Tag: Whistling Straits

Is Kohler’s new ‘championship’ course near Whistling Straits being groomed for majors? It’s doubtful.

Designed by late Straits architect Pete Dye, Kohler intends this to be one of the world’s best.

SHEBOYGAN, Wisconsin — Following the Ryder Cup, Whistling Straits owner Kohler Co. has no other major tournaments scheduled at its Sheboygan County golf courses — and a new Kohler course proposed in Sheboygan likely won’t host such events, the company told The Sheboygan Press.

Like Whistling Straits, where the U.S. trounced Europe last week in what Herbert V. Kohler Jr. has described as “the granddaddy of all golf tournaments,” Kohler’s proposed new course is on the Lake Michigan shoreline and was designed by late Straits architect Pete Dye to be one of the world’s best — often described by Kohler as a “championship” course.

But while Whistling Straits was built with the intention of courting major tournaments, the new course would not be, the company said.

“It is our expectation there will not be any large-scale major golf tournaments on the site,” said Dirk Willis, vice president of golf, landscape and retail for Kohler Hospitality, in a statement.

Local officials who spoke to The Sheboygan Press say that, from the beginning, Kohler representatives said the company had no plans to host major championships at the proposed course. But people from elected officials to concerned residents questioned whether that meant Kohler had ruled them out, and Dye himself had speculated that it might host majors.

Whistling Straits has hosted three PGA Championships and a U.S. Senior Open in addition to last week’s Ryder Cup, and Blackwolf Run, Kohler’s nearby golf course complex, has hosted two U.S. Women’s Opens.

The proposed new course, after years of legal challenges, is still not approved. Willis first said in a statement to the Press last week that, if it gets approval, there “will not be any major tournaments on the site” of the new course, later clarifying that the new course has an intimate design that isn’t as well suited for major tournaments as Kohler’s other courses.

[listicle id=778118926]

Kohler’s hopes for majors have been unclear in official documents

The chair of the Town of Wilson board, John Ehmann, said that whether the course would host major championships was “a question (the board) asked more than once” when Kohler was first applying for a conditional use permit, before the city of Sheboygan annexed the land from the town.

“Their standard reply was, they had no plans to hold major tournaments. It was obviously in their best interest to reply that way, because then they did not have to address traffic and congestion concerns that the town would have had as a part of the permitting process,” Ehmann said.

But other statements portrayed the course as angling for a U.S. Open and other top events.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported in 2015 that Dye (who died in January 2020) said the course could host major championships. And after an interview with Herbert V. Kohler Jr., executive chairman of Kohler, Wisconsin Golf reported in 2019 that the course could be pitched to the United States Golf Association as a tournament venue in the future.

The Department of Natural Resources’ updated draft environmental impact statement for the course in November 2017 said it was unknown what special events would be held at the course, but it was anticipated that the course “may” host tournaments including the PGA Championship, U.S. Senior Open, the Ryder Cup and the U.S. Women’s Open.

[vertical-gallery id=778162894]

The final EIS in 2018 said, “Kohler has stated that it hopes that the course will be a site for future major professional golf championship events.”

In response, local officials and residents opposed to the course have worried it would be too small for the crowds and traffic that Kohler’s other courses have accommodated. People also raised concerns about the potential environmental impacts of major tournaments.

An extensive permitting process and a half-dozen court challenges have meant Kohler has had many chances to officially describe its ambitions for the course, but it has made little mention of major tournaments, instead describing the course as a “championship” course that Kohler hopes to make into one of the world’s top 50.

A “championship” course is a subjective label with no agreed-upon meaning in the golf world. Company representatives said that a golf course can be world-ranked and championship-level without hosting a major championship. It’s ultimately up to golf associations such as the USGA and PGA of America to decide which courses host major championships, the company said.

“Many public and private top-ranked golf courses have not hosted major tournaments, and that does not diminish their quality and rankings among golf enthusiasts,” Willis said in a statement.

Course still faces environmental objections, legal hurdles

Herbert Kohler Jr., 82, made it his mission to bring championship golf to Wisconsin. And one of his signature courses — Whistling Straits — hosted the 43rd Ryder Cup.

