Category: Ryder Cup

Europe’s Big Three deliver, Luke Donald makes the right calls among 5 things to know about Day One at the Ryder Cup

The City of Eternal Light may not have been built in a day, but the 2023 Ryder Cup may have been lost in one.

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ROME – The City of Eternal Light may not have been built in one day, but the Ryder Cup in Rome may have been lost in one after Team Europe jumped out to a 6 ½ – 1 ½ lead over the Americans.

It equals the biggest day one lead in Ryder Cup history (1975 and 2004) and marked the first time in history that the United States have failed to win a single match in a Ryder Cup matchday.

It was a dominant performance by the Euros, who lead after the first session for the first time since 2006. In fact, it was a clean sweep and the U.S. didn’t hold a lead in any match until Justin Thomas made a birdie on the sixth hole in the first match of the afternoon session.

Here are four more things to know from Day One of the 44th Ryder Cup.

Jon Rahm used a prototype Callaway wedge to hole out three times at the 2023 Ryder Cup

Looks like it’s staying in the bag.

On a day when the European Ryder Cup team seemed to make one dramatic shot after another en route to taking a commanding 6½-1½ lead over the Americans at Marco Simone outside Rome, Italy, no one was better than Spain’s Jon Rahm. The 2023 Masters champion paired with England’s Tyrrell Hatton to beat Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns 4 and 3 in a morning’s foursome match, then he rallied from behind with Nicolai Højgaard to save a half-point in an afternoon’s fourball match against Scheffler and Brooks Koepka.

Dramatically, Rahm holed out from around the green three times on Friday, including this amazing shot at the 16th hole.

In addition to the Callaway Apex TCB pitching wedge that matches his irons, Rahm typically plays three Callaway Jaws Raw wedges — 52, 56 and 60 degree — that are all fitted with Project X 6.5 shafts and Golf Pride MCC grips. Here is what they looked like at the Travelers Championship in June.

Jon Rahm
Jon Rahm’s Callaway wedges and irons at the 2023 Travelers Championship. (David Dusek/Golfweek)

However, the lob wedge that Rahm used Friday was not his normal Callaway JAWS Raw 60-degree wedge, it was a prototype. As you can see in the photo above, Rahm’s JAWS RAW has four holes in the back, a Callaway logo on the toe and, per Jon’s preferences, the names of his children are stamped into his wedges. As you can see in the photo below, the club he used at Marco Simone looks very different.

Jon Rahm
Jon Rahm’s lob wedge Friday at the 2023 Ryder Cup. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

While the prototype club still has the Golf Pride MCC grip, we can clearly see it has a True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue shaft instead of Rahm’s normal Project X 6.5 shaft. The wedge itself appears to lack a Callaway logo on the toe, but there does appear to be some identifying stamping on the back. There is moderate heel and toe relief, but significant, similar to the X Grind. With the extremely thick rough around the greens at Marco Simone, a high-bounce wedge would make a lot of sense and could make popping the ball out of tough lies easier.

According to Callaway, Rahm has used this wedge a few times, and adding it this week could definitely be a course-specific move. Upon seeing how a golf course is set up and what the conditions will likely be, many pros tweak their equipment setups, and in some cases, they use different wedges. At the 2019 Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne, where conditions were extremely firm and fast, Justin Thomas added a 60.5-degree, low-bounce Titleist Vokey Design T Grind wedge so he could get the leading edge under the ball without blading chips and pitch shots.

Zach Johnson says U.S. team dealing with ‘unforeseen things’ in terms of health at 2023 Ryder Cup

“We have got some congestion and some just signs of things that are unfortunate.”

Zach Johnson tried his best Friday evening to squash any notion he was disappointed in his team’s showing during the opening day of matches at the 2023 Ryder Cup.

The United States captain said he was proud of how his team fought, even considering the Americans are in a 6½-1½ hole against the Europeans at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Rome, Italy. The U.S. didn’t win one match on Friday and was swept in the morning session of foursomes but managed to halve three fourball matches in the afternoon.

However, Johnson hinted the Americans may not be 100 percent in the health department. He was asked whether the afternoon lineup was scripted and answered there were things they could and couldn’t control, and then he said this to a follow-up question.

“The bottom line is there’s been some unforeseen things that we’ve had to navigate around, which is really unfortunate, in the sense of health,” Johnson said. “It’s not an excuse, because we have depth, but I’ll just say, I’m grateful we have a team doctor.

“We’re just fighting things, I mean, internally. It’s kind of passed around a little bit, caddies, players. It is what it is. But it’s nothing more than that. Guys are fighting and playing regardless. I mean, it’s not anything that’s kind of weighed us down because of the depth we have and because of the many options we think we have.”

That’s certainly not anything American fans want to hear after what transpired on the course Friday. Some may view it as the U.S. making excuses. Others may look at it as an actual crutch to the limping American team after the first day of play.

