Tag: Jordan Spieth

Europe expands Ryder Cup lead over United States after Saturday foursomes thanks to historic match win

The Europeans are cruising through the Ryder Cup.

ROME – There was more blue on the board on Saturday morning.

Team Europe extended its lead in the 44th Ryder Cup to 9½- 2½ after Saturday morning’s foursomes session, winning three of the four matches. That included Norway’s Viktor Hovland and Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg trouncing the American team of Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka, 9 and 7, the worst loss in Ryder Cup history in any 18-hole match, regardless of format.

There was no let up in the European side after opening a five-point lead after the first day. They won three of four matches and seven of eight in the foursomes format. It ties the largest lead after three sessions since the Ryder Cup switched to the five-session format in 1963. (The U.S. led by seven in both 1967 and 1975.)

“Last night we talked about enjoying what we did yesterday but coming out and showing no mercy today,” McIlroy said. “Obviously the way Ludvig and Viktor started off and the way we started off, you know, that set the tone for the day again.”

It was a bloodbath for the Americans and for those fans who woke up early in hopes of seeing a valiant comeback, they were better off hitting the snooze as the Americans were thrown to the lions in Rome.

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

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.

Jordan Spieth welcomes baby Sophie in social media post

Congrats to the Spieths, who now can fill out their own foursome, and welcome, Jordan, to being a #GirlDad.

There was good reason why U.S. Ryder Cup member Jordan Spieth skipped Team USA’s scouting trip to Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Rome, Sept. 8-10. Spieth’s wife, Annie, was expecting the couple’s second child, and while trying to win the biennial match on European soil for the first time in 30 years is kind of a big deal to Spieth, no self-respecting father-to-be would want to be on the other side of the planet and risk missing the birth of their bundle of joy.

Good thing the three-time major winner didn’t make the trip otherwise he may have struggled getting back to Dallas, where he calls home, in time to be there to witness the birth of daughter Sophie on Sept. 12. (Sophie Spieth has a nice ring to it.)

She joins big brother Sammy, who was born on Nov. 14, 2021.

Jordan, 30, posted an announcement on social media that was short on details – no mention of weight or height – and included a photo of his daughter sucking on a pacifier in his arms. Congrats to the Spieths, who now can fill out their own foursome, and welcome, Jordan, to being a #GirlDad.

Meet the 12 players and captains representing Team USA at the 2023 Ryder Cup in Italy

Get to know the 12 players on Team USA for the 2023 Ryder Cup.

Ladies and gentlemen, meet Team USA.

After the conclusion of the 2023 BMW Championship the six automatic qualifiers for the U.S. team bound for Marco Simone Golf and Country Club and the 2023 Ryder Cup were confirmed. Following the Tour Championship, captain Zach Johnson announced his six captain’s picks that would join the team near Rome, Italy.

Of the 12 players on the roster, four will make their debut in the biennial event against the Europeans, who haven’t lost on home soil since 1993.

Get to know all 12 players and the captains who will represent the red, white and blue in the 44th playing of the Ryder Cup.

MORE: Check out Team USA’s Ryder Cup uniforms

Making the case for each potential U.S. Ryder Cup captain’s pick for Italy

Does Justin Thomas get the nod on past performances? Will Brooks Koepka or any other LIV players be selected?

Zach Johnson has some choices to make.

On Tuesday the U.S. Ryder Cup captain will make his six selections and complete the 12-player team bound for Marco Simone Golf and Country Club, Sept. 29-Oct. 1.

Locked in as automatic qualifiers are world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark, Open champion Brian Harman, Patrick Cantlay, Max Homa and Xander Schauffele.

But who will join them? Does Justin Thomas get the nod based on past performances? Will Brooks Koepka or any other LIV players be selected? How about a 43-year-old debutant in Lucas Glover?

Let’s make the case for the potential captain’s picks for the 2023 Ryder Cup.

A look back at every FedEx Cup Playoff champion, beginning with Tiger Woods

View all the former FedEx Cup Playoff champions, beginning with Tiger Woods in 2007.

The FedEx Cup Playoffs have gone through multiple format changes over the years, but one thing remains the same — a massive payout to the winner.

