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Solheim Cup 2023: Pedersen and Sagstrom put Crucial Point on the Board

Emily Pedersen and Madelene Sagstrom at the 2023 Solheim Cup. (Photo: Getty)
Emily Pedersen and Madelene Sagstrom at the 2023 Solheim Cup. (Photo: Getty)

Emily Pedersen and Madelene Sagstrom kept the much-needed momentum of Team Europe’s 2023 Solheim Cup campaign on Saturday afternoon going, putting a crucial point on the board. Both players reflected on the day, indicating their satisfaction with their play and the newfound energy in the European team.

Emily Pedersen: “We backed each other up”

Pedersen emphasized the enjoyment she experienced playing alongside Sagstrom, saying, “It was a lot of fun. We backed each other up, playing pretty solid golf all the way around.” A 10-under result highlighted the duo’s superior gameplay, with each complementing the other perfectly, especially when one faced difficulties.

The team’s unity was pivotal following a frustrating start, with Sagstrom stating, “We all knew that good golf was in us.” The team collectively managed to reset their mindset after an initially disappointing performance on Friday morning, and the subsequent sessions have seen a more resolute and coherent European team. Pedersen echoed this sentiment, feeling proud of the team for “picking ourselves up” and maintaining a positive mindset.

Solheim Cup 2023: Team Europe turned the tide

The duo credits the team’s mental toughness for turning the tide after the initial setbacks. Pedersen had a personal moment of resolve after hitting a remarkable 3-wood on the 11th, committing to a more decisive and aggressive approach. This unwavering belief in their abilities and the motivational push from their captain, Suzann, played a crucial role in the team’s reinvigorated performance.

Madelene Sagstrom: “The past is in the past”

Sagstrom highlighted the importance of focusing on the present and learning from past mistakes, saying, “the past is in the past. All we can focus on is what we’re doing this afternoon and today.” Both players agreed on staying present and not tracking the scoreboards, focusing primarily on their matches and maintaining a constant aggressive approach.

Both players harmonized well in their strategies and club selections, offering mutual support and complementing each other’s playstyles. Sagstrom remarked, “Emily and I play extremely similar. It was a different feeling for me today. It was great.” The mutual understanding and alignment in strategies marked a different yet fruitful experience for both players.

Their meticulous preparation, unyielding spirit, synergy, and focus on the present moment propelled them to deliver a pivotal point for Team Europe, setting the stage for an intriguing finale at the Solheim Cup.

Livescoring for the 2023 Solheim Cup

(This article was created with the help of AI)

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Solheim Cup 2023 – Leona Maguire: “Mission accomplished”

Charley Hull and Leona Maguire at the 2023 Solheim Cup. (Photo: Getty)
Charley Hull and Leona Maguire at the 2023 Solheim Cup. (Photo: Getty)

In a compelling show of skill and partnership, Team Europe’s Leona Maguire and Charley Hull dominated Saturday afternoon, leaving no room for the Americans to claw back, reinforcing Europe’s presence on the 2023 Solheim Cup leaderboard.

Solheim Cup 2023: Interview with Leona Maguire and Charley Hull

Leona Maguire showcased great reverence and respect for opponents Nelly Korda and Ally Ewing, acknowledging their prowess from previous encounters. “We knew we had to bring our A games this afternoon. So, just played really solid and didn’t really give them a chance to fight back at all,” reflected Maguire on the scintillating performance she delivered alongside Hull.

Charley Hull echoed her partner’s sentiments, citing the harmonious synergy and the composed demeanor they both share as crucial elements in their match play. “I’m not really a player that gets the crowds going like this or big fist pumps, neither is Leona, and we kind of just jell and do our own thing and we work well together,” said Hull, pleased with putting more blue on the board.

The mutual admiration between the pair was evident, with Hull labeling playing alongside Maguire as an “honor” and applauding her “unbelievable” play. Maguire reciprocated, expressing her anticipation for this pairing, “I think this was a pairing, me and Charley, I’ve been looking forward to for awhile.”

