In the final episode of 'Full Swing' season two, we pick up where episode seven left off, detailing the 2023 Ryder Cup as it comes to a close in Rome.
Main Characters
Rory McIlroy, Zach Johnson, Luke Donald, U.S. Team, Team Europe
Recap
Chad Mumm, one of the executive producers of Full Swing, says the Ryder Cup was always intended to be a big storyline to weave through the duration of the second season of the show.
It made sense that the season finale wrapped up with the champagne soaked scene at Marco Simone – and with Rory McIlroy getting the last word.
“The Ryder Cup […] was the first time we ever knew what was going to happen. One team would win, one team would lose,” Mumm says. “You’d have 12 guys celebrating and you’d have 12 guys feeling a mix of anger/frustration/disappointment and everyone would have a share of those emotions.”
We pick up the episode after Team Europe burst out of the gates in the morning session of day one, going 4-0. In a light-hearted moment to start the episode – and a nifty piece of foreshadowing – we see McIlroy and Lowry laughing over the size of Lowry’s hat.
Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas finally get to tee it up after sitting on the bench on Friday morning and captain Zach Johnson knows it’s time for his team to “roll up their sleeves and get to work.”
Before we spend the rest of the episode in Italy, there’s a brief flashback to West Palm Beach where we see Keegan Bradley. He didn’t get the call from Johnson but he’s watching. And he’s wearing his U.S. Ryder Cup Team cap.
“There’s no wrong decisions with who’s on that team,” Bradley admits. If he was captain he’d want Thomas on his team, too.
After the first day, however, it was all Europe. They lead 6.5-1.5.
We flashback to McIlroy talking after the European defeat at Whistling Straits, where an emotional McIlroy breaks down talking about what the Ryder Cup means to him. It’s the “best event in golf,” McIlroy said two years prior.
Fast forward to Italy’s opening frame and McIlroy’s earned two points as part of a European domination.
“Friday was one of the best days we’ve ever had as a Ryder Cup team,” McIlroy says.
McIlroy was again firmly in the conversation by the end of Saturday as well. While Europe headed into Sunday with a five-point cushion, there was a spot of drama at the conclusion of the second day wrapped in Patrick Cantlay and his match (alongside Wyndham Clark) with McIlroy and Matt Fitzpatrick.
A report stated Cantlay was in the middle of a fracture in the American team room over an outside-the-ropes issue, causing the European crowd to wave their hats at Cantlay in a mocking manner. Despite that, Cantlay put the American side on his back and rode a hot putter to a 1-up win alongside Clark in the final match of the day.
“What Pat did those last two holes was some of the most impressive stuff I’ve ever seen,” Max Homa says. “That was sick.”
The emotions boiled over after the match, and the day, was completed – with members of both the European and American side getting testy in the parking lot before separating for the night.
“It just showed how much it matters to these guys and how much stress there is around winning the Ryder Cup,” broadcaster Amanda Balionis says. “I had a lot of players tell me we know it’s not life and death, but it feels like it is.”
Sunday meant it was time for singles matches, and although the American side was down five, there were still 12 matches to be played. Captain Zach Johnson knows, at this point, anybody can beat anybody.
To begin, Scottie Scheffler halves Jon Rahm before Viktor Hovland defeats Collin Morikawa 4-and-3. Cantlay held off a hard-charging Justin Rose to win his match 2-and-1. McIlroy tops Sam Burns 3-and-1 to put a bow on his best-ever Ryder Cup before Homa defeats Fitzpatrick 1-up in a final-hole battle. Homa ends up as the American side’s biggest point-winner.
We'll never forget this shot from @MaxHoma! 🎯#TopShotTuesday pic.twitter.com/cZpszd9q3T
— Ryder Cup USA (@RyderCupUSA) February 14, 2024
That Homa win sparks the American side to win four of the next three matches, including a point from Justin Thomas.
Alas, as the day went on, it seemed inevitable that Team Europe would win the cup back. Tommy Fleetwood ends up having the honor after a concession from Rickie Fowler.
Johnson, in a tear-jerking moment, shares a hug with his family and re-affirms the Ryder Cup was “the best thing” in golf.
For Donald, it was another Ryder Cup triumph. He’s won one as a captain along with four as a player. He then lets the viewers in on one of his main goals.
“Win or lose,” he says, “knowing that we would form a bond for the rest of our lives.”
The bond Team Europe had in 2023 was, indeed, over a win. And McIlroy, with the final word of the season, says it was an extra special one as they were playing for something bigger than just themselves.
“This is our time to do our bit for Europe and leave the culture and the team in a better spot than when we inherited it, and that’s really why we pull together so much as a team,” McIlroy says. “That, to me, just meant the absolute world.”
