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Collin Morikawa And Sam Burns Defeat Scandinavian Record Duo

Collin Morikawa and Sam Burns defeated the so far so strong duo Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg, who had celebrated a historic victory with 9&7 in the morning. Now they lost in the afternoon session on Saturday at the Ryder Cup 2023 in Rome. The Americans defeated the Europeans with 4&3 on the 15th hole. The two PGA Tour stars were in the lead from the first hole and did not relinquish it at any point during the match. In the interview, Burns and Morikawa talk about the importance of the point for their team, which is chasing a deficit ahead of the final singles on Sunday.

Collin Morikawa and Sam Burns interviewed at the 2023 Ryder Cup

Question: Congratulations, your first Ryder Cup point has come on an afternoon when your team really needed. Just how good does it feel to get that?

Sam Burns: Yeah, it feels great. I mean, just an awesome team effort today. I just said earlier, I mean, it’s so fun and playing with a guy like Collin. He’s just — I said every time I play with him, I’m more and more impressed.

Today that just continued. He’s so fun to play with. He’s never out of the hole. Every time I look up his ball is headed right at the flagstick. And that just gives our team more confidence.

So we did a good job out there. We knew it was going to be tough. We knew the crowds were going to be against us. We just kept fighting, and glad to put a point on the board for our team.

Question: Collin, did the fact that you knew you really had to win this session to give yourself at least a chance tomorrow affect how you went about the match sort of tactically, mentally?

Collin Morikawa: No, I mean, our energy was up. We know where we stand, and we know what we’ve done so far and in the past, you know, kind of first sessions, but we were leading. At the start seeing red on that first hole was very important for us. I’m glad we got that started. We kind of kept that momentum going and finally got that point on the board.

Question: No team has ever come from seven points back after three series of matches. What gives you the belief that this team can?

Sam Burns: This team. I mean, these guys are ready. We’re all positive. We know what we’re capable of. We know it’s going to be tough. We know it’s going to be a challenge. But we’re excited for it.

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Rory McIlroy And Tommy Fleetwood: “Just Another Incredible Match”

Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood remain undefeated in their third match together at the 2023 Ryder Cup. Together they have now collected three points for Team Europe. Naturally, they were happy after the narrow victory against the American dream pairing of Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth, as they report in the interview.
In the afternoon session on Saturday at the Ryder up in Rome, however, they will have to manage without each other. Fleetwood will start in the bestballs with Rasmus Hojgaard, McIlroy will play with Matt Fitzpatrick.
Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood remain undefeated in their third match together at the Ryder Cup. Together they have now collected three points for Team Europe. Naturally, they were happy after the narrow victory against the American dream pairing of Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth, as they report in the interview.
In the afternoon session on Saturday at the Ryder up in Rome, however, they will have to manage without each other. Fleetwood will start in the bestballs with Rasmus Hojgaard, McIlroy will play with Matt Fitzpatrick.

Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood at the 2023 Ryder Cup

Rory McIlroy: I think they get more special as you go on because you realize you don’t have that many left. Hopefully I have a few Ryder Cups left in me. It’s been an absolute pleasure to share the golf course with this man beside me over the last couple of days.

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

Yeah, just another incredible match. We played great there. We held some good putts when we needed to and delighted to get another point on the board for Europe.

Question: They are already talking about this pairing possibly being one for years to come, two eagles back-to-back, 5-under par wedge in foursomes. You’ve be playing with him for a while?

Tommy Fleetwood: If he’ll have me. Like I said yesterday, there’s so many people on this planet that dream of playing with Rory and I’m the one who has had the opportunity to do it for the last two mornings. Just happy to be along for the ride and play some good golf. Yeah, we did very, very well. We were pretty — there was a couple of hiccups here and there but we held the putts when we needed to and thankfully Rory bailed me out on the last one.

Question: Mollywood 4-0, Fleetwood Mac 3-0 —

Rory McIlroy: There is a common denominator there.

Question: How good a partner is he to play with?

Rory McIlroy: He’s great because he makes you feel so at ease and you know that you can play loose. You can’t play tight. You don’t feel like you need to be perfect because you know you’ve got a partner beside you that’s going to bail you out if you need to and is going to hit the right shots at the right times.

I think in foursomes, someone that strikes the ball like this man, you feel really comfortable playing alongside none like that. As I said it’s been a great couple of days.

Question: A second straight day, 2&1 foursomes victory. A wonderful start for both of you. How much momentum does this team have right now?

Rory McIlroy: Yesterday was an amazing day and we wanted to enjoy it because it’s not very often you go out on a full day in a Ryder Cup and don’t lose a full point. We enjoyed last night but at the same time we knew the Americans were going to be hurting a bit and they obviously want to get off to a fast start this morning, and our objective is to just not let them do that.

We went out first and we got blue on the board early, the boys behind got blue on the board early and that set the tone for the day. Another great start, what we have been talking about all week and we just need to keep it going.