Despite a slightly rough morning, Maguire managed to recalibrate, reinforcing her determination and focus for the afternoon session. Maguire and Hull’s refreshing chemistry and alignment in approach were critical in maintaining control, and their performance was a testament to their resilient spirit and unwavering fight.

Leona Maguire: “Mission accomplished”

The match’s strategic significance was not lost on them. “Suzann was pretty clear of what our job was today, so mission accomplished so far, and we’ll go cheer on the rest of the girls and hopefully they can bring it home,” Maguire stated, underscoring the influence their match could have on the subsequent groups.

Team Europe’s Captain, Suzann Pettersen, had evidently set clear expectations for the duo—attaining a point was paramount. The succinct directive resonated with Maguire, “Come out, get your point, simple as,” was the order of the day, one that they successfully fulfilled, subduing the Americans from the get-go.

Charley Hull, despite struggling with a neck sprain, dubbed a “facet sprain,” displayed remarkable resilience, adapting her swing and continuing to display high levels of energy and gameplay. Her exemplary courage, coupled with Maguire’s relentless pursuit of excellence, fortified Team Europe’s standing.

As Team Europe extends its grasp on the Solheim Cup, the camaraderie and relentless spirit showcased by Leona Maguire and Charley Hull have not only fortified the morale within their ranks but have also painted the leaderboard with more shades of blue, promising an exciting showdown as the tournament progresses.

Livescoring for the 2023 Solheim Cup

(This article was written with the help of AI)

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Ryder Cup 2023: Nicolai Hojgaard – A Twin alone in Rome

Nicolai Hojgaard will be one of the rookies at the 2023 Ryder Cup. (Photo: Getty)
Nicolai Hojgaard will be one of the rookies at the 2023 Ryder Cup. (Photo: Getty)

The man from Denmark was only born in 2001 and at 22 will be the youngest player at the 2023 Ryder Cup in Italy. Nicolai Hojgaard played his way back into Ryder Cup consideration in the last minute and was nominated as one of Luke Donald’s ‘Captain’s Picks’ in the end. The Dane has two wins on the DP World Tour to show for his career. His twin brother Rasmus Hojgaard is also a professional golfer and has already celebrated success. Both set themselves the goal of going to the Ryder Cup together, but only one of them has made it. But an event from last year on the DP World Tour makes the two inseparable despite Rasmus not being nominated.

Nicolai Hojgaard at the 2023 Ryder Cup

Nicolai Hojgaard was only 25th in the Ryder Cup rankings before the final announcement of Team Europe. He collected 942 points in the rankings by the beginning of September, while Yannik Paul, who missed the qualification in the end, had a whole 1731 points. But this ranking was only secondary in Hojgaard’s nomination, because the Dane played his way onto Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald’s note with the performance in the last decisive tournaments.

Before that, the Dane played a season with ups and downs on the DP World and PGA Tour. Placements in the top ten were often followed by missed cuts. From the beginning of June to the end of July, he had to say goodbye after the cut in three of four tournaments. Then a strong shared sixth place at the Scottish Open 2023 and a shared 23rd place at The Open 2023, his best performance to date at a major after T50 at the PGA Championship this year, came as a surprise. But Hojgaard’s biggest exclamation mark this year came at the end of August when he finished third at the D+D Real Czech Masters and followed that up with a strong shared fifth place at the Omega European Masters a week later.

The European captain obviously wants to benefit from this form at the 2023 Ryder Cup in the Italian capital: “He’s a young superstar. The world is at his feet when it comes to golf. We are seeing the beginning of what he has already achieved at such a young age. With Nicolai, it was important for me to have six players in good form and what he’s done in the last two weeks has been very special.” When the Danish golfer found out about his good fortune, he could hardly believe it. The call from Luke Donald was an emotional one for the young Dane: “To be honest, I was hoping for it, but after today it was a bit mixed. I can’t describe how this call feels!”

Nicolai Hojgaard as a Rookie to the Ryder Cup 2023

Although Nicolai Hojgaard has no experience of the Ryder Cup so far, the Northern European can look back on other comparable competitions. At the Hero Cup earlier this year, the continental Europeans faced off against the team from Great Britain and Ireland. Because his brother Rasmus was injured, Nicolai stepped in and was promptly convincing. In the duel with Seamus Power he won his singles match and contributed 2.5 points to the victory of the continental Europeans in Abu Dhabi.