Later in his press conference, Johnson elaborated more on the illness.

“We have got some congestion and some just signs of things that are unfortunate,” Johnson said. “It’s one of those where sometimes the energy is probably a little low, but the ability and desire to go out and play is still there. That’s what we are weighing. Every one of them still wants to play every match, which is encouraging.

“It kind of has, yeah, I’m being honest, yes, it has. It has spread through my team.”

Sounds like the Americans need some Benadryl and NyQuil before Saturday’s play begins.

Here’s a look at the largest Day 1 leads since 1979 at the Ryder Cup (and who went on to win)

Dominant starts don’t happen too often.

Both the American and European teams want to get off to a good start at the Ryder Cup, but that doesn’t necessarily guarantee a victory come Sunday night.

Team Europe leads the United States 6½-1½ in the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome, Italy. It was a stellar Friday for the hosts, coming off a 19-9 drubbing in the United States at Whistling Straits two years ago. Europe swept the fourball session and then halved three of the four foursomes matches, winning the fourth.

This is the first time in Ryder Cup history the United States hasn’t won a match in a day of play.

Only five times since 1979 has a team scored at least 6 points on the opening day of the Ryder Cup, including this year. In three of the four previous editions, the team who led after the opening day went on to win.

Here’s a look at the previous big leads after Friday in the Ryder Cup since 1979 and who went on to win.

2023 Ryder Cup Saturday morning pairings, tee times see Team Europe roll out sweep lineup

Europe is staying with its four pairings that swept the U.S. on Friday morning while the Americans make changes.

The United States made history on Friday, but not in a good way.

The Americans failed to win a match on Friday at the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club near Rome, Italy, marking the first time the U.S. has gone a full day without a win in the event’s nearly 100-year history.

The Europeans brought their brooms on Friday morning and swept the U.S. in foursomes before 2½ more points to their tally in afternoon fourballs to claim a 6½-1½ lead after Day 1.

How will the Americans respond on Saturday morning? By sending out two pairings from the Friday morning session and sticking with two that earned ties in the afternoon.

Check out the four matches and pairings, as well as the eight players who will ride the pine pony for the third session of matches at the 2023 Ryder Cup.

MORE: How to watch the 2023 Ryder Cup

Brooks Koepka takes shot at Jon Rahm after Ryder Cup match: ‘Act like a child’

Brooks went after Jon Rahm.

The Ryder Cup is underway, and emotions are high.

Momentum is well on the European side after the opening day of play, as the Euros have dominated at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club to the tune of a 6 ½-1 ½ lead against the United States heading into Saturday’s play. For the first time in Ryder Cup history, the U.S. didn’t win a match during a full day of play.

In the afternoon session, the Americans tied three matches to earn their points, but in each of them, they led on the back nine. The U.S. was 1 up heading to 18 and lost, including on the second eagle in three holes from Jon Rahm.

Rahm, paired with Ryder Cup rookie Nicolai Hojgaard, played brilliantly down the stretch to tie the match against World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and five-time major winner Brooks Koepka. The duo birdied their last five holes and somehow couldn’t pull away because of Rahm’s heroics.

How did that make Koepka feel? He took a shot at Rahm.

2023 Ryder Cup
Team Europe reacts after Jon Rahm made a shot on the 18th hole during Thursday morning fourballs at the 44th Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club. (Photo: Adam Cairns-USA TODAY Sports)

“I mean, I think me and Scottie birdied, what did we say, 14, we birdied 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, and then lost by two. So yeah. I mean, I want to hit a board and pout just like Jon Rahm did. But, you know, it is what it is. Act like a child. But we’re adults. We move on.”

Let the fireworks begin!

What was the quote in reference to? Possibly when Rahm hit a sign with his club out of frustration at the U.S. Open. But there’s no telling, as Koepka isn’t one to mince words and will go after anyone, even his own teammates.

European captain Luke Donald isn’t concerned by Koepka’s comments.

“Jon was a big support system for Nicolai today, and to hit a big drive down 18 and hit it on the front of the green and make an eagle for a halve, that’s a lot of passion,” Donald said. “Jon is a passionate person, but I didn’t see him acting any other way.”

Rahm topped Koepka to win the Masters earlier this year, and Koepka bounced back winning at the PGA Championship a month later.

Here’s to hoping the two can battle it out again in the heat of the Ryder Cup this weekend.

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U.S. Ryder Cup team squanders opportunity to cut into deficit; Team Europe leads 6½-1½

Team USA failed to earn a full point in any match on Friday.

ROME — A tie has to feel like kissing your sister to the U.S. Ryder Cup team.

The Americans squandered opportunities to win three of the four matches in Friday afternoon’s fourball session, failing to win a single match on the first day of the 44th Ryder Cup, the first time that’s happened in Cup history, and digging themselves a big deficit.

