MEDINAH, Ill. — Europe has only one rookie on its Ryder Cup team. It has a lot more inexperience when it comes to playing on the road.
Rory McIlroy is among five Europeans who have never played the matches away from the influence of a home crowd. Nicolas Colsaerts of Belgium is making his Ryder Cup debut, while Peter Hanson, Martin Kaymer, Francesco Molinari and McIlroy all played for the first time in Wales two years ago.
Graeme McDowell made his cup debut in Kentucky in 2008, so he knows what to expect. He says the U.S. cheers he heard at Valhalla sounded “like a bomb going off.” He says the idea for Europe is to hear the sweet sound of a muted cheer whenever Europeans win a hole.
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