Together with brother Rasmus Nicolai Hojgaard won the Eisenhower Trophy in Ireland in 2018. The pair, along with John Axelsen, took the title to Denmark at the World Amateur Team Championship with a one-stroke lead over the USA, who fielded Colin Morikawa among others. In the same year, the pair were to be less fortunate, losing the 2018 Junior Ryder Cup to the Americans.

The career of Nicolai Hojgaard so far

Nicolai Hojgaard’s success story is directly linked to his twin brother Rasmus. The two brothers share a record that is unlikely to be broken in the near future. In September 2021, Rasmus Hojgaard first won the Omega Masters in Switzerland, only for Nicolai to match him a week later and win the Italian Open with a birdie on the last hole and a one-shot lead over Tommy Fleetwood and Adrian Meronk. It had never happened before that two brothers won in a row on the European Tour. For the Ryder Cup rookie, it was his first title on the DP World Tour at the time, before he celebrated his next success five months later in February 2022 at the Ras Al Khaimah Championship with 24 strokes under par.

The youngster, who is still at the beginning of his career, could bring in about four million US dollars so far and seems to be one of the European players for the future. Therefore, it should also be a nomination with a view to upcoming editions of the Ryder Cup. But now the next challenge in the Dane’s young career awaits at the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club. Can Hojgaard catch fire again, as he did in Abu Dhabi, and help his team to victory in Rome?

A look inside Nicolai Hojgaard’s bag for the 2023 Ryder Cup

Since this year, both Nicolai and his brother Rasmus Hojgaard are under contract with Callaway. Like his colleague and team member Jon Rahm, Nicolai tees up with the Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond Driver. When it comes to the woods, he then relies on the Rogue ST Max model with 16.5 degrees of loft, slightly more than the 14 to 15 degrees that are usual on the Tour. As a transition to the irons, Hojgaard, like many of his Tour colleagues, chooses a utility iron, more precisely the Callaway X21.
He completes his long game with the 2021 Apex MB (Muscle Back) irons. He takes the Players irons of the well-known Apex series from the 4-iron to the pitching wedge into his golf bag.

Nicolai Højgaard’s wedges 🇪🇺❤️#TeamEurope pic.twitter.com/WNRQQxYbEG — Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) September 12, 2023

In keeping with the Ryder Cup, the Dane had a special version of the Callaway Jaws wedges forged. The three wedges bear various allusions to Team Europe and, of course, the venue of the Ryder Cup in Rome. With 50 degrees, 56 degrees and 60 degrees, Hojgaard covers the entire width of the “usual” wedges and additionally leaves many possibilities of use around the green open with different sole grinds.
The Odyssey Toulon putter makes it into his bag with the Chicago Blade design and, together with the Callaway Chrome Soft X, completes the Ryder Cup rookie’s equipment choice.

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Ryder Cup 2023: Jon Rahm – Woods Conqueror and Europe’s Key Player

Jon Rahm will be at the Ryder Cup 2023. (Photo: Getty)
Jon Rahm will be at the Ryder Cup 2023. (Photo: Getty)

World number 3 Jon Rahm is already one of the most successful Spanish golfers of all time. With two Major titles already won and a total of 30 weeks at the top of the world rankings, the 28-year-old golfer manifests his impressive presence on the international stage. Over the course of 2023, Jon Rahm continues on his path of success. A highlight of this year was undoubtedly his victory at the US Masters, where he claimed the coveted Green Jacket. There is no doubt that Jon Rahm will also play a key role in the European team at the 2023 Ryder Cup.

