Europe’s Ryder Cup players have revealed how being “vulnerable” with each other during a “fire chat” helped them win in Rome.
Captain Luke Donald took his entire team to Marco Simone Golf Club for practice in September 2023, the day before all 12 players travel to Wentworth to compete in the BMW PGA Championship.
The move paid off big as Team Europe reclaimed the Ryder Cup in emphatic fashion, and the behind-the-scenes story of that victory is now featured in a new documentary called Una Famiglia.
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Luke Donald reflects on how he guided Team Europe to Ryder Cup success in Rome in a new and exclusive behind-the-scenes documentary, Una Famiglia, available from December 5 on Sky Sports.
“We had a great fireside chat where we opened up together as a team. It really created this amazing sense of togetherness,” Donald said in a 90-minute film released Tuesday on the Ryder Cup YouTube channel and available here. Sky Sports Golf from Thursday.
Rory McIlroy, who broke down in tears after winning his singles match in a crushing defeat at Whistling Straits in 2021, added: golf.
“People became vulnerable and told their story, and I think that made others open up in a way that we’ve probably never opened up to each other.”
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Highlights of the action from day three of the 2023 Ryder Cup at Italy’s Marco Simone Golf & Country Club, where Team Europe cruised to an impressive victory.
Spain’s John Rahm echoes McIlroy’s sentiments, adding: “When you see great players who have had their successes be vulnerable with each other, I think it creates a bond and a sense of security that you can’t repeat.”
Rahm made the shock move to LIV Golf just months after playing his part in Europe’s triumph, and Donald admits in the documentary that he sees the Ryder Cup as an “antidote” to the bitter divide in men’s professional golf.
McIlroy also recounts his clash with Patrick Cantley’s caddy Joe Lacava, which came after Cantley and Wyndham Clarke battled to beat McIlroy and Matt Fitzpatrick in the second four-hole on the 18th.
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A furious Rory McIlroy confronted the US team in the car park after the incident on the 18th hole.
“As soon as I saw somebody in an American jersey, I went after them,” McIlroy said of losing his cool in the parking lot after the day’s play.
“Not my proudest moment, but I felt like what happened on the 18th green and then spilled into the parking lot almost made us feel more ready than ever to go out on Sunday to win our points and get the Ryder Cup. : with”.
The program features exclusive interviews with José María Olazabal and Nicolas Kolsaerts, two of Donald’s vice-captains, plus offers never-before-seen footage from the European team room and how they celebrated the win in Rome.
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Team Europe celebrated on their team bus after their thrilling Ryder Cup win over the USA in Rome.
The players talk about Diana Donald’s role as Luke’s wife during the competition, and look ahead to the ‘The Year’ event ahead of the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, exclusively live next September. Sky Sportswhere Team Europe will chase a historic victory on American soil.
When can I watch Una Famiglia on Sky Sports?
The program will start Sky Sports Golf and: Sky Sports’ main event on Thursday 5 December from 9.30pm, before that evening will be available on Sky Documentaries.
Una Famiglia will be repeated on Sky Documentaries and Sky Sports Golf throughout the month of December, with the program as well Ryder Cup YouTube Channel.
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Tommy Fleetwood secured the point for Team Europe in his singles match against Rickie Fowler to secure the Ryder Cup for Luke Donald’s side.
5 December – 9.30pm – Sky Sports Golf and Sky Sports Main Event
December 5 – 22:00 – Sky Documentaries
December 7 – 22:00 – Sky Documentaries
December 10 – 19:00 – Sky Sports Golf
December 17 – 19:00 – Sky Sports Golf
Boxing Day – 7pm – Sky Sports Golf
Watch Una Famiglia, the new behind-the-scenes documentary looking back at Team Europe’s 2023 Ryder Cup triumph, available from December 5 on Sky Sports. Get Sky Sports or Stream NOW!.
