Why Team Europe are wearing THOSE outfits at the Ryder Cup
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You may have seen Team Europe’s scripting for the Ryder Cup at Bethpage. If you’re having sense of deja vu, then there’s a reason for that. Allow us (and Luke Donald) to explain…
Win or lose, the Europeans always make sure no stone is left unturned for the Ryder Cup. And this year is no exception.
Much has been made of how difficult it is to win an away Ryder Cup. The last time the Europeans attempted to do it at Whistling Straits in 2021 they were thumped 19-9. But it has been done been before and captain Luke Donald is leaning on Europe’s four previous wins on foreign soil ahead of the battle at Bethpage Black.
While on paper, the US team is typically stronger, it is all the little touches that have made the Europeans such a formidable force in the biennial contest. For this year, Donald and his backroom staff have gone above and beyond to design four iconic shirts that pay homage to Europe’s 1987, 1995, 2004 and 2012 wins in America.
“We want to inspire the players as much as possible,” Donald said, in a video posted on social media by Team Europe. “So the real theme is away wins. We know how difficult it is to win away Ryder Cups. This is proof that we’ve done it, and we’ve done it many times.
“We spent many hours talking about how we could express the away wins. We wanted to look at iconic shirts from ’87, ’95, ’04, 2012 and use some of those colors that were so vibrant during those Ryder cups.
“It’s something the players will be fully aware of and hopefully use as a source of inspiration throughout the week.”
Europe’s first away win in 1987 was a landmark moment. It was the first time Europe had won back-to-back Ryder Cups, and it marked the start of a new era of competitiveness in an event that had been dominated by the US to that point.
One man who was key to that victory at Muirfield Village was Jose Maria Olazabal, and few of a certain vintage could forget the pink shirts and cream sweaters and vests the Spaniard and his team-mates wore on the Saturday of that week.
“Well, what I remember about the outfits is that Tony Jacklin and I actually emphasized a lot on making us feel really special,” Olazabal said. “The one that I maybe liked the most was the beige trousers with a salmon shirt with a creamy vest and sweater.
“All being dressed in the same outfits, they made you feel like we were all special. We were a team. We were a unit that week and that day. And I think that was what made us achieve what we did.”
Europe’s next win in America came in 1995 at Oak Hill. Having lost the two previous editions, the pressure was on captain Bernard Gallacher and his players, but they rose to the occasion.
Italy’s Costantino Rocca was a pivotal figure, contributing three points to the European cause, and spoke of how the Ryder Cup creates a “unique” bond in a sport that is mostly all about the individual.
“Golf is different, but team is team,” Rocca added. “And for me, always, I want to play the Ryder Cup.
“The team is very unique. Two is English, one is Scottish, one is Italian, German, Spanish. Even if you play only one, the Ryder Cup is something special in your life.”
Europe’s most convincing away win was amid a golden age. Bernhard Langer led his team to a dominant 18.5-9.5 win at Oak Hill, capped off by a superb Sunday singles display.
Rightly, Team Europe will take to Bethpage on Wednesday in shirts dedicated to that success.
Looking at the 2025 shirt, David Howell said: “That’s a trip down memory lane, quite emotional, looking at all this. Amazing.
“Well, one of the greatest days of my life was this Sunday in 2004. This beautiful, hot, sunny day with a flash of yellow underneath the buttons. And I’m celebrating as Monty has holed the winning putt on the 18th green at Oakland Hills.
“Just to be there. Just absolutely amazing. The thrill of a lifetime.”
And finally, the most famous of them all, the Miracle at Medinah in 2012. At 10-4 on Saturday, all hope looked lost. Enter Ian Poulter in that striking pink shirt.
The Englishman reeled off five birdies in a row to finish to make it 10-6 and give Europe a glimmer of hope. The rest, as they say, is history.
Remembering the week and that day in particular, 2012 European Ryder Cup player Nicolas Colsaerts said: “So many memories like it was yesterday, amazing. White belts were a thing back then. The pink was quite flashy, but I thought it looked great.
“The kit that you wear as a team, probably one of the coolest moments, the same way that when you go and play the World Cup for your country, you realize that you’re going to present where you’re from. It is, for me, something that hit me really hard, and it was a big moment of pride.
“When you see the Westwoods, the McDowells, the Garcias, jump out of their seats with the face that they had and the expression that they had, and, of course, Poulter with his signature eyes coming out of their orbits, you understand that you’re witnessing a great moment of sport.”
To the final word goes the captain.
Donald added: “We take pride in wearing that badge, but to have a real message behind everything is what we try and do. And I think this is pretty powerful.”
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Justin Rose shows off the "salmon" Ryder Cup outfit.