The proposed course is currently mired in ongoing lawsuits after surviving other challenges — some of them similar to those faced by Whistling Straits, and others unique to the new course.

In 1995, DNR officials were reluctant to approve wetland permits for the construction of Whistling Straits. The project’s DNR water regulation specialist declined to sign the permit, and her boss signed the permit but told reporters it was a “tough decision” ultimately swayed by Kohler’s economic arguments, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported in 1996.

Similarly, environmental advocates challenged the wetland permit for the proposed new course

Kohler applied to fill 3.7 acres of wetlands between the Black River and Lake Michigan for the proposed course in 2017. Six months later, the DNR approved the permit, but then Friends of the Black River Forest — a local nonprofit with the mission to preserve the Black River area — challenged the decision.

Two former DNR employees have said the wetland permit did not meet state standards and, according to court documents, the DNR received over 1,400 total pages of public comments on the issue. In 2019, an administrative law judge overturned the wetland permit. Kohler has sued, seeking to reinstate the permit, a case still open in the Wisconsin Court of Appeals.

Other lawsuits and processes that have delayed construction of the proposed course include:

  • Storm water permit. The Friends challenged the DNR’s approval of a storm water permit, a case now moving forward in Sheboygan County circuit courts.
  • Land swap. Kohler’s proposal included the use 4.6 acres of state-owned land in Kohler-Andrae State Park and an easement over another nearly 2 acres, and the Friends challenged the legality of DNR’s plan to approve a land swap with the company, a case now in the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
  • Historic resources report. Before the golf course can be constructed, the state historical society must approve a report on limiting damage to historic resources on the property. Researchers are still cataloging around 38,000 historic and 214,000 prehistoric artifacts found on the property from Native Americans who lived in the region between 800 to 2,500 years ago, as reported by Wisconsin Watch.
  • Conditional use permit. The land eyed for the new golf course was originally in the Town of Wilson, but Sheboygan successfully annexed the land and approved the golf course in 2020 — after a lawsuit from the Town of Wilson that went to the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
  • The course layout is not suited to major tournaments, Kohler says
    The 43rd Ryder Cup brought tens of thousands of golf fans each day to Whistling Straits, which owner Kohler Co. says was designed and built to accommodate such events, unlike a new course proposed in Sheboygan.

When asked why the proposed course will not host majors, Kohler Co. said that major tournaments require a lot of resources and amenities beyond a quality golf course experience.

Tournaments require temporary infrastructure including grandstands, hospitality stands, a merchandise shop, food vendors and parking.

“Our proposed golf course is intimate and cloaked with trees, whereas our other courses were built to host large-scale major golf tournaments,” Willis said.

As of March 2017, the layout of Kohler’s proposed golf course, which was designed by late course architect Pete Dye with the ambition of making it one of the world’s best.

Former Sheboygan mayor Mike Vandersteen similarly said that the proposed course’s limited space for traffic and crowds is one reason it was never his impression that there would be major tournament events there.

“It was going to be a minimalist course, which means that if you weren’t on the green, you were many times on some really rough stuff,” Vandersteen said.

Willis also said that professional golfers today hit the ball much farther than in the past, which lengthy courses like Whistling Straits and Blackwolf Run can better accommodate.

Whistling Straits, a 560-acre property, has two 18-hole golf courses and other amenities including a 13,000-square-foot clubhouse. It played nearly 7,400 yards for the Ryder Cup last week.

The new proposed course, with only one 18-hole course, would sit on slightly less than half of that space, nearly 250 acres, but also include an up-to-16,000-square foot clubhouse with a 9,000-square-foot footprint, a 22,000-square-foot maintenance building, an observation tower, an irrigation pond, golf cart paths and roads.

As of Wednesday afternoon, a Kohler spokesperson hadn’t responded to a question about the new course’s yardage.

Reach Maya Hilty at 920-400-7485 or MHilty@sheboygan.gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @maya_hilty.

Ryder Cup postmortem: How the U.S. built a juggernaut

The U.S. welcomed its Ryder Cup rookies, and they didn’t disappoint in dispatching a more experienced European squad.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01es6rjnsp3c84zkm6 player_id=01evcfxp4q8949fs1e image=https://golfweek.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

HAVEN, Wisc. – Winning cures everything.