Question: Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas are historically a very strong team for the Americans. Do you sense they are a little bit out of sorts this week?

Tommy Fleetwood: Well, me and Rory are a good team as well. Very happy to play whoever it was we were put alongside. We were just very focused on what we were doing. We played very well yesterday. Wanted to come out of the blocks fast, and we did. Just continue to focus on what we were doing, and yeah, I actually thought it was a great match, especially on the back nine. I thought things really got going on the back nine with some eagles and birdies.
(Transcript by asapsports)

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Ryder Cup 2023: Watch The Highlights of Europes Clean Sweep

Europe clearly dominates on the first day of the 2023 Ryder Cup. In the morning they beat Team USA in the Fouresomes without losing any points. In the afternoon, too, the Americans remain without a win in a match. This has never happened before in the history of the Ryder Cup. See the highlights of the first day of the Ryder Cup in Rome here.

Watch: Highlights Ryder Cup 2023

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Shane Lowry: “I Started Losing My Mind On The First Tee”

Shane Lowry and Sepp Straka are off to a perfect start at the 2023 Ryder Cup. The Irish-Austrian duo defeated Rickie Fowler and Collin Morikawa with 2&1. In the interview after the first session at the Ryder Cup in Rome, the two speak openly about their nerves and how they enjoyed being celebrated by the fans together at the same time.

Question: How big does this moment feel?

Shane Lowry: Huge, obviously it’s early days but I wanted to give Sepp his moment in the Ryder Cup to hole the pin winning putt. It’s huge. We are off to a great start this morning. We need to keep the foot down. Myself and Sepp gelled well today. Very happy out there with him and enjoyed myself.

Question: Sepp, how much did you enjoy your first taste of a Ryder Cup?

Sepp Straka: Unbelievable. Absolutely unbelievable. Can’t really describe it. The expectations didn’t even come close.

Question: How well did you play together? How comfortable did you feel with each other today?

Shane Lowry: We’ve probably known for maybe a couple of weeks that we might go out this morning together. You know, we played the same golf, all use the same stuff, so kind of made sense. We were similar-type people but I’m a bit more fiery than him. Sepp is very laid back. We enjoyed it out there, and I feel like we played some good golf.

Felt like we dodged a few bullets out there, especially 11 and 12, around then, but you know, you’re going to have that in match play. Just have to dig deep and we did. You know, I would have liked to close out the match earlier because we had good chances, but it was nice to put a point on the board for Europe.

Question: A third blue point on the board for The European Team today. Got to ask you Shane, you stepped out on the first tee and one of the first things you saw was Viktor Hovland chipping in at first. How much did that motivate you?

Shane Lowry: I was trying to stay calm and started losing my mind on the first tee. Yeah, for a guy they say can’t chip, Viktor did all right on that hole.

Look, we are very happy with our start today and obviously there’s a lot of golf to be played from here. We talked about getting off to a fast start and we have done.

Question: How are the nerves hitting the first tee shot in your first Ryder Cup?

Sepp Straka: Very. Very nervous. Yeah, couldn’t even really describe. The blood was flowing. Heartbeat was up. Thankfully I made contact with the ball, so I think that’s a win.

Question: You didn’t play foursomes at Whistling Straits. How different was this experience today?

Shane Lowry: Yeah, it was cool. Look, I came here with an open mind this week; I’ll do whatever the captain asks me. He wanted me to go out this morning with Sepp.

It’s nice to go around with a Rookie and bring him around the place. I think the last few days got the Rookies ready for what today was going to be like. It was amazing.

It’s my first home Ryder Cup, as well, and obviously last time at Whistling Straits wasn’t the best experience and out there today was just incredible. With the crowd cheering you down every green and every fairway, it’s incredible to have home support.

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How To Watch The 2023 Ryder Cup Online And On TV

The 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome starts this week and will be broadcast in 201 countries around the world, with a potential audience reach of 623 million households.

The below table provides a rundown of every channel, across both linear television and OTT streaming platforms, that will showcase the 44th edition of golf’s greatest team contest. The event takes place at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club from 29th September – 1st October.

Sky Sports will once again be the home of the Ryder Cup for UK viewers, with coverage starting from Monday 25th September across Sky Sports Golf and Sky Sports Main Event, with expert analysis and guest commentary. The BBC will also be showing nightly highlights across all three competition days for UK viewers. NBC and the Golf Channel are once again the broadcasters in the United States and will be producing live shows from Monday 25th September. In host country Italy, fans can watch the Ryder Cup live and in full on Sky Sport Italia, with Rai also providing additional free-to-air coverage.

Fans will also be able to watch select feature groups live on RyderCup.com, and on the Ryder Cup app, in selected territories. For the first time, fans can also enjoy Ryder Cup Live – a first of its kind live show based in the amphitheatre of the 1st tee which will be broadcast on the big screens and on Ryder Cup digital channels, capturing the atmosphere and anticipation before play, previewing the match ups, and reviewing each day’s results.