Jon Rahm at the Ryder Cup 2023

Rahm qualified for the 2023 Ryder Cup via two routes and was one of the first confirmed members of Team Europe early on. After closing the 2022 season with victories at the Acciona Open de Espana and the DP World Tour Championship, Rahm continued that impressive form in 2023. The year began for him with back-to-back wins on the PGA Tour at the Sentry Tournament of Champions and the American Express Championship. It wasn’t long before he was in the winner’s circle again – this time at The Genesis Invitational. His fourth triumph earned Rahm the coveted green jacket and his second major title in April. A closing round of 69 on Sunday secured victory at the Masters by four strokes on what would have been the 66th birthday of the late, great Seve Ballesteros. Since then, he has finished in the top-10 three times, including runner-up finishes at the U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club and the 151st Open at Royal Liverpool.

Woods conqueror Rahm faces third Ryder Cup appearance

Rahm has played in two editions of the Ryder Cupp so far (2018, 2020) in which he has recorded four wins, three losses and one draw. The Spaniard made his debut in Paris in 2018 after automatically qualifying for Thomas Bjørn’s European team. A memorable highlight of the week was his first Ryder Cup point, which he claimed during Sunday’s singles matches. In an impressive victory over Tiger Woods, he ensured that all Team Europe players won at least one point over the three days.

Jon Rahm’s greatest successes and prize money

Jon Rahm’s path to professional golf began during his time at Arizona State University. He joined the professional ranks at the remarkably young age of 22, in 2016. Just one year later, “Rahmbo” demonstrated his extraordinary talent when he won his first PGA Tour title at the Farmers Insurance Open. In July 2020, he climbed to the top of the world golf rankings for the first time by winning the Memorial. With this achievement, he followed in the footsteps of the legendary Seve Ballesteros and became the second Spanish golfer to reach this position. The following year, at the US Open, Jon Rahm continued his rise and secured the coveted victory at one of the prestigious Major tournaments. This underlined his ability to dominate at the highest level and hold his own among the best.

Last season was undoubtedly the highlight of Rahm’s career so far. The Spaniard won an impressive four matches this year, including the triumph at the US Masters. A memorable moment that occurred on the birthday of his idol Seve Ballesteros, of all people. This emotional connection gave his success a deeper meaning. Jon Rahm’s exceptional consistency and skills are reflected in his performances. In over 149 events played, he made the cut an incredible 134 times. With an impressive total winnings of $51 million, Rahm is undoubtedly one of the top earners on the tour.

Ryder Cup 2023: A look inside Jon Rahm’s golf bag

Since Jon Rahm’s switch to outfitter Callaway in 2021, things have gone steeply uphill for the exceptional Spanish golfer. With various victories and two Major titles, it was no wonder that he extended the cooperation this year and will now also play in the 2023 Ryder Cup with a pure Callaway golf bag. Rahm’s selection includes the latest woods from the Paradym series, as well as the Players Irons from the Apex models. When it comes to wedges, Rahm relies on Callaway’s classic Jaws Raw. His equipment is rounded off with the Odyssey White Hot OG putter and the Chrome Soft X golf ball.

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Solheim Cup 2023: Sweden’s Stark & Grant keep Team Europe alive

The morning in Andalusia saw exciting duels at the Solheim Cup 2023! Two Swedes thrill the spectators. (Photo: Getty)

The Solheim Cup 2023 stays vivid. Ahead of the Fourballs Team Europa keeps the hopes alive with a stunning performance by two swedish players. The intermediate 5:7 promises suspense for the rest of the weekend.

Solheim Cup 2023: Ciganda & Pedersen make the start for Europe

In the first match of day two, Carlota Ciganda and Emily Pedersen were fired up from the start, notching the lead with back-to-back birdies on Nos. 5 and 6 to go 2-up. Jennifer Kupcho tied the match with her putt at No. 8, after struggling with her putter through the first seven holes. Europe regained the match lead on No. 10 after Ciganda’s birdie putt was short enough for a conceded par to win the hole. With Europe 2-up heading to the 15th tee, the U.S. team attempted a comeback after a clutch birdie putt on No. 15, but it was two no avail, as Ciganda and Pedersen came out on top, 2 and 1, to add another full point to the European total.

“I think it’s important because you don’t want to give too much to the Americans,” Ciganda said about how important it was carrying over the momentum from yesterday’s afternoon matches. “I mean, they are tough to beat. They are really strong and they are really good, so we can do this, but we have to play good golf, and we have to be very present and hopefully that’s enough.”