Team USA dominated the 43rd Ryder Cup like never before, winning 19-9. Call it the Whipping at Whistling Straits.

U.S. Ryder Cup captain Steve Stricker, a Wisconsin native, can drink Spotted Cow free for life, or until the cows come home, after this resounding victory in America’s heartland. The only thing Stricker seemingly did wrong all week was admit to being a Chicago Bears fan during his speech at the opening ceremony.

America’s youth won out over Europe’s experience. The six U.S. Ryder Cup rookies combined to go 14-4-3.

“It seems like the younger they are, the better they play,” said U.S. assistant captain Davis Love III.

“They didn’t play like they were rookies,” said Dustin Johnson, the team’s veteran presence at age 37, who won a team-best five matches. “They stepped up to the plate and they all wanted it. And like Xander and all of us have all said all week, the one thing we all have in common is we all hate to lose. And so that’s how we came together, and we all played like it.”

Did they ever. It was the first time in 44 years that the U.S didn’t lose any of the five sessions. On Sunday the Americans obeyed the text message of Tiger Woods, who told them to “step on their necks.”

Ryder Cup 2021
Team USA player Patrick Cantlay reacts on the sixth green during Day 3 singles for the 43rd Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits. (Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports)

Patrick Cantlay took it to heart. “I woke up this morning and I was trying to tell the guys, ‘Let’s get to 20 points,’ because this is going to be the next era of Ryder Cup team for the U.S. side,” he said. “I want to send a message. Everyone has that killer instinct, and we are going to bring that to future Cups.”

The U.S victory was born in arguably the team’s lowest moment, when it was blown out in Scotland in 2014. Phil Mickelson publicly aired the team’s dirty laundry during its media session following the defeat and hung out U.S. captain Tom Watson to dry. But something good came from that day – a new beginning and commitment to change the culture.

“They realized they had to do something different,” Love said. “The PGA said, We’ll spend money on stats guys. We’ll spend money on NetJets to fly you guys in if you want to play practice rounds. … If we go in there and say this week we saw this and we need this for next time, we’re gonna get it. The Phil thing was the boiling-over point. It had been simmering for a while. Phil was the only one with enough nerve to say it. Now, we could have said that in the debriefing but it would not have been as impactful.”

The U.S. won in 2016, but the loss in Paris two years later meant the pressure was on America to hold serve. Otherwise it might’ve been back to the drawing board, given the Euros had won four of five meetings and nine of the last 12.

Ryder Cup 2021
Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka smile during the opening ceremony for the 43rd Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits in Haven, Wisconsin. (Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

Talent and depth beat potential dysfunction. The American team’s powerhouse lineup included eight of the top 10 players in the world, the FedEx Cup champion and an Olympic gold medalist. Despite concerns the ongoing beef between Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka would lead to built-in social distancing, the Americans were installed as a 2-to-1 betting favorite and made it sound as if instead of beating each others’ brains out playing pingpong in their team room, they sat around holding hands and singing Kumbaya.

“Even though we are competitors, we can all be friends and have unity,” DeChambeau said.

COVID-19 travel restrictions also meant the U.S. had an unprecedented home-field advantage, turning Whistling Straits into a hostile environment that one BBC Live commentator described as a “Cauldron of hate.” Whistling Straits, with its wide fairways and lack of rough, was a perfect venue for the Team USA bashers who dominated the par 5s.

“It seems the way the Ryder Cup is going, the home team certainly has an advantage every time that we play this thing. That was apparent in Paris a couple years ago. I think it was pretty apparent this week, as well,” said Europe’s Rory McIlroy, who went 1-3-0 at Whistling Straits. “You go back to Hazeltine, same sort of thing. This is the pattern that we are on.”

Europe captain Padraig Harrington hamstrung his team by limiting his captain’s choices to three compared to Stricker’s six. He could’ve played Shane Lowry and Tommy Fleetwood more, and he was done in by getting nothing out of McIlroy and Ian Poulter, the team’s talisman, until it was too late. But Harrington said there’s no need for a longer postmortem or to revamp the team’s qualification system.

“In general it’s been working. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” he said. “The core of the European team is strong and we don’t have to change it.”

