you play at home. You are cheered on every green and great shots are met with deafening response. This week the Europeans will be able to feed off the energy of the crowd, which will be huge given the physical challenge that five rounds on Marco Simone can pose in hot conditions.
I'm curious to see how many of the top players will actually play five matches. Will Luke try to stay fresh for Sunday or will he load up and try to get ahead? We'll see. But I think Europe looks strong. They have leaders. Rory will want to be strong in this team and there are others who will have to step up and replace the energy of Poults or Sergio. Jon Rahm, maybe. He is tough and passionate. Made for the Ryder Cup. So does Viktor Hovland. I'm really excited to see Ludwig Aberg perform — what a story he is — and to see guys like Shane Lowry and 'Fitzy' Matt Fitzpatrick continue to build their Ryder Cup legacies. I'm very glad to see them all.
I hope they return the trophy. I would love to be there with them, but I will reach out to them just as much as I always have. I just need to find my alarm clock first.
Graham McDowell donated the royalties for this article to charity
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