The 2023 Ryder Cup on golfpost.com2023 Ryder Cup live scoring, tee times, a free-to-play fantasy game and a live feed. Fans on site will also be able to listen to the action via Ryder Cup Radio presented by Citi.

This promises to be one of the most sophisticated broadcast operations in Ryder Cup history, with a purpose built 200 square metre broadcast production gallery at Marco Simone. There are over 80 cameras for the World Feed production, including a 450-metre wire-cam, plane camera, multiple Toptracer cameras, and super slow-motion and shallow depth of field cameras to give fans the very best viewing experience.

(With material by Ryder Cup Media)

How to watch the 2023 Ryder Cup in Europe

Country TV Everywhere / Linear Platform OTT Platform
Austria Sky Sports Austria Sky Sports Austria & DAZN
Balkan Territories
(Slovenia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, North Macedonia, Montenegro)
Golf Klub Golf Klub
Belgium (Flanders) Telenet Telenet
Belgium (Wallonia) BETV BETV
Bulgaria Max Sport Max Sport
Czech Republic & Slovakia ATV Golf Channel ATV Golf Channel
Denmark VGolf Viaplay Sport
Estonia Viaplay Sport
Finland VGolf Viaplay Sport
France Canal+ Canal+
Germany
(including Liechtenstein and Luxembourg)
Sky Sports Germany Sky Sports Germany & DAZN
Iceland Viaplay Sport
Ireland Sky Sports UK Sky Sports UK
Italy Sky Italia Sky Italia
Latvia Viaplay Sport
Lithuania Viaplay Sport
Netherlands Ziggo Ziggo
Norway VGolf Viaplay Sport
Poland Polsat Polsat
Portugal Sport TV Sport TV
Spain Movistar Movistar
Sweden VGolf Viaplay Sport
Switzerland Sky Sports Germany Sky Sports Germany & DAZN
United Kingdom Sky Sports UK Sky Sports UK
United Kingdom BBC BBC

How to watch the 2023 Ryder Cup in North and South America

Country TV Everywhere / Linear Platform OTT Platform
USA NBC & NBC Golf Channel Peacock/NBC/Golf Channel
Caribbean islands & Bermudas NBC Golf Channel
Canada TSN / RDS
Pan-Latin America & Caribbean ESPN Latam ESPN Play/Star+

How to watch the 2023 Ryder Cup in Middle East and Africa

Region TV Everywhere / Linear Platform OTT Platform
MENA Golf Life Starzplay
South Africa Supersport Supersport/DSTV
Pan Sub-Saharan Africa Supersport Supersport/DSTV
French speaking African countries Canal+ Canal+

How to watch the 2023 Ryder Cup in Asia

Region TV Everywhere / Linear Platform OTT Platform
Pan-Asia SPOTV SPOTV
China Beijing TV & Guangdong TV Tencent, IQiyi & GD Golf Channel
Hong Kong PCCW / NOW Sports PCCW / NOW Sports
India 1Sports
Indonesia & Timor Leste Mola TV
Japan JGN JGN
Malaysia & Brunei Astro Astro
Myanmar Skynet Skynet
Singapore Hub Sports Hub Sports
South Korea SPOTV SPOTV
Taiwan Sportcast Sportcast
Vietnam VTVCAB FPT Telecom

How to watch the 2023 Ryder Cup in Oceania

Region TV Everywhere / Linear Platform OTT Platform
Australia Fox Sports Kayo
New Zealand Sky NZ Sky NZ
Pacific Islands Digicel Digicel
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Ladies Tours

Pettersen’s Dream: Europe Retains Solheim Cup in 14:14 Draw

The Solheim Cup 2023 at Finca Cortesin Golf Club in Andalusia, Spain, has concluded with Team Europe retaining the trophy, marking their eighth win in the history of the competition, with the USA holding ten victories. The intense competition ended in a thrilling 14:14 tie, with Team Europe triumphing as the reigning champions.

The renowned Solheim Cup represents one of the most prestigious tournaments in women’s golf, pitting the finest players from Europe against their counterparts from the United States. This year’s event was enveloped in drama and heightened emotions, with both teams displaying unparalleled skill and tenacity throughout the competition.

Solheim Cup 2023 “A Dream Come True”

Suzann Pettersen, the winning captain for Team Europe, expressed her elation at her team’s triumph, describing it as “a dream come true.” “Does it get any better than this?” she pondered, enveloped in the euphoria of victory. “We had a massive challenge ahead of us today. We’ve created history yet again in the Solheim Cup, and these girls are legends.”

Pettersen remarked on the rocky start and the character her team exhibited, highlighting the significant role of resilience and character in their victory. “You get knocked down, you stand back up… It really shows the character of this team sitting here,” she noted. Giving due credit, she pointed out the pivotal role of Caroline Hedwall in turning around the match, teeing it up nicely for Carlota Ciganda to secure crucial points on holes 16 and 17.