Indeed, Europe has a strong foundation with World No. 1 Jon Rahm, McIlroy and rookie Viktor Hovland, who should only get better in the years to come.

“The heart of this team will be here for a few more years for sure,” Harrington said. “They haven’t got to their peaks yet, so we should see some strength going forward.”

Ryder Cup 2021
Team Europe player Viktor Hovland lines up a putt on the fourth green during Day 2 foursomes for the 43rd Ryder Cup golf competition at Whistling Straits. (Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports)

But while the U.S. made a seamless transition to a younger nucleus that is built for the next decade, Europe hoped for heroics one more time from its winning core. But that tank was empty – those players went 5-9 over three days and it could’ve been worse if not for Sergio Garcia, who earned three points alongside Rahm. This was a statement win for Team USA, and not to diminish its achievement, you’re supposed to win at home. The real validation of the Americans’ new formula for success is to win on the road for the first time since 1993 when the 44th Cup is held in Rome at Marco Simone Golf Club in 2023. When asked if that’s the next step, Xander Schauffele, one of America’s impressive rookies, balked at looking ahead.

“I’m sorry to burst your bubble, but we are just going to enjoy now,” he said. “You’re thinking way too far ahead of us, for me, personally, so we’re going to enjoy this one for now and collect ourselves shortly after.”

But Jordan Spieth, a two-time loser overseas in 2014 and 2018, compared the romp to a Presidents Cup and already, to borrow a phrase from New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick, was on to Italy.

“I think that this is unfinished business,” he said. “I think it was a massive stepping stone for this team and the group that we have here that have really known each other since almost back to grade school to continue to try to work hard to be on these teams to go over there.

“It’s one thing to win it over here and it is a lot easier to do so, and it is harder to win over there. If we play like we did this week, the score will look the same over there in a couple years, and that’s what we’re here for.”

Them some fightin’ words. The U.S. ushered in a new generation this week; Europe was outplayed and outputted, but it has two years to find replacements for its old guard – players along the lines of Bob McIntyre, Guido Migliozzi, Thomas Pieters and Sam Horsfield will have something to say about that. Rome is officially on the clock and the next Ryder Cup can’t come soon enough.

O Captain! my Captain: Who’s next in line to lead U.S. and European Ryder Cup teams in 2023? It’s never too early to discuss.

It’s never too early to begin speculating on who will assume the top job and lead Team USA and Europe at the 44th Ryder Cup in Rome.

HAVEN, Wisc. – O, Captain! my captain!

Who’s on tap to take the baton and lead the respective 12-man sides in 2023 in Rome at Marco Simone Golf Club?

NBC’s Paul Azinger, who captained the victorious U.S. side in 2008, suggested a return engagement for America’s wining captain after a dominant 19-9 win at Whistling Straits.

 “If the PGA of America is serious about winning Ryder Cups, they might want to consider giving Steve Stricker another shot at this,” he said.

During the winning team’s press conference, Stricker was asked if he would accept the task. His team members already have signed off.

“100 percent,” said Dustin Johnson, who went 5-0 in Wisconsin.

“That’a a yes from us. To be fair, in 2017 it was a very similar position as far as the dominance goes. Strick has a pretty good record,” said Jordan Spieth, referring to Stricker’s turn as U.S. Presidents Cup captain and leading the Americans to a 19-11 victory at Liberty National.

“I think Presidents Cup was a record,” Tony Finau said. (It was the most lopsided result since the biennial competition switched to 30 total points).

But Stricker was quick to shoot down the prospect of a second tour of duty. “I don’t think it’s going to happen. It’s mapped out and there’s guys in positions to be the next captains,” he said. “It was an unbelievable experience, don’t get me wrong; I’m glad it’s over.”

Later, when the topic was raised again, he added, “I told my wife at the start of the week, ‘Can you believe Davis Love did two of these things?’ ”

U.S. assistant captain Zach Johnson greets European captain Padraig Harrington on the first tee at Whistling Straits. (Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports)

The leading candidate to lead the U.S. side in 2023 is Zach Johnson, who served as an assistant captain again this year and has been groomed for the role. Phil Mickelson is considered a shoo-in for the 2025 Cup at Bethpage Black. Tiger Woods, who led the Americans to victory at the Presidents Cup in 2019, should have his pick of the litter down the road.