A total of $18 million goes to the winner of the PGA Tour’s season-long race. Only the top 30 players make their way to East Lake and are broken down into an aggregate scoring system that went into effect in 2019.

Since the FedEx Cup Playoffs began in 2007, 13 different champions have been crowned. Rory McIlroy leads the way with three FedEx Cups to his name, surpassing Tiger Woods’ record in 2019. The two all-time greats are the only players to claim multiple FedEx Cups.

Although the winner of the event has claimed an eight-figure prize since 2007, everyone who makes it to Atlanta goes home with a sizeable check in their back pocket.

Who will add their name to the list this year?

Jordan Spieth, Sepp Straka, Sahith Theegala ride FedEx Cup Playoffs rollercoaster

For some golfers, each birdie putt was a jolt of adrenaline while every bogey was a kick to the gut.

The season-ending Tour Championship features an exclusive field of the top-30 players on the FedEx Cup points list.

For those PGA Tour golfers hugging that top-30 cutline this week at the BMW Championship, getting to the season-finale at East Lake was stressful, with each birdie putt providing a jolt of adrenaline and every bogey feeling like a kick to the gut.

Sunday was once again a rollercoaster of emotions for those players angling for one of those coveted tee times at the 2023 Tour Championship, where the winning prize is $18 million in bonus money.

It made for a fascinating few hours of television on CBS.

Fans enjoyed watching Scottie Scheffler, Viktor Hovland, Matt Fitzpatrick and Max Homa battle for the win while also keeping tabs on the likes of Jordan Spieth, Justin Rose, Sahith Theegala and Sepp Straka, who were all battling to extend their seasons.

Here’s a closer look at the race to East Lake, where ultimately just one golfer played his way into the top 30 but several others walked a tightrope over the final 18 holes at Olympia Fields outside Chicago.

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These 10 Americans can automatically qualify for Ryder Cup at BMW Championship

Lots to keep an eye on this weekend.

There’s a lot on the line this week outside of Chicago.

Not only are the top 50 battling for the BMW Championship title and an improved starting position at next week’s Tour Championship, but several Americans golfers are fighting for one of the three available automatic qualifying spots for the upcoming Ryder Cup.

Scottie Scheffler, Wyndham Clark and Patrick Cantlay are already on the roster, but the final three automatic spots, currently held by Brian Harman, Brooks Koepka and Max Homa, are up for grabs and those three could all slide out of the top six come Sunday night.

Here are some possible scenarios that could unfold at Olympia Fields’ North Course and how they would affect which players walk off the course happy Sunday evening when the automatic qualifiers become official.

Note: Scenarios courtesy of PGATour.com

Sahith Theegala, Justin Rose just outside the top 30 for Tour Championship

It’s crunch time near the Windy City.

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It’s crunch time near the Windy City.

The second leg of the FedEx Cup Playoffs is the 2023 BMW Championship this week at Olympia Fields Country Club near Chicago, with the top 50 from last week’s field of 70 having advanced.

Sunday night, there will be but 30 golfers moving on to the 2023 Tour Championship, the season finale at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta.

All 50 players who reached the BMW earned a guaranteed spot in the 2024 signature events, but they’re also eyeing a huge potential payday next week, as the 2023 FedEx Cup champion will bag $18 million in bonus money.

Guys like Jon Rahm, Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy are all in prime position to advance but there’s a few golfers right near the top-30 cutline who have to make sure they don’t slip, just as there are some who need to make a move in the upward direction.

Here’s a look at Nos. 26-30, trying to hold serve, and those in Nos. 31-35, who need a big week. The PGA Tour’s projected standings will be updated during play starting Thursday and finalized Sunday night for next week.

Position Golfer
26 Tyrrell Hatton
27 Jordan Spieth
28 Sungjae Im
29 Chris Kirk
30 Sam Burns
31 Sahith Theegala
32 Justin Rose
33 Kurt Kitayama
34
Denny McCarthy
35 Seamus Power

The Tour Championship will once again use the Starting Strokes format, with the golfer in the top slot starting at 10 under, the No. 2 guy will be at 8 under and so on. Golfers in the 26th through 30th slots next week will start at even par.

The winner takes home $18 million. Last place is good for $500,000.

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