Reflecting on her journey as captain, she acknowledged the preparation leading up to the event and how fate might have played its part in the initial challenges faced by her team. Speaking on her experience, she stated, “Well, it’s been a lot of preparation leading up to this… We’ve all been on a pretty much high road for a few years now… I believe in fate, so maybe that was meant to happen.”

When asked about the closing minutes of the game, Pettersen depicted a roller coaster of emotions and momentum shifts, comparing her role as a captain to the helplessness felt by a spectator cheering from the sidelines. “You feel so helpless sitting there on the sideline trying to cheer them on as they one go by after another… They’re basically out there on their own,” she said. She elaborated on the tense moments, revealing her initial belief that they were half a point short until confirmation of their victory came.

This cup has been a testament to the fortitude and spirit of Team Europe, underlining their ability to rise to the occasion and showcase their formidable golfing skills. As the players and fans rejoice in this hard-fought victory, the anticipation builds for the 2024 Solheim Cup at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club.

Pettersen’s leadership, coupled with the unyielding determination of her team, has etched another glorious chapter in the annals of the Solheim Cup, immortalizing the resilience, grit, and unmatched passion of Team Europe in the face of immense pressure and competition. As we look forward to future clashes and historic moments, the legacy of Team Europe in the Solheim Cup 2023 will be remembered as a beacon of collective strength and individual brilliance in the world of golf

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Ladies Tours

Stacy Lewis Reflects on Solheim Cup 2023: A Passionate Battle and a Promising Future

The Solheim Cup 2023 came to a historic draw at 14:14, a tremendous feat of tenacity and resilience from both Team Europe and Team USA at the Finca Cortesin Golf Club in Andalusia, Spain. However, it was Team Europe that emerged victorious, retaining the title due to their status as defending champions.

Stacy Lewis, the captain of Team USA, radiated a sense of pride and fulfillment in the post-match interviews. The final moments of the match were crucial for women’s golf and resonated with undeniable excitement, particularly for Carlota of Team Europe. “Just what a moment for Carlota and women’s golf,” said Lewis. Her team, she reflected, played with incomparable heart and persistence. “My team played their hearts out. Just so proud of ’em, the way they fought,” Lewis remarked.

Stacy Lewis Makes Her Entire Solheim Cup Team Cry

Throughout the week, Team USA showcased a relentless spirit, particularly on the back nine, which they played better all week, according to Lewis. Lewis was keen to emphasize that the tie wasn’t a loss and that there was substantial growth and learning throughout the week, particularly for the rookies. “It was a tie and there was so much to build off this week,” she stressed. The reflection sessions were emotional, with Lewis making her team cry as she conveyed her pride and encouraged them to hold their heads high for representing their country commendably and being classy opponents.

The determined grind of players like Megan Khang, Danielle Kang, and Lilia Vu was acknowledged, their patience and fight being pivotal in the critical phases of the game. “They just kept fighting and kept fighting, and they literally did everything I could have asked of them this week,” noted Lewis.

A positive outlook for the future was palpable in Lewis’s remarks, with a focus on the invaluable experience gained by the younger, less experienced players. This experience is expected to be instrumental in the upcoming matches. “This week was really, really good for them,” said Lewis about the younger players. She emphasized that the process and progress meant more than the results, describing the overall experience as a win considering where the team started from.

Despite the shifting tides in playing foursomes and four-balls, Lewis seemed content with the pairings and wouldn’t consider doing much differently. A hopeful undertone enveloped her reflections, highlighting the strong spirits and evolving dynamics of the team.

For Lewis and her team, the week in general feels like a win, marking significant progress from their starting point. The emotional response of the team symbolized the substantial meaning and attachment they had to this journey, fulfilling Lewis’s objective of instilling passion and commitment within her team. This Solheim Cup epitomized not just the competitive spirit but also the deep emotional connection and the boundless potential for the future of women’s golf.

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Team Europe Wins Third Consecutive Solheim Cup Title

Team Europe wins the Solheim Cup 2023. On a highly exciting final Sunday, Carlota Ciganda, of all people, holed the decisive point at the first Solheim Cup in her home country. The Spaniard was subsequently carried on her hands by her teammates.

Team Europe wins the Solheim Cup 2023

The singles at the 2023 Solheim Cup could hardly have been more exciting. Almost all duels were close, alternately the teams secured the points in the beginning, before matches 5 and 6 were split. But even after that, neither the USA nor Europe could pull away and the following four matches went half to half to both teams. So the score was 13:13 with two matches still open. One of them was played by Carlota Ciganda, the only Spaniard in the team at her home match.

And it was she who took the decisive point. In the duel with Nelly Korda, which she had already led by 3 after eight holes, the tide seemed to turn on the back nine. The American picked up three holes and it went all square on the 16th. Here Ciganda, who kept firing up the fans in between, showed her nerves. She regained the lead with a birdie and one hole later attacked the flag of the par-3 with a precise tee shot. Korda missed the green on the left and the Spaniard had no trouble with a short putt to get the 14 point for her team.