What of the Europeans? Englishman Lee Westwood, who tied Nick Faldo by playing in his 11th Ryder Cup, already has raised his hand for the job of replacing Padraig Harrington.

“I’m assuming I’ll get 3-4 months to think about,” Westwood said Sunday evening. “People keep coming up and saying you’re going to be the captain in Rome. I’d prefer to play. I don’t want to let go yet. But father time is not kind.”

Ian Poulter is presumed to be in line for 2025, and Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell could get his home game at Adare Manor in 2027 much like Stricker getting to play host in his native Wisconsin.

“It’s a massive honor and something I want to do,” Westwood said. “Why wouldn’t you?”

Schupak: Bryson DeChambeau finally enjoys the one thing he craves at the 43rd Ryder Cup

Bryson DeChambeau leaned into being on Team USA and enjoyed the lovefest with the fans like never before.

HAVEN, Wis. – Bryson DeChambeau entered the week as a huge question mark. He ended it doused in champagne, a key contributor in Team USA’s resounding 19-9 victory over Europe, and hugging it out with Brooks Koepka. Yes, that really happened.

“It was just the coolest experience I’ve ever had in golf,” he said. “I don’t know how else to say it.”

DeChambeau hadn’t talked to the media in over a month and reportedly had agreed to put his differences with Koepka behind for the good of the team, but would the Mad Scientist have the right chemistry with the rest of his team?

The 43rd Ryder Cup may go down as a turning point in DeChambeau’s career. He leaned into being a member of Team USA and enjoyed the lovefest with the fans like never before.

Credit goes to U.S. team captain Steve Stricker, who defused the running feud between DeChambeau and Koepka, and realized the potential chemistry that could exist between DeChambeau and Scottie Scheffler, one of his six captain’s picks.

RYDER CUP: How they fared | Sunday singles | Photos

“We thought he’d be a very good fit with Bryson,” Stricker said. “That was a key component with me to pick him and pair him up with Bryson.”

It was an inspired decision. Together in two Four-Ball matches, they went 1-0-1 and on Friday DeChambeau belted one of the most memorable shots of the matches, a tee shot that covered a lake and traveled 417 yards, leaving him just 72 yards to the 589-par 5. Even Dustin Johnson was impressed.

“I just want to know what it feels like to fly one 400 on No. 5,” he said interrupting the questioning during the winning team’s press conference.

“How did it feel, Scottie, watching your guy sail it at the green on 5?” Tony Finau wondered.

“I’m sure there’s some good memes of his direction and my direction, and it’s certainly nice to have on my team than playing against it this week, that’s for sure,” Scheffler said.

When the original question that Johnson interrupted was asked specifically to DeChambeau, he said, “Why did you single me out? We have plenty of rookies.”

“Because you haven’t been in media in a long time,” Jordan Spieth cracked.

DeChambeau laughed at himself and gave Spieth a hi-five. There may have been no better example that DeChambeau was accepted as one of the guys than being needled by Spieth.

Ryder Cup 2021
Ryder Cup spectators cheer on Team USA’s Scottie Scheffler and Bryson DeChambeau on the 15th green during Day 2 Four-balls for the 43rd Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits. Photo by Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports

Then DeChambeau turned serious.

“This is possibly way better than any tournament I’ve won in my entire life, the group of people, the collective game of golf, it’s so much bigger than just a singular tournament,” he said. “It’s about people coming together and doing something special for the game of golf. And I couldn’t be more proud of Captain Strick and everybody putting their hearts out and making it the coolest experience I’ve ever had in my golf career.”

That included an impressive 3-and-2 victory over Spain’s Sergio Garcia, who last lost a singles match against Anthony Kim in 2008.

“I did love beating him. It was amazing,” DeChambeau said. “That statement on No. 1 was pretty special.”

Indeed, it was. DeChambeau stepped to the first tee and whipped the crowd into a frenzy with his moon-shot 354-yard drive that landed on the green and then drained the 41-foot eagle putt.

“That was a great start that pumped me up for the rest of the round,” he said. “This golf course does suit me pretty well, but I was fortunate to hit a couple great wedge shots and a couple good bombs out there.”