The European duo of Anna Nordqvist and Leona Maguire led the majority of the front nine in their match with Lexi Thompson and Megan Khang. But the Americans kept things tight, never letting their opponents pull clear by more than two holes. Maguire’s bogey putt at No. 9 pulled the Americans back within one, and another European bogey at No. 10 brought the match back to even. The U.S. Team grabbed its first lead when Thompson put her birdie putt to tap-in range, going 1-up with the conceded par. The back-nine was all Team United States taking the 1-up lead and holding it for six of the last eight holes, securing the win for the Americans.

Livescoring for the 2023 Solheim Cup

“I think this week is just purely adrenaline,” Kang said when asked if the crowds help keep her going. “If you feel like you’re tired, you forget about it because the crowd’s right there picking you up. You have your partner looking at you going like, Let’s go. Lexi is literally like, Come on, we can do it. I’m like, I can do it. My little legs can keep up.”

Korda and Corpuz show their skills

The American duo of Nelly Korda and Allisen Corpuz got off to a hot start on Saturday morning, with Korda winning the first two holes with birdies to build a 2-up lead. They extended the advantage to 3 up when Corpuz dropped a par putt at No. 7 after Celine Boutier drained a long bogey putt, forcing the Americans to win the hole outright. Korda and Corpuz extended the lead to 5 up with a par at No. 13, but Hall won the 14th with a 15-foot birdie putt to stay alive. Two holes later, Korda sealed the 5-and-3 victory with a 25-foot birdie putt, punctuated by a big fist pump.

“I think Nelly is really calm, which is kind of what I need,” Corpuz said about how her and Korda compliment each other. “I play pretty low energy. Obviously she has the experience as well. So just knowing that having someone like her by my side has helped me a lot to get comfortable.”

Solheim Cup 2023: A stunning swedish pair

It was the Swedish twosome of Maja Stark and Linn Grant that would strike first going 1-up on the first hole where it would be held for the first three holes. The Americans, Danielle Kang and Andrea Lee, kept the pressure on the Swedes tying the match up on 4 where it stayed until 8. Grant sunk a clutch birdie putt for a quick one hole lead before the U.S. tied it right back up again. Finding themselves 1-down on 12, Kang sunk a winning putt met with roars from the U.S. fans and praise with Captain Stacy Lewis and Vice Captain Natalie Gubles. Back and forth the match went with Europe taking 1-up leads on 13 and 15 before Stark took the air out of the Americans sails with a go ahead birdie putt on 17. With the Americans looking to force a tie, Grant was not going to let that happen sinking her own birdie putt to clinch the point for Team Europe.

“It’s unbelievable,” Stark said about getting to play on this stage with her good friend Grant. “It’s so much fun, especially getting that confidence growing with Suzann putting us together. I mean, two rookies, that’s got to be a little hard for her to be out in the first group yesterday. I think there were a lot of nerves involved yesterday on the first few holes and then getting to play with her again it’s just amazing and I knew that we could do it. It was just, yeah, letting loose and just doing it.”

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Solheim Cup 2023: Pedersen and Ciganda Rally to Gain Point for Europe

Solheim Cup 2023 Foursomes with Carlota Ciganda and Emily Pedersen. (Photo: Getty)
Solheim Cup 2023 Foursomes with Carlota Ciganda and Emily Pedersen. (Photo: Getty)

In a riveting morning at the Solheim Cup 2023, the United States retains a leading edge with a 7:5 scoreboard. However, the resilient European duo, Emily Kristine Pedersen and Carlota Ciganda, clawed back to secure a crucial point for Europe on Saturday morning.

Solheim Cup 2023: Carlota Ciganda on their Foursome

Playing on home turf, Spanish native, Carlota Ciganda, expressed her elation at being part of the tournament in Spain. “Very happy to play here in Spain. That first tee, I mean, it’s so nice,” Ciganda remarked, likening the ambiance to that of a disco. She shared her contentment at partnering with Emily Pedersen, praising their consistency and the advantageous pairing in terms of playing style. “I want to play with Emily. We hit it pretty similar,” Ciganda stated, underscoring the duo’s synchronicity on the course.