With Europe competing as defending champions, the eventual tie was enough for a third straight victory. The outcome of the last match did not matter. Already next year the next Solheim Cup will be played. Then the tournament, which is played regularly every two years, will take place at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville (Virginia), USA.

Sunday’s Singles in Detail

Europe vs USA
14 14

17 – Megan Khang (USA) def. Linn Grant (EUR), 1-up

Megan Khang grabbed the early lead with an opening birdie on No. 1 and she did not lose that lead once in 18 holes of play. Linn Grant, who played all five matches in her Solheim Cup debut, tried to cut into the lead on several occasions but Khang answered each time. The best Grant was able to do was bring the score down from 2-up to 1-up on holes 7, 12 and, finally, on 16. The match went dormie when both made par on 17, but Khang was able to close it out with a par putt to tie the match and earn the U.S. their second point of the day.

“Super proud,” Khang said about how she feels she’s performed this weekend. “When the draw came out and I had Linn first off, you know Linn was going to bring it, and I knew I had to do the exact same and hopefully come out on top. I took it all the way to 18 and she definitely made me work for it.”

18 – Leona Maguire (EUR) def. Rose Zhang (USA), 4 and 3

Rose Zhang struck first, carding her first birdie of the day on the opening hole. But Leona Maguire, the hero of the 2021 Solheim Cup, quickly answered with birdies on two and three to take control of the match. The two went back and forth until No. 7., when Maguire took the lead again and only expanded on it from there. She went 2 up, 3 up, then 4 up on holes 12, 13 and 14 before the match ended on 15 when the two halved that hole. Maguire’s quick victory was the first point of the day for Team Europe and overall.

“Suzann handed me a job this morning,” Maguire said. “I knew it was going to be tough. It was going to be a very tough opponent. It was important to get blue on the board early and it’s great.”

19 – Danielle Kang (USA) def. Charley Hull (EUR), 4 and 2

After the third group teed off, Danielle Kang became the third American to take a 1-up lead after the first hole. She held it for the next two holes before Charley Hull tied the match with a birdie on No. 4. Another seemingly deadlocked match, Kang caught fire after going 1-up on hole 6. She got to 3-up on No. 12 and made it 4-up with a birdie on 16, earning her the 4 and 2 victory and the first point of the day for the United States

“It means a lot, honestly,” Kang said about how much it means to earn a point for the United States. “We had great leadership this week and Stacy just told me to keep trusting my game. And you can’t reach any of the par-5s or the par-4s, but she says, You’re one of the best wedges, so that’s what I did, stayed focused, played my game, and she wanted me out early to put a point up there, so I’m glad that I did my job.”

20 – Anna Nordqvist def. Jennifer Kupcho (USA), 2 and 1

It took five holes before the stalemate between Jennifer Kupcho and Anna Nordqvist was broken. On 5, playing assistant captain Nordqvist carded her first birdie to give the Swede the lead over Kupcho. From there, Nordqvist took the next two holes building a 3-up lead over the American, but she would not go down easily. Kupcho brought the match down to 1-up with a birdie on 14 and the two kept battling, tying the next hole before the vice-captain took a 2-up lead on 16 with a birdie of her own. Dormie heading onto 17, the match ended there with a par from each player. Nordqvist’s win became the second point of the day for Europe.

“Suzann had trust in me and she put me out pretty early, so obviously it was a huge honor,” Nordqvist said. “I’ve been playing well this week. I played really well yesterday. I just couldn’t get anything going, couldn’t make any putts. It was a pretty hard golf course yesterday, but I had a lot of friends and family and team supporting me and pulling me through. It’s been a really hard year for me, and I just put every last bit of heart I had left in me to go out there today. It’s blowing really hard and I hit some amazing golf shots today. It was really hard.”

21 – Andrea Lee (USA) tied. Georgia Hall (EUR)

Georgia Hall struck first, carding a birdie on the opening hole in the final day. She would go on to hold that lead for the next four holes until Andrea Lee made par on No. 6 to tie the match after a bogey from Hall. A birdie from Lee on the very next hole put her at a deficit again, but she made up for it with another par on 8 to tie it again. It would stay tied for the next three holes before Hall went 1-up on 12, then 2 up on 14. Though Hall had opportunities to close the door, Lee fought back and eventually brought the match to a tie on No. 17. The two parred the final hole, halving the match for the United States and Europe.

22 – Cheyenne Knight tied Gemma Dryburgh

After not seeing any action in day two, Gemma Dryburgh came out swinging and carded her first birdie on the par-3 No. 3 to take a one up lead. Her lead grew to 3 up over the next two holes, looking like she would take control and earn Europe another point. Slowly but surely, Cheyenne Knight worked herself back into the mix with birdies on No. 8 to get the score down to 2-up, another on No. 15 to close the gap to 1-up and, finally on 16, she tied the match up. It stayed that way for the last three holes, giving the U.S. and Europe another half a point each.