After the last several months of being heckled with calls of “Brooksie,” that bordered on bullying, he was beloved. He was simply one of the 12 for Team USA and the partisan crowd adored him. In fact, given his 2-0-1 record compared to Koepka’s 2-2 mark, they loved DeChambeau even more.

“I fed off every single shot. They were electric,” he said. “It’s an atmosphere you don’t get very often but one that you can feed off when you do.”

DeChambeau, ever the entertainer, played to the crowd. At the drivable par-4 sixth hole, he switched from driver to a fairway wood. This didn’t sit well with the fans who came to see the strong man swing for the fences. He turned to them and said, “Don’t worry, guys. I’m still going for the green, calm down!” Laughter ensued.

And then there was Koepka. They staged an awkward conversation on the practice tee that was posted on social media as if to say they were now bosoms buddies. While we’ll never know if they did a trust fall together in the team room as Stricker and his merry band of 12 isn’t about to share much about what happens behind closed doors, The Captain did disclose that Koepka and DeChambeau wanted to play with each other.

“That’s how close this team is,” Stricker said, noting that he considered their differences to be media drive. “That to me was big. I didn’t plan on putting them together even after they said that. We talked about it a lot, myself and the assistant captains.”

So why did he ultimately decide against giving the people what they wanted? “I didn’t want that story to be bigger than the real story, and that’s 12 guys,” he said.

But it’s been the story that refuses to die, so, leave it to Justin Thomas to (hopefully) put an end to this played-out sideshow. Thomas called for them to hug it out at the end of Team USA’s winner’s press conference as his teammates sang, ‘Why can’t we be friends?’

They patted each other on the back. DeChambeau smile was as big as the lake he cleared on the fifth hole Friday. Is the feud officially dead? Only time will tell, but for one week DeChambeau had the one thing he craves and can’t control: he just wants to be loved – by fans, by media and most of all by his fellow competitors.

It wasn’t hard to see why the winner of eight tournaments including the U.S. Open would say this was the best week of his professional life.

It most certainly was.

[vertical-gallery id=778161837]

[lawrence-related id=778163402,778163460,778163428,778163381]

Ryder Cup: How each United States, European golfer fared at Whistling Straits

The final tally at Whistling Straits was 19-9, the largest margin of victory since 1979.

The U.S. team demolished the European squad at the 43rd Ryder Cup, winning by a margin of 19-9, earning the most points since the event went to its current format.

Dustin Johnson led the way for the Americans. He arrived at Whistling Straits with a career 7-9 Ryder Cup mark but won all five of his matches this week, becoming the first American since Larry Nelson in 1979 to go 5-0-0.

Three American Ryder Cup rookies—Collin Morikawa, Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele all won three times during the week. Fellow rookie Scottie Scheffler also went unbeaten, winning twice while earning a tie.

Ryder Cup: Scores | Sunday singles breakdowns

Sunday singles results

U.S.

Golfer Record at Whistling Straits Record all-time
Dustin Johnson 5-0-0 12-9-0
Collin Morikawa 3-0-1 3-0-1
Patrick Cantlay 3-0-1 3-0-1
Xander Schauffele 3-1-0 3-1-0
Scottie Scheffler 2-0-1 2-0-1
Bryson DeChambeau 2-0-1 2-3-1
Justin Thomas 2-1-1 6-2-1
Daniel Berger 2-1-0 2-1-0
Brooks Koepka 2-2-0 6-5-1
Harris English 1-1-1 1-1-1
Jordan Spieth 1-2-1 8-7-1
Tony Finau 1-2-0 3-3-0

Europe

Golfer Record at Whistling Straits Record all-time
Jon Rahm 3-1-1 4-3-1
Sergio Garcia 3-1-0 25-13-8
Ian Poulter 1-2-0 15-8-2
Shane Lowry 1-2-0 1-2-0
Lee Westwood 1-2-0 21-20-6
Tyrrell Hatton 1-2-1 2-4-1
Rory McIlroy 1-3-0 12-12-4
Tommy Fleetwood 0-1-2 4-1-2
Bernd Wiesberger 0-3-0 0-3-0
Matthew Fitzpatrick 0-3-0 0-5-0
Paul Casey 0-4-0 4-7-5
Viktor Hovland 0-4-1 0-4-1

[vertical-gallery id=778162894]

Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau shake hands, hug after winning Ryder Cup

Brooks and Bryson shared a moment after the American win.