The pair exploited the small mistakes made by their counterparts during the foursomes, capitalizing on opportunities to get ahead. “They made a few mistakes, and we just took advantage, so very happy to get that point for Europe,” Ciganda recounted with fervor.

Solheim Cup 2023: Emily Pedersen praises team’s focus

The fightback from the European side was evident from the preceding afternoon, and Emily Pedersen noted the team’s focus and determination that morning, “We knew what the job is, to go out and get points.” She highlighted the team’s ability to remain present and overcome mistakes, maintaining high spirits throughout the round. “We were really good at staying present… we just kept on fighting, kept the spirits high.”

The momentum shift from the previous day was palpable, with the European duo aiming to mitigate any further advancements by the Americans, who are renowned for their strength and competence in the sport. Ciganda emphasized, “They are tough to beat. They are really strong and they are really good, so we can do this, but we have to play good golf, and we have to be very present.”

The Europeans were determined to start early and secure points ahead of the Americans, a sentiment echoed by Pedersen, “It felt good to go out early… so we can get up and get ahead of the Americans.” The duo manifested relentless vigor, with Ciganda acknowledging that despite the Americans’ steady play and the fast greens that morning, they never let up. “They did make a few putts. The greens are tricky. They were fast this morning, so I think speed was key.”

Livescoring for the 2023 Solheim Cup

With her sixth Solheim Cup appearance, Ciganda, bolstered by enthusiastic home support, shared her love for playing in Spain and emphasized her enjoyment of every moment. “I love Spain. This is home for me and it’s just so special to play here with friends, with family.”

In summary, the dynamic European pair of Emily Pedersen and Carlota Ciganda showed resilience and focus to secure an essential point for Europe amidst the charged atmosphere and relentless pressure from the strong American side. The home crowd’s support elevated the experience for Ciganda, making it a memorable round, imbued with determination and national pride. The United States, however, maintains a delicate lead in the Solheim Cup, making the upcoming matches decisive and highly anticipated.

(This article was created with the help of AI)

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Solheim Cup 2023: European point winners Leona Maguire and Georgia Hall

Leona Maguire at the Solheim Cup 2023. (Photo: Getty)
Leona Maguire at the Solheim Cup 2023. (Photo: Getty)

Leona Maguire and Georgia Hall made the first point for Team Europe at the Solheim Cup 2023 when they won their fourball match against Lexi Thompson and Lilia Vu.

Livescoring for the 2023 Solheim Cup
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Solheim Cup 2023: Team Europe catches up in the Fourballs

Team Europe playing catch up in the fourballs at the 2023 Solheim Cup. (Photo: Getty)
Team Europe playing catch up in the fourballs at the 2023 Solheim Cup. (Photo: Getty)

All four fourball matches on Friday afternoon at the Solheim Cup 2023 were hard contested. While Team Europe secured itself 3 of the 4 possible points, Team USA will still take the lead with a total of 5 points into Saturday.

Livescoring for the 2023 Solheim Cup

Solheim Cup 2023: Fourball Matches

Match 5 – Rose Zhang/Megan Khang (USA) tied Gemma Dryburgh/Madelene Sagstrom (EUR)

The United States held the lead from the jump, going 1-up after the first hole. It stayed a 1-up USA advantage through three before Madelene Sagstrom birdied No. 4, deadlocking the match for another hole. Then, Rose Zhang birdied No. 4 just to find the match tied once again after another European birdie on 6. Megan Khang put the Americans back in the lead, where it stayed until being knotted up after 12. The Europeans took their first lead of the match thanks to another Sagstrom birdie but quickly found themselves tied again after 15. Gemma Dryburgh looked to give Europe the edge again after holing out from the fiarway on 16, but Zhang sunk a clutch birdie putt to keep the match dormy. A round of pars on 18 kept the score that way, securing a half point for each squad.