After sweeping the morning foursome 4-0, the Europeans made three clutch putts at 18 to turn potential losses into ties. First, Viktor Hovland drained a 26-foot birdie putt to tie the first match of the session. In the next group, Jon Rahm drilled a 33-foot eagle putt to salvage a tie. Finally, Justin Rose buried a 9-foot birdie putt that capped off a comeback from 2 down with two holes to go. In the end, Team Europe jumped out to a 6½-1½ lead.

“One thing that we talked about a lot is just it’s not over till it’s over, and the boys did that, those three matches,” Matt Fitzpatrick said. “They all got something out of it when they could have easily gone the other way, and it just makes a big difference.”

Fitzpatrick almost singlehandedly won a full point in the only match that didn’t end in a tie. Entering the Ryder Cup with a chip on his shoulder, the Englishman showed his mettle in the biennial competition. In two previous Cups, he was winless in five matches. Not anymore.

Fitzpatrick put on a putting exhibition during Friday’s afternoon fourball alongside teammate Rory McIlroy. Fitzpatrick had yet to play a fourball match in his previous two Cup appearances; he made the most of his chance.

“You build it up to be this amazing thing that you wanted to be part of thinking that you’ll get a real good go at it, and obviously I never did, really,” he said. “So that’s obviously always something that’s sort of disappointing.”

Fitzpatrick and McIlroy dominated the team of Xander Schauffele and Collin Morikawa, winning 5 and 3. It was a dream start for European Captain Luke Donald.

“Historic day, but we want it to be an historic week, so the job is certainly not done,” he said. “We will all celebrate an amazing day, but we’ll be back tomorrow morning with the goal of trying to win tomorrow morning’s session. We’ll be getting our guys focused to be back in the saddle, so to speak. But what a day.”

Ryder Cup: Tournament hub | Photos

It took 79 holes for the United States to take a lead in a match at the 2023 Ryder Cup

Guess who?

To say it was a slow start at the 2023 Ryder Cup for the United States would be an understatement.

In the morning foursomes matches, Europe won every one, taking a controlling 4-0 lead into afternoon fourball. In fact, the Europeans dominated to the point where the United States never led in any of the morning matches.

Not until Justin Thomas, who many deemed a controversial captain’s pick, birdied the par-4 sixth hole in fourball did the United States finally take a lead in a match at Marco Simone Golf Club in Rome, Italy. Seems taking the guy who has made a name for dominating in team competitions could pay off after all.

The lead was short-lived, however. Viktor Hovland, playing with Tyrrell Hatton against Thomas and Jordan Spieth, threw a shot to a couple feet on the par-3 seventh and converted for birdie to tie the match back up.

However, the Europeans are in total control early. Last week at the Solheim Cup in Spain, the Americans were up 4-0 after the opening session and ended up tying the Europeans, who retained the cup.

We’ll see whether the American men can turn it around, but it has to happen quick.

Best of the best: Ryder Cup all-time points leaders for Europe, United States

Brush up on your Ryder Cup history with this list of all-time points leaders for Europe and the U.S.

Over its nearly 100-year history the Ryder Cup has featured some impressive performances from the world’s best players, especially since the competition switched to include all of Europe back in 1979.

From Nick Faldo and Arnold Palmer to Sergio Garcia and Tiger Woods, a handful of players have stood out with their play and find themselves on the all-time points list in the biennial bash.

Of the top 10, six are European players, but when it comes to the top 20 — which includes a handful of active players — the split is right down the middle at 10 a piece.

As the teams of 12 from both the United States and Europe prepare to square off in the next round of matches at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Italy this week, take a scroll through the all-time points winners in Ryder Cup history from both squads.

MORE: Everything you need to know for the 2023 Ryder Cup

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Europe sweeps United States in Friday morning foursomes at 2023 Ryder Cup

It was a historic start for the European side in Italy.

ROME – Team Europe came out swinging on Friday morning, sweeping all four foursomes matches in the first session of the 44th Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club. It marked the first time the Euros have grabbed a 4-0 lead in Ryder Cup history.

The leaderboard was bathed in blue early as Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton secured the first point in convincing fashion over world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns.

It was a dream start for Luke Donald’s Euro team, who opted to open with foursomes for the first time since 1993 with the goal of getting off to a fast start. The Euros did that and then some. Team Europe hadn’t won 3½ points or more in the opening sessions since 1969, and none of the matches were even close. None of the matches made it to the 18th hole.

“We can’t get complacent at all,” McIlroy said. “This is an unbelievably long American Team. Last week the American girls went up 4-0 in the first session there (at the Solheim Cup) and Europe were able to come back, so we are not taking anything for granted here. It’s a great start but we need to keep our foot on the pedal and keep winning points.”

 Here’s a match-by-match summary.