The Golf Channel cameras were ready for when the moment happened.

As members of the U.S. Ryder Cup team were gathering in celebration of defeating the Europeans, Brooks Koepka made his way through his teammates and approached Bryson DeChambeau. The two shook hands and then they hugged it out.

It was quick but it a genuine moment between the two.

Each golfer did his part to help the Americans reclaim the Cup.

DeChambeau defeated Sergio Garcia 3 and 2 in Sunday singles to go 2-0-1 during the week. Koepka took down Bernd Wiesberger 2 and 1 in singles and posted a 2-2-1 mark this week. Now, they’re members of a winning Ryder Cup team.

“(The team) had a mission this week and you could tell, they played great and they came together. I mean, Brooks and Bryson wanted to play together; that’s how much it came together,” captain Steve Stricker said. “That shows a lot about this whole team.”

[vertical-gallery id=778162894]

[lawrence-related id=778163460,778163428,778163381,778163384]

An emotional Rory McIlroy tearfully gets through post-match interview at Ryder Cup

Rory McIlroy cares about the Ryder Cup and if you ever doubted that, doubt no more.

Rory McIlroy cares about the Ryder Cup and if you ever doubted that, doubt no more.

McIlroy was first off in Sunday singles at Whistling Straits in his match against Xander Schauffele. McIlroy hadn’t earned a point for Europe all week but did so on Sunday with a 3-and-2 win over the Olympic gold medal winner.

Along the way, McIlroy let out a loud roar with a birdie putt on the 14th hole. It was the final point he would need. The two halved 15 and 16, where McIlroy closed it out.

After his match, he got very emotional talking to Sky Sports as well as Golf Channel.

“I love being a part of this. I love this team and I love my teammates so much,” McIlroy said as he fought back tears. “I should have done more for the team. I’m glad I put a point on the board, but I wish I could have done more. I can’t wait to get another crack at this.”

[vertical-gallery id=778162894]

[lawrence-related id=778163381]

Ryder Cup Sunday singles results: Rory McIlroy wins his first point of the week for Team Europe

Recaps of each Ryder Cup singles match as they end.

After dominating the first two days of play at Whistling Straits en route to an 11-5 lead entering Sunday singles, the United States needs just 3½ points out of 12 to win the Ryder Cup for the first time since 2016.

The U.S. won three of the four team sessions and tied Saturday afternoon’s Four-Balls matches. All 12 Americans had already won a match entering Sunday singles, where they held their largest lead over Europe since 1979.

The Europeans, on the other hand, are tasked with completing the biggest comeback in the history of the biennial event. Advantage Americans.

Veteran Rory McIlroy had yet to earn a point for Padraig Harrington and Team Europe before he took down Xander Schauffele, 3 and 2, to put the first point on the board for the Europeans on Sunday.

Below you’ll find recaps of each match as they end.

Ryder Cup: Scores | How to watch | Format, scoring explained

[vertical-gallery id=778162894]

Sunday singles results

Rory McIlroy def. Xander Schauffele, 3 and 2

HAVEN, Wis. – Having been blanked the first two days, Rory McIlroy took on the responsibility of providing a boost for Europe in the leadoff match in Sunday singles action.

Having looked dull, off form and uninterested the first two days – he made one eagle and zero birdies in his last 30 holes of Four-Ball play – the heart and soul of Europe began his round against Xander Schauffele with two birdies and never trailed en route to a victory.

McIlroy, who was 0-3-0 the first two days, kept the pressure on Schauffele, who was 3-0-0 the first two days but never looked to be playing his best on Sunday. McIlroy upped his advantage to 2 up with a par on the fourth and 3 up with a par on the 11th. After dropping a hole, a birdie on the 14th gave him a 3-up lead again.

He closed out the 3-and-2 victory with a par on the 16th.

McIlroy is now 12-12-4 in his career.

Unfortunately, McIlroy’s blue flag was the only one on the scoreboard in the first seven matches.