“Halves are huge. I think from past Solheims, you forget how important halves are,” said Khang when asked about how important the half-point was for the team. “But, you know, obviously we’d love to get a full point, but Madelene and Gemma played really well and it was a fun match, honestly. Shots were exchanged, a couple tap-ins here and there from both teams, and again, both clutch putts from both, like, Gemma, Madelene, and everyone in the group.”

Match 6 – Georgia Hall/Leona Maguire (EUR) def. Lexi Thompson/Lilia Vu (USA) – 1 up

After losing each of their foursomes matches this morning, Georgia Hall and Leona Maguire took the Solheim Cup stage again, this time paired together for fourball. The duo stayed even with Americans Lexi Thompson and Solheim Cup rookie Lilia Vu through the first three holes. Hall birdied hole No. 4, giving Europe the 1-up lead for the next nine holes. On 14, Thompson drove the green on the short par 4 and sunk an eagle putt to knot the match. Not for long, though, as the Europeans once again reclaimed the lead and held it for Nos. 15 and 16 before Vu birdied hole 17, tying it up just before the final hole. Coming down to the wire, Maguire chipped in for an impressive birdie and the Americans could not match it, giving Europe their first full point of the event.

“I think our games complement each other really well,” Hall said about why her and Maguire make good partners. “Leona’s short game, as you saw, is phenomenal. I think having a short iron into some holes that gives us maybe a bit more of an aggressive play. But we get on really well, and I think we know each other’s games pretty good. Yeah, it’s nice to be undefeated.”

Match 7 – Jennifer Kupcho/Allisen Corpuz (USA) tied Maja Stark/Emily Kristine Pedersen (EUR)

The U.S. Team took the early 1-up lead thanks to a birdie from Jennifer Kupcho. Her and partner Allisen Corpuz stayed comfortably in the lead through five of the first six holes until Maja Stark tied the match with a birdie on No. 7. America reclaimed the lead on 8 and held it for the next three holes until Emily Kristine Pedersen aced hole No. 12, using her 7-iron to earn just the second hole-in-one in Solheim Cup history and first since Vice Captain Anna Nordqvist made one in 2013. The celebration did not last long with Kupcho adding another birdie on No. 13, giving the U.S. the lead through 15 where Europe tied it up once again. After an even 17, the teams took to No. 18 with the match on the line. Corpuz applied the pressure, sinking a birdie putt to give America the chance before Stark stared down a birdie putt of her own, sinking it and halving the match. 

“Yeah, I mean, I made a lot of birdies. She made a lot of birdies. They made a couple of really good shots holing out. So it was a good match. We played really well,” said Kupcho of the match. 

Match 8 – Carlota Ciganda/Linn Grant (EUR)def. Angel Yin/Ally Ewing (USA) – 4 and 2

In front of her home crowd, Spaniard Carlota Ciganda and her frouball partner Linn Grant earned a decisive win over Angel Yin and Ally Ewing. Ciganda birdied hole one, giving the Europeans their first lead of the day. That lead gradually grew as the matches went on, thanks to low scores by Ciganda and Grant on No. 4, which pushed the lead to two. Yin birdied No. 6, bringing the lead within one. It would stay that way for the next four holes until a Grant birdie on 11 and another Ciganda birdie on 14 put the Europeans 3-up. They finished 4&2 thanks to a pair of birdies on 16, giving Europe their second full point of the day. 

“I was just embracing it and having fun. I think the atmosphere on the first hole, it’s amazing. I’m so happy that we get to play here in Spain. It’s very special for me. I think, yeah, we played great. I feel very comfortable with Linn. She’s an amazing player. I really like how she is on the course and I think that we played a really good four-ball and we were in control all the time. Hopefully, we can keep it the same tomorrow,” said Ciganda. 

(Text: LPGA Communications)

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Suzann Pettersen: “These players are hungry”

Suzann Pettersen at the Solheim Cup 2023. (Photo: Getty)
Suzann Pettersen at the Solheim Cup 2023. (Photo: Getty)

Eight matches lie behind the two Solheim Cup teams. In the morning, the Americans clearly had the edge and took four out of four points. Captain Suzann Pettersen seems to have given her players just the right amount of support, as they fought valiantly against the favorites in the afternoon and secured three out of four points. In the interview, Suzann Pettersen is confident about the weekend.

