It will be an unusual Ryder Cup this year, but there will thankfully be Irish involvement on Team Europe despite the tumult over the selection of the 12-man team.
A year out from the tournament in Rome, Team Europe were hit with a major blow, as captain Henrik Stenson joined the controversial LIV Golf Series, meaning he was withdrawn from his role.
Similarly, Ryder Cup stalwarts such as Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter have removed themselves from contention for selection thanks to their involvement in the Saudi-backed league.
It has been a tumultuous road to Ryder Cup 2023 but replacement captain Luke Donald has now named his 12-man team, with Irishmen Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry both included.
Both have a point to prove in Rome, with McIlroy never having fully shown his potential on the Ryder Cup stage, and Lowry struggling for consistency in 2023.
You would imagine that both will be taking care of their bodies and ensuring they display the utmost professionalism, in order to give themselves the best chance of performing well and contributing to Team Europe's quest to take back the Ryder Cup from the USA.
Speaking to the Golf Channel after the announcement of the two 12-man teams, fellow Irishman Paul McGinley told a story from the 2004 Ryder Cup that shows just how different the climate around these tournaments used to be.
Paul McGinley reveals how much Team Europe drank at 2004 Ryder Cup
Paul McGinley appeared on NBC's Golf Today earlier this week to discuss the Team Europe selection for the 2023 Ryder Cup.
The conversation turned to his memories of his three playing appearances at the Ryder Cup, as well as his time as captain for the 2014 tournament.
"We had consumed 72 bottles of wine, by Saturday."
Paul McGinley recalls how a 'different' kind of fuel powered @RyderCupEurope to a record-breaking Ryder Cup win at Oakland Hills in 2004 🍷🍷🍷 pic.twitter.com/G5Gef50wnx— Golf Today (@GCGolfToday) September 4, 2023
McGinley commented on one of the biggest cultural changes since his days as a Ryder Cup player, and said that he had noticed how far fewer players tend to drink during tournaments nowadays.
He used an anecdote from the 2004 Ryder Cup to show just how much the situation had turned on its head - even by the time he captained Team Europe at the 2014 event:
The world has changed a bit too. Back in our day, there was quite a bit of alcohol consumed, it's fair to say - even during Ryder Cups!
I was amazed, even when I was captain in '14, how nobody drank - nobody! It wasn't like, "oh, it's the Ryder Cup, I'm not going to drink." It was a case of, "no, I'm not drinking, I don't drink when I play."
Not even a question.
I'm not giving away too many secrets. But I remember, when we won by a record margin at Oakland Hills under Bernard Langer [in 2004], one of the backroom staff coming out and telling us on the Saturday night - this was before the Sunday! - we had consumed 72 bottles of wine already, and they had to go and re-order.
This was while matches were still on! It's not like we were getting drunk every night, far from it, but everybody would have one or two, maybe three glasses of wine at night. That was normal. Nine, ten out of the players would do that.
Obviously, it's a changed atmosphere now. When there's alcohol involved, as you well know, there's always a bit more craic involved.
It certainly didn't harm Team Europe's performance at that 2004 event.
McGinley, along with fellow Irish players Padraig Harrington and Darren Clarke, would contribute to a then-record victory for Team Europe, as they ran out winners by 18.5 points to 9.5 - a record they would match when the tournament came to Ireland in 2006.
19 September 2004; Ireland's Darren Clarke, left, Paul McGinley, centre, and Padraig Harrington celebrate with the Ryder Cup trophy after victory over America. The 35th Ryder Cup, Oakland Hills Country Club, Bloomfield Township, Michigan, USA. Picture credit; Matt Browne / SPORTSFILE
We can only hope that Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry can help Team Europe soar to similar heights this year.
The 2023 Ryder Cup gets underway at the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome on September 30th.
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