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For McIlroy and the Europeans, the Ryder Cup buildup starts now

Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy acknowledges the gallery on the 18th green during the second round of the Irish Open golf tournament, Friday, Sept. 5, 2025, at The K Club in Straffan, Ireland. (Brian Lawless/PA via AP)
Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy acknowledges the gallery on the 18th green during the second round of the Irish Open golf tournament, Friday, Sept. 5, 2025, at The K Club in Straffan, Ireland. (Brian Lawless/PA via AP)

By STEVE DOUGLAS / AP Sports Writer 3 min read

On paper, the European team heading to New York to defend the Ryder Cup could hardly be more similar to the winning lineup two years ago.

Look closer and plenty of things are different.

Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton have moved to LIV Golf. Bob MacIntyre, a rookie in Rome, is now among the world’s top 10 players. Viktor Hovland has remodeled his swing. Oh, and Rory McIlroy has completed the career Grand Slam.

No wonder, then, that McIlroy cannot wait for next week’s team practice trip to Bethpage Black — the venue for the Sept. 26-28 matches in the Ryder Cup — in a bid to rediscover the bond that brought the European team success in Italy in 2023.

“I think getting us all back together and building that up again is going to be really important,” McIlroy said Tuesday, “but I think it will be easy when we all get together.