Tag: Team Europe

First point on the board for Europe? Inspiring Ryder Cup team video highlights rarity of the experience.

European Ryder Cup Captain Padraig Harrington is using this video to pump up his team. Take a look.

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HAVEN, Wisc. – Team Europe might as well have just scored the first point of Ryder Cup week with its hype video.

European Ryder Cup captain Padraig Harrington showed his team a 2 minute, 33 second video titled, “We’re the 164,” that gave goose bumps to his team and has since been posted to social media.

There have been 5,780 people who have climbed Mount Everest, 570 have been to space, 445 won the World Cup, 353 European track and field Olympic gold medalists, and 225 men who have won a major. Only 164 men have had the privilege to wear the Team Europe crest in Ryder Cup competition.

The point being, as Lee Westwood, put it, “You have a far greater chance of going into space or climbing Mount Everest than you have representing Europe in the Ryder Cup.”

“When you sort of break it down like that, it’s a pretty small group and it’s pretty cool,” said Rory McIlroy. “That’s a pretty small group of players. I’m No. 144; I think Lee (Westwood, who made his debut in 1997) is No. 118. But then you just look at all the players before you, and you look at Bernd Wiesberger who’s making his debut this year who’s No. 164.”

In the video, numerous former European Ryder Cup stalwarts recite their numbers from Tony Jacklin (No. 64) to Sam Torrance (No. 94) to Darren Clarke (No. 115).

“It was very powerful. I didn’t know my number,” said Sergio Garcia, who is No. 120. “I’ve always known that being a part of the Ryder Cup team is very difficult, but I didn’t know that only that little amount of players have made it. So that showed you how difficult it really is.

“That’s why every time I’m a part of a team or the rest of our teammates, that’s why we give it the respect that it deserves, because it’s so difficult to be a part of it. It’s an honor, and we treat it like that.”

The video ends with the faces of nine former captains saying, “Make it count.”

If you’re a fan of Team Europe, your goosebumps have goosebumps.

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Ryder Cup: Loro Piana is outfitting Team Europe, a collaboration with Pádraig Harrington

Team Europe will be wearing Loro Piana at the Ryder Cup at Whistling Straights in collaboration with team captain Pádraig Harrington.

Team Europe will be playing in uniforms from Loro Piana at the Ryder Cup at Whistling Straights. The collection was in collaboration with team captain Pádraig Harrington, who will be alongside the team through all of its official engagements in style, both on and off the course.

Loro Piana prides itself as a company on its attention to detail and investment into research in curating golf clothing. This collection is sophisticated in its forms, colors and wearability. The apparel features waterproof items for inclement weather and uses a three-layer technique in its fabric.

The outer layer is a Wind microfibre fabric, and the waterproof central membrane is a Storm System fabric, which is a treatment invented in 1994 to transform many types of fabrics into water and wind-resistant fabrics. All seams and zippers are thermal-sealed.

For knitwear, Loro Piana uses super-fine wool, which is lightweight and breathable. This year, the wool has been elasticized to complement the players’ swings and movements. Loro Piana’s pants come in a soft wool and silk combination. The polo shirts come in a technical, breathable jersey made to handle a variety of climates.

“As captain, I want the players to feel as comfortable as possible throughout the week of the Ryder Cup, and the Loro Piana clothing is a key part of that,” Harrington said.

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Europe builds big lead, holds on to win Solheim Cup over the U.S.

Make it two in a row for Europe over the Americans in the Solheim Cup. But it was not without some drama.

Make it two in a row for Europe over the Americans in the Solheim Cup. But it was not without some drama.

Europe held a 9-7 lead heading into Monday’s singles matches and kept the momentum going by winning the first 3 ½ points of the day.

Leona Maguire struck first with a 5-and-4 win over Jennifer Kupcho. Maguire, the first Irishwoman to play in the event, went 4-0-1 during the week.

Madelene Sagstrom of Sweden then closed out Ally Ewing, 3 and 2, to give the Europeans an 11-7 lead. Moments later, France’s Celine Boutier knocked out Mina Harigae, 5 and 4, giving the Europeans 12 points, two shy of the 14 they needed to retain the cup.

Anna Nordqvist of Sweden, just 15 days removed from winning her third major at the AIG Women’s British Open, earned a half point in her match against Lexi Thompson, making the score 12 ½-7 ½.

The U.S. finally got on the board when Nelly Korda defeated England’s Georgia Hall, 1 up, cutting the European lead to 12 ½-8 ½.

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Austin Ernst earned a half-point for the U.S. in her match against Nanna Koerstz Madsen, making it 13-9, and leaving Europe just a point away from retaining cup.

Megan Khang then claimed a 3-and-2 win over Germany’s Sophia Popov to cut the U.S. deficit to 13-10.

Brittany Altomare then knocked out Spain’s Carlota Ciganda, 2 and 1, tightening things even further to 13-11.

Lizette Salas and Matilda Castren went to the 18th tied. Castren hit an amazing shot from the sand to set up a par putt, which she made to give the Europeans the crucial 14th point they needed to retain the cup.

SOLHEIM CUP: Monday singles matches results

Catriona Matthew, who led Europe to 14 ½ to 13 ½ win in 2019 at Gleneagles in Scotland, makes it two wins in row as captain. This is also the second time since the event started in 1990 that Europe won on U.S. soil. The first came in 2013 in Colorado.

