Category: Professionals

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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.

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