“Yeah, I was 3-down early on 7 and just, like, things were not going my way and I was getting pretty frustrated and Stacy came and told me on 13, after I hit my approach shot she said, ‘Are you ready to fight today?’ I was like, ‘I am.’ And I won (that hole),” Knight said. “Her giving me kind of a pep talk on 13 was really helpful and I have so much respect for her. It was just so awesome that she’s my captain.”

23 – Angel Yin (USA) def. Celine Boutier (EUR), 2 and 1

Only one of three Europeans to take a lead after the first hole, Celine Boutier took advantage of the early par 4 to go 1-up on Angel Yin. But the American tied it right back up after a bogey by Boutier on 2. Yin followed that up with a birdie on 3 to take her first lead of the day and carried it until No. 11. Boutier made another birdie on 11 to tied it up and then took advantage of a bogey from Yin on No. 12 to retake a short-lived lead. Yin won the next two holes, going 1-up, then lost a point on 15 to bring things back to a tie. A great drive on 16 and a long birdie put gave Yin her final lead of the day, as she followed with another birdie on 17 to win 2 and 1.

“Definitely for me in my favor, but it wasn’t the end game,” Yin said about her eagle on No. 14. “It wasn’t, like, okay, now the match is for Angel. No, it was still up in the air. Holes coming in were difficult, especially since Celine hit that beautiful shot in 15, and I just got caught in the rough, and I was like, shoot. I mean, to me, if I make a par, that was really good.”

24 – Caroline Hedwall (USA) def. Ally Ewing (EUR), 2 up

American Ally Ewing led nearly the entire match, going all the way to 3 up on No. 12 having not been down a hole before then. But Swede Caroline Hedwall, well rested after playing just one match on Friday and Saturday, did not give up, winning holes 13, 14 and 16 to tie the match near the very end. With the momentum and the crowd strongly in her favor, Hedwall won her last two holes with a birdie and an eagle, staging an important come-from-behind victory to earn a whole point for the Euros.

‘I don’t know, to be honest,” answered Hedwall when asked how she turned the match around. “It was something in me. You know, I never give up, and I showed that today. I mean, I’m just so proud of myself and, wow, that was awesome.”

25 – Lilia Vu (USA) def. Madelene Sagstrom (EUR), 4 and 3

One of the more dominating wins of the day, Lilia Vu took her early lead on No. 1 and never looked back. Growing her lead hole by hole, Vu got to 5-up on No. 6 thanks to three birdies and a couple of errors by Madelene Sagstrom. Trying to bring the match back in favor of the Europeans, Sagstrom managed to cut the lead to 3-up with a birdie on No. 8. With the momentum starting to shift, Vu took advantage of a double-bogey from the European on No. 11, effectively sealing the deal for the Americans with a 4 and 3 victory.

“I mean, I’m sad that I wasn’t able to get a point for our team the first three matches that I played in, but I was really happy to kind of drive off of DK’s energy yesterday. Our match against Carlota and Linn, we were 7-under through nine and they were 8-under through nine. It was insane, and I think I just ran off the energy we had yesterday afternoon into today,” Vu said.

26 – Maja Stark (EUR) def. Allisen Corpuz (USA), 2 and 1

The tightest match of the afternoon, it stayed deadlocked for the first six holes until Maja Stark struck first with a birdie on No. 7. Allisen Corpuz could not find an opening from the Swede, trailing 1-up most of the back nine with the score even creeping into 2-up territory on Nos. 13 and 14. Corpuz tried her best and brought the gap back down to 1-up heading into No. 17, but the American faltered on No. 17 allowing Europe to take the 2 and 1 victory.

“Yeah, I totally did. I was looking at the scoreboard the whole day and it wasn’t looking good,” she said when asked if she knew how important her point was. “It was looking very tight though. But I knew that (background noise) I tried to do everything I could to bring it home and I feel like it looks like that’s what we’re doing right now.”

27 –. Carlota Ciganda def. Nelly Korda, 2 and 1

Arguably the most important match of the day, points were all tied up between the U.S. and Europe as the penultimate match was coming to an end. Playing on home soil, Spainard Carlota Ciganda led from the second hole until the 15th, increasing her lead to as high as 3 up on No. 8. American Nelly Korda was able to slowly chip away at Ciganda’s lead on with a birdie on 9, a par on 10 and another par on 15. Heading onto No. 16, the signature hole surrounded by grandstands, Ciganda felt the home field advantage as her theme song was sung throughout the European crowd. Korda stuck her approach shot close, withing 4-feet, but missed her short put before a birdie from the Ciganda sent a roar throughout the course. On 17, it was Cignada’s turn to stick one close and, after Korda found the bunker and nearly chipped in, the Spainard drained her birdie put to earn Europe’s final point of the day and retain the Solheim Cup for the team.