Suzann Pettersen in the interview after day 1 of the Solheim Cup

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2023 Ryder Cup: Xander Schauffele, the Olympic champion on Team USA

Ryder Cup 2023: Xander Schauffele part of Team USA (Photo: Getty)
Ryder Cup 2023: Xander Schauffele part of Team USA (Photo: Getty)

The 29-year-old American Xander Schauffele is currently the third best American in the world rankings. In the past season he was not able to win, but due to permanent strong performances he secures a place in Team USA for the Ryder Cup 2023 in Rome. In 2021, he was already part of the team that is currently the reigning Ryder Cup winner thanks to a historically high victory.

Xander Schauffele at the Ryder Cup 2023

Without missing the cut in the past PGA Tour season and with ten top-10 finishes, Xander Schauffele is currently one of the best golfers in the world. Thanks to these achievements, he was one of six players to qualify for the 2023 Ryder Cup via the points ranking. In 2021, he traveled with the team as a captain’s pick; this year, he is a seeded player.

Schauffele did not manage a victory this season. He just missed his eighth PGA Tour victory at the Wells Fargo Championship, finishing second. But his consistency made him stand out, not missing a cut in the 2022/23 season. A total of ten top-10 finishes, including the Masters and the US Open, prove his strength. He finished in the top 20 at each of the other two major tournaments. 17 top 25 finishes in 21 tournaments is a statistic that is more than respectable.

Xander Schauffele: A team player at the Ryder Cup

When Xander Schauffele made his Ryder Cup debut the year before last, he won all his matches with his team partners and earned important points for his team. He was only defeated in the singles match, but that was against none other than Rory McIlroy.

He scored his first point together with his teammate and also member of this year’s team Patrick Cantlay, against McIlroy and Poulter in the foursome. On the same day, he competed again, this time together with Dustin Johnson in the four-ball against Casey and Wiesberger, and earned the second point for Team USA. He had to admit defeat against Rory McIlroy after 16 holes. A promising statistic for the Ryder Cup 2023 in Rome.

Xander Schauffele’s greatest achievements and prize money

Schauffele joined the PGA Tour in 2017. In his debut season, he won the Greenbrier Classic and his supposed biggest success, the Tour Championship to close the season. It was an introduction to the PGA Tour that made an impression. He repeated his performance the following season, winning the Sentry Tournament of Champions and the World Golf Championship, two tournaments again. He then had his most successful year in the 2021/22 season in which he claimed a whopping three victories. The Genesis Scottish Open, the Zurich Classic of New Orleans and one of the most prestigious tournaments, the Travelers Championship. In addition, he won the gold medal for the USA at the 2020 Olympic Games.

In the past season, he won prize money of around 8.5 million dollars, in addition to 6.5 million for second place in the final tournament, the Tour Championship. In his entire career, he has finished in the top 10 50 times in 160 tournaments, 37 of them in the top 5, and with a total of seven victories on the PGA Tour, he has won almost 40 million dollars in prize money.

A look inside Xander Schauffele’s bag for the 2023 Ryder Cup

The reigning Olympic champion will be using the latest models from his sponsor Callaway at the Ryder Cup. The drivers and woods of the Paradym series are also convincing for the American and he gets the Triple Diamond models in his bag. This variant is designed especially for high swing speeds and is intended to generate that little bit of extra length. In addition, he supplements the long game with the Callaway Apex UW Hybrid as an option for hitting from the fairway. For irons, Schauffele relies on the Callaway Apex TCB. The 2021 Cavity Back Players irons get the most out of Schauffele’s shot with a cavity behind the face. When it comes to wedges, the American then uses a smorgasbord of different brands and models. With 52 degrees, the Callaway Jaws Raw are represented, for the sand wedge he relies on the Titleist Vokey SM6 and as a lob wedge he also uses the WedgeWork Lobwedge from Titleist. The Toulon putter in a prototype version completes the bag. As a playing ball, he chooses the top model from Callaway and thus relies on the Callaway Chrome Soft X.