The 2023 matches will be held in Spain for the first time, just one week ahead of the Ryder Cup’s first-ever stop in Rome.

In 2024, the Solheim Cup returns to the U.S. while shifting back to even years. The dates and location will be announced at a later date.

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Europe jumps out to three-point lead at Solheim Cup after Korda sisters lose early

The morning foursomes session ended in Europe’s favor. Now check out what’s on tap for Saturday afternoon fourballs.

TOLEDO, Ohio – For a morning that felt close until the finish, it certainly ended lopsided. Europe leads by three points going into afternoon four-balls at the Solheim Cup, with all four foursomes matches going to the 18th hole. No pairing led by more than 2 up throughout the session.

Anna Nordqvist, the recent AIG Women’s British Open winner, hit the opening tee shot at the Inverness Club in front of a horseshoe arena that was jam-packed with American fans. The reliable Swede went out with rookie Matilda Castren and set the pace for the Europeans, putting the first point on the board against Danielle Kang and Austin Ernst.

“I’m really proud of Matilda to go out there as a rookie and just be fearless,” said Nordqvist.

“She putted really well today and kept us in play.”

World No. 1 Nelly Korda and sister Jessica were unbeatable in this format in 2019, crushing opponents by wide margins. But the feisty pairing of veteran Mel Reid and rookie Leona Maguire took the early lead on the fourth hole and never relinquished, with Maguire knocking in testy par putts until the last to give Europe the 1-up victory.

After Jessica pitched in for birdie on the 13th, it looked like the Kordas might make a late charge. But the Europeans didn’t give them any windows.

“We couldn’t get into a rhythm at the start,” said Jessica. “It’s a tough golf course, and I think you can see that playing it. Not a lot of birdies to have. We just couldn’t get into a groove. It’s just tough, but we came back and gave it our best.

“But Leona made everything coming in, and it’s tough to kind of do anything when they make no mistakes. I don’t even think they made like a team bogey.”

Charley Hull has never lost in foursomes and kept that streak alive with partner Emily Pedersen. The pair came roaring back against Lexi Thompson and Brittany Altomare, winning three of the last four holes to clinch the full point.

“I actually like being – not cheered against – but hearing the ‘USA’ ones because it makes you want to win more,” said Hull, who is now 5-0-1 in the format.

Celine Boutier and Georgia Hall went 3-0 together at Gleneagles and looked in danger of losing their first match before things started to shift late. Ally Ewing missed a short par putt on the 18th to halve the match. The Americans had led since the first hole.

Though Team USA players find themselves down early, it is a familiar position as they haven’t won a Day 1 foursomes session since 2007.

Jessica Korda and Kang are among those who will sit in the afternoon.

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Overall score – Europe 3.5, USA .5

Saturday foursomes results – Europe 3.5, USA .5

Matilda Castren/Anna Nordqvist (EUR) def. Austin Ernst/Danielle Kang (USA), 1 up

Celine Boutier/Georgia Hall (EUR) tied with Ally Ewing/Austin Ernst (USA)

Leona Maguire/Mel Reid (EUR) def. Nelly Korda/Jessica Korda (USA), 1 up

Charley Hull/Emily K. Pedersen (EUR) def. Brittany Altomare/Lexi Thompson, 1 up

Saturday fourball pairings (all times Eastern)

12:35 p.m. – Nanna Koerstz Madsen and Madelene Sagstrom (EUR) vs. Nelly Korda and Ally Ewing (USA)

12:50 p.m. – Carlota Ciganda and Sophia Popov (EUR) vs. Jennifer Kupcho and Lizette Salas (USA)

1:05 p.m. – Anna Nordqvist and Matilda Castren (EUR) vs. Lexi Thompson and Mina Harigae (USA)

1:20 p.m. – Georgia Hall and Leona Maguire (EUR) vs. Yealimi Noh and Brittany Altomare (USA)

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European captain Padraig Harrington: No fans, no Ryder Cup

Ryder Cup veteran and 2020 European captain Padraig Harrington doesn’t think the event should be played without fans.

Remember the Rory McIlroy vs. Patrick Reed match from the 2016 Ryder Cup at Hazeltine?

It was an electric atmosphere, one in which you could feel the emotion of the players and the spectators through the TV.

Now, imagine that match without fans.

“Nobody wants to see the Ryder Cup played without the fans being there,” said 2020 European captain Padraig Harrington on BBC Radio. “There’s no doubt that it makes the tournament so much better. I think the common consensus now is the Ryder Cup will not be played unless the fans are there.”

“Non-golfers and golfers around the world watch the Ryder Cup because of the tension that’s created by the spectators,” he added.

The 2020 event is still slated for September 25-27 at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin, one week after the U.S. Open in golf’s revised schedule. The three-time major champion and six-time member of Team Europe also said discussions with Ryder Cup organizers about postponing the event took place before the plan was set in motion to keep its slot on the fall schedule.

Harrington still hopes the Europeans get the chance to defend their title later this year and he knows the joy the event will bring. That said, he also knows there’s a bigger picture to be seen and “there are bigger things, too, than the Ryder Cup.”

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