Inside Team Europe's wild Ryder Cup party as Bob MacIntyre snags surprise gift
The Scot kept the party going after the historic success Stateside
Bob MacIntyre has opened up on another special party night amongst Europe's Band of Brothers.
And the Scot has revealed a giant chocolate bar was almost as big a gift as the cherished trophy at Bethpage.
MacIntyre and his team enjoyed a predictably unforgettable evening after success in New York with the same routines as Rome.
The Proclaimers ’ 500 miles was again his choice of coach song and, just with the golf, there was no point in breaking a winning formula.
MacIntyre smiled: “Exact same. It was rinse and repeat. The bus journey is unbelievable. I don’t know, I didn’t look at the clock, I just tapped down when I felt like it. Enough was enough.
“It was great, it was the same as Rome, obviously, but we all knew each other a bit better, it was just magic, it’s the simplest thing to say, it was special.
“It was just the whole team, everyone’s support staff, an incredible week and rightly celebrated.”
The biggest gift of the week was, of course, the trophy. But Luke Donald and the management team made sure other goodies were on offer, including the now-famed Ryder Cup pyjamas which he sported two years ago in Italy.
MacIntyre said: “I didn’t put them on, though. Don’t know if it would fit me now. But, no, all the gifts have been incredible as well, all through the week.
“There’s been loads of stuff, probably my favourite is a massive Dairy Milk. Yon size. That’s the best gift they can give me!”
Donald had every right to celebrate himself and the dad jokes were back out, but MacIntyre laughed: “I don’t read them, Simon [Shanks] my coach is the king of dad jokes, I don’t really bother because I’ll be seeing him on Wednesday and I’m sure he’ll crack another one.
“There was anything you could think about was probably in the room at some point. It just felt like the same as Rome, same level of detail and it was just brilliant from start to finish.”
Attention to detail is Donald’s key. Motivational speakers were back as the Scot said: “There’s a few different things. We had videos from the big four of tennis. Obviously, we have Djokovic last time, but Djokovic, Nadal, Federer, Andy Murray done videos. We didn’t really need much motivation. With everything going on, everything getting said, there was plenty of motivation in that team room.”
Quiet rooms were also a feature again as he added: “It was there last time, I remember when I played in the afternoon on Friday last year, I turned up on the Friday, watched the first tee-shots and then I went for a nap. There’s like three quiet rooms, three beds, yeah, fine details.”
Donald hasn’t ruled out doing it all again, but MacIntyre was not in his ear as he said: “Luke’s his own guy, he’s created history and what a special bond. There were 11 of us and we called him 11 and a brother. Rasmus [Hojgaard], knew us all, got on well with everyone and just a special group of guys and I’m just delighted to be part of them.”