Ryder Cup notebook: Darcy, Walton and Europe’s away day warriors come together for a motivational masterpiece

There have been some questionable music choices on the range at Bethpage Black.

Only 37 players - including Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley - have won an away Ryder Cup with Europe. Pic: Matt Browne / SPORTSFILE

Europe’s dominance over the US two years ago stretched beyond Marco Simone and Rome. Luke Donald’s team comprehensively won the content wars too.

For some time, the DP World Tour’s social media output has been recognised as being more than a step ahead of its Stateside counterparts. It would appear that Donald and his creative team are intent on keeping it that way.

On Tuesday morning across their Ryder Cup Europe social channels the visitors released a brilliantly-produced hype video focusing on the manta Donald is driving home this week: Our Time. Our Place.

Only 37 players have won away from home. Time we added to that?

Our Time. Our Place. pic.twitter.com/7Lsp0nTY5a

— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) September 23, 2025

Almost seven minutes long, the motivational piece focuses on the fact that just 37 Europeans have, Tony Jacklin tells us, “experienced the euphoria of an away win". 

Remarkably all 35 living members of that club feature, with Irishmen Eamonn Darcy, Philip Walton, Padraig Harrington, Paul McGinley, Darren Clarke and Graeme McDowell all contributing.

LIV golf defectors, notably, are all included. The late Gordon Brand Jr and Seve Ballesteros are absent but the latter, inevitably, features heavily among operatic strings and moving montages of the 1987, 1995, 2004 and 2012 triumphs. If views counted on the scoreboard Europe are already well up.

Never mind a boot, put a sock in it lads 

A few string arrangements would have been more welcome than the racket blaring out of speakers as Europeans got busy on the range Tuesday morning.

Courtesy Of The Red White And Blue, a jingoistic, pro-war Yanktastic monstrosity recorded after 9/11 by Toby Keith pinched the ears. Rory McIlroy glanced back towards the sound system as Keith squawked about putting “a boot in your ass. It’s the American way”. Not a fan then, Rors?

Rookie Spaun channels his inner Elsa 

On the other extreme of the musical choices was JJ Spaun. The late bloomer is a rookie at 35 and much in keeping with his breakout 2025 season, has been a refreshing presence.

The US Open champion was asked about how he managed to conquer the game this year in a way that was beyond him before then. “Once I had my first daughter, her favorite song was ‘Let it Go’,” he said. “Hearing it hundreds of times every day kind of osmosis or whatever, it just hit deep into the soul. I just tried to go by that mantra.” 

Spaun was then asked to sing the Frozen favourite for the press. To his credit he gave us just a flavour but it was silky smooth.

Let it go… let it goo 🎶 ❄️

J.J. Spaun's confidence in himself began by letting go of negative self-thought. pic.twitter.com/KOKJ9tLN7C

— Ryder Cup USA (@RyderCupUSA) September 23, 2025

At least one clock ticking towards Adare 

The giant media centre tucked off to the side of the range here employs an air-conditioning system that is giving us Qatar 2022 PTSD. It also has Vegas-style light fittings that leave you in the dark on what time of day or night it is.

To help the hacks in that regard, the giant 50-foot video board at the front of the room is flanked by Rolex clocks set to major global hotspots. New York, Geneva, San Francisco, Sydney and, eh, Limerick.

With all of the hype and focus on this week, it’s nice to see the 2027 host city and Adare Manor get the time of day.