“I love being a part of this. I love this team and I love my teammates so much,” McIlroy said as he fought back tears after he won the opening match. “I should have done more for the team. I’m glad I put a point on the board, but I wish I could have done more. I can’t wait to get another crack at this.”

The next Ryder Cup is in 2023 near Rome.

USA LEADS 11-6.

– Steve DiMeglio

[vertical-gallery id=778161837]

Patrick Cantlay vs. Shane Lowry, 12:15 p.m.

Scottie Scheffler vs. Jon Rahm, 12:26 p.m.

Bryson DeChambeau vs. Sergio Garcia, 12:37 p.m.

Collin Morikawa vs. Viktor Hovland, 12:48 p.m.

Dustin Johnson vs. Paul Casey, 12:59 p.m.

Brooks Koepka vs. Bernd Wiesberger, 1:10 p.m.

Tony Finau vs. Ian Poulter, 1:21 p.m.

Justin Thomas vs. Tyrrell Hatton, 1:32 p.m.

Harris English vs. Lee Westwood, 1:43 p.m.

Jordan Spieth vs. Tommy Fleetwood, 1:54 p.m.

Daniel Berger vs. Matthew Fitzpatrick, 2:05 p.m.

Bryson DeChambeau drives par-4 first hole Sunday at Ryder Cup, makes eagle against Sergio Garcia

DeChambeau gave the fans a jolt on the first hole Sunday afternoon.

For months Bryson DeChambeau has been the target of rowdy galleries, largely in part due to his rivalry with Ryder Cup teammate Brooks Koepka.

But this week at Whistling Straits in Haven, Wisconsin, the American fans have rallied around the bulked-up bomber, and he gave the fans something to cheer about early during his Sunday singles match against Team Europe’s all-time leading scorer, Sergio Garcia.

On the first hole, a 373-yard par-4, the 2020 U.S. Open champion ripped a drive 354 yards, leaving a 41 foot putt for eagle to open the match. DeChambeau, being the showman that he is, walked off the tee box with his putter raised in the air. He’s the lone player to drive the green this week.

Ryder Cup: Scores | How to watch | Updates

DeChambeau would of course make the eagle putt to rile up the fans even more.

[vertical-gallery id=778162894]

Why Steve Stricker is OK with (sitting players) Justin Thomas and Daniel Berger chugging beers on the first tee Saturday: ‘I thought it was great.’

“It’s something that’s kind of a Wisconsin tradition, I guess,” said the U.S. skipper.

HAVEN, Wis. — Justin Thomas and Daniel Berger may have started the celebration prematurely when the two U.S. Ryder Cuppers, who were sitting out Saturday’s afternoon Four-Ball session, chugged beers on the first tee at Whistling Straits.

This stunt whipped the crowd into a frenzy. But what did U.S. Ryder Cup captain Steve Stricker think of it? While it probably took them out of consideration for the Nicklaus-Jacklin Sportsmanship Award, Stricker didn’t seem too concerned that it could provide a jolt of much-needed energy to the European side.

“I was in trying to grab some lunch, but you know, to be quite frank with you, it looks like they are having a good time and enjoying the experience,” Stricker said after the session. “We get ridiculed for being too tight and all that, and then we do something like that where it looks like our team is together and having a good time and trying to get with the crowd. I thought it was great. It’s kind of a Milwaukee Bucks thing where, if I’m not mistaken, I’ve seen ‘Chug a Beer’ on the JumboTron at the Milwaukee Bucks games, and it’s something that’s kind of a Wisconsin tradition, I guess, whether it’s good or bad. It just looks like they are having a good time.”

Indeed, it did, especially with Thomas spiking his beer can like this wasn’t his first rodeo. Fans begged for vice captains Fred Couples and Phil Mickelson to do the same to no avail.

Ryder Cup: Updates | Scores | How to watch | Format, scoring explained

Team USA leads Europe 11-5 heading into Sunday’s 12 singles matches. It’s a margin that has never before been overcome and given the party atmosphere at the first tee on Saturday, there could be quite the celebration at the U.S. team hotel on Sunday if the Americans go on to claim the Cup.

[vertical-gallery id=778161837]