“I don’t have many feelings right now. I’m so happy just to do this for Suzann and for Spain,” Ciganda said following the match. “I’m just so proud. I’m just so happy. Everyone here is a family. The Spanish crowd is just amazing.”

28 – Lexi Thompson def. Emily Pedersen, 2 and 1

Lexi Thompson and Emily Pedersen took the stage anchoring the singles play as two of the best performers at the 2023 Solheim Cup. Pedersen took the early lead going 1-up on the first hole thanks to an early birdie. She grew her lead to 2-up on No. 3 after Thompson bogeyed the par-3 No. 3. Not allowing the European momentum to continue, Thompson rattled off back-to-back birdies to square the match up on No. 6. The tides began to turn and the American grew to a 4-up lead looking poised to end the match early. Pedersen tried as best as she could to bring the score down closing the gap to a 2-up lead for the American heading into the final holes. Back-to-back pars effectively ended the match, giving America their 14th point.

(Match reports by LPGA)

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Live

Ryder Cup Legend Ian Woosnam: “The Picks Always Cause a Stir”

Apes Hill Barbados has become one of golf’s most talked-about golf developments since the arrival of Canadian investor Glenn Chamandy in 2019.

A reimagined course masterminded by renowned architect, the late Ron Kirby, a growing and luxurious real estate community, the world-class Performance Centre and an in-development Par 3 course are just some of the reasons Apes Hill is rising higher than ever in the Caribbean golf world.

Few golfers know Barbados better than Apes Hill ambassador Ian Woosnam. The Welshman has been a regular on the island after purchasing a property in 1995 where he spends the winter recuperating before the start of the season. Still playing competitively on the Legends Tour, Woosnam and has followed Apes Hill’s transformation closely.

He also knows a thing or two about Ryder Cups, having won four as a player and one as a captain throughout a distinguished career.

Ahead of this month’s showdown in Rome, we sat down with ‘Woosie’ to talk about Apes Hill, the Ryder Cup and his lifelong love affair with Barbados…

Ian Woosnam on the Ryder Cup and his love for Barbados

Ian, with the Ryder Cup now just two weeks away, what are your thoughts on the event and how do you see it unfolding?
Ian Woosnam: It’s tough to call but home advantage really will play a part. Europe played a great American Team over in Whistling Straights in 2021 and they never seemed to really get going and maybe that was because of the lack of support. But things are a bit more balanced this year and playing in Europe will help. I also think some of our top players are in better form. So, it’s tough to call at the moment. Can I sit on the fence and say it’s 50-50?

What can you remember most from your time as captain?
Ian Woosnam: Well, you have to back yourself, that’s really important. I had a great team in 2006 and we won comfortably at The K Club. But you still have to get everything in place and make sure you have everything covered. My captain’s picks caused something of a stir with Lee Westwood over Thomas Bjorn, but I had no doubts about him playing and he absolutely delivered. I do think sometimes you have to put the stats to one side and just go with your gut feeling. If it feels right for you, make the call and stick with it. I think at times we get too bogged down in the statistics of it all.

What did you make of Luke Donald’s captain’s picks?
Ian Woosnam: The picks, even back when I captained in 2006 and had two, are always going to cause a stir so having six will really make a few heads turn. I do think Adrian Meronk is unfortunate to miss out. I know I said don’t read too much into stats, but his stats stand out! He has been in good, solid form, looks to have a really good temperament and most importantly, he has won three times in the last 16 months, with one of those victories coming at the venue for the event in Italy and he also finished second there in 2021. I can understand his frustration. It’s a tough one to work out but there are always factors in the background when it comes to the captain’s picks.

What kind of factors?
Ian Woosnam: Key players can have their say. Certain players will want to play with certain players. In 1995, I missed out on automatic qualification, which was the only time I did in my career, and I didn’t get a pick. I finished 11th on the Order of Merit and there were only two picks, and Jose Maria Olazabal was picked ahead of me, and I am pretty sure that was because Seve Ballesteros would have wanted Ollie there so he could be paired with him. This is the sort of thing where players can request who they play with to the captains, and the captain can make that choice who he feels is better. In the end, I played because Ollie had a foot injury and missed out. But these things go on in the background and they can all play a part.

You have recently become an ambassador for Apes Hill Barbados – tell us a little bit about the course, which reopened in 2022 following the redesign by Ron Kirby…
Ian Woosnam: I’ve seen the course develop from its very beginnings. It’s a spectacular piece of land and you get these amazing panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea. The elevations are something else. It is just a great set-up and the course is so much fun, and really is very playable for all levels of golfer. It’s definitely my kind of course where you can just get lost in the surroundings but also it’s very clever and has some wonderful holes.

Talk us through some of the changes?
Ian Woosnam: They shortened the first and tenth holes, are they’ve created lots of different plots to the golf course. What I really like is the way it’s been made so playable, which is so important. They have been lots of little tweaks. It’s not somewhere you’re going to lose a bunch of balls, either. Lose one and it’ll have been a really poor shot. Softening the greens has helped a little, too. The second hole has been made into this terrific risk/reward hole. Then there’s the 16th, ‘Cave’, the signature hole, which I imagine would be one of the most photographed holes on the course. A coral rock hugs the hole behind the green with water down the right. It’s a special par-3 that comes after another a terrific stretch from 12-15. The 18th is spectacular, too – you’ll have some fun playing that one, let me tell you.

It sounds like you enjoy playing there?
Ian Woosnam: I really do, but it’s not just the 18-hole course – there’s a lovely feel to the place. There is also the nine-hole par-3 short course, which in in development and will be a great to practise, and will be perfect for families with little ones to try, as well as beginners. Then you have the 19th, island style green they are building. It’s all about having fun!

And you have the facilities there to work on your game?
Ian Woosnam: Absolutely. The Performance & Teaching Centre is world-class, arguably the best facility of its kind in the Caribbean that I’m sure will attract the top professionals who want somewhere that’s state-of-the-art to play and practise. If you were an American Tour player, for example, what a place to base yourself for two weeks or so, resting up and doing some work on your game.

Despite being a resort course, there’s a real club feel about Apes Hill…
Ian Woosnam: It’s one of the things that I most like about the place. I’ve become good friends with the Director of Golf, Jody Addison. He’s a really great guy and I really enjoy his company. I enjoy talking to the members, too, sitting down at the halfway house and sharing a drink. I wouldn’t be doing what I do if I didn’t love talking about the game and speaking to like-minded golfers.

Talking of drinks, apparently you can enjoy a nice glass of rosé in the Clubhouse post round?
Yes, it’s something I got involved with several years ago – ‘Wines of Golf Legends’ by French wine company Peuch & Besse. There are a number of us involved, but hopefully there will be a few more to come. If I told you that there’s a New Zealand white from Michael Campbell, a Rioja from José María Olazábal and a drop of red from Costantino Rocca, you’d get the picture. David Frost, Nancy Lopez, Ian Baker-Finch and Jean Van de Velde are all involved, too. Bernhard Langer has just come along and he’s doing a German white! It’s good fun! [Hopefully Laura Davies for Champagne]

When did you fall in love with Barbados?
Ian Woosnam: My love affair with the island started about 40 years ago. I remember enjoying a pretty good year in 1982, winning in Switzerland, and the following year wasn’t too bad, either. One of the highlights was getting invited to play in the Robert Sangster Pro Am at Sandy Lane. My wife and I went, and we fell in love with the place straight away.

How often do you get out there?
Ian Woosnam: We must have visited the island just about every year ever since. In 1995 we decided to invest in a house at Royal Westmoreland, and we moved in a year later. We live in Jersey, which is a wonderful place, but Barbados has become a kind of home from home. After we had our first taste, we kept going back and forth on the holidays with the kids. Back then, they were in school, so we had that to consider, but now my wife and I will go out before Christmas and stay all the way though until April.

What is it about Barbados that you enjoy so much?
Ian Woosnam: I tell everyone who asks that question that there’s so much more to Barbados then you might think. Yes, there are beautiful sandy beaches, the climate is certainly agreeable most of the time, and for golfers there are some wonderful courses with spectacular views. However, when you live there and you get to know the local people – they’re so friendly – that’s when you find out what the island is all about. I love the sunshine and sea breeze, and of course the golf. With the weather the way it is, I can play pretty much all year round. I’m good friends with ‘Beefy’ [cricketer, Ian Botham] and he likes his golf, too.

What do you look forward to the most, the moment you land and get off the plane?
Ian Woosnam: One of my favourite times to visit is in January, February, March time, when you get that gentle breeze coming through, especially when you’re up high like you are at Apes Hill. When you get up in the morning and see that sea, that’s when I just realise how lucky I am.
The interview was conducted by Azalea and kindly made available to us for publication.

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Highlights Tours

Ryder Cup Qualification: Half of the US team is in position

Half of the USA’s team for the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome is in place. The BMW Championship, the second of the three tournaments in the final series of the PGA Tour, also marked the end of qualifying for the continental duel between Europe and the USA. In addition to world number one Scottie Scheffler and US Open winner Wyndham Clark, who already could not be ousted from their places, the four other qualifiers are now also clear.

Patrick Cantlay, Open Championship winner Brian Harman, Max Homa and Olympic champion Xander Schauffele will also be part of the team. Three of the six qualifiers will make their Ryder Cup debut at Marco Simone Country Club. After the Tour Championship on 29 August, captain Zach Johnson will announce his six captain’s picks to complete Team USA.


While Cantlay, Scheffler and Schauffele were already part of the victorious Ryder Cup team at Whistling Straits, Harman, Homa and Clark will be there for the first time. However, the three first-named have each only taken part in the 43rd continental comparison, which did not take place until 2021 (actually planned for 2020) due to the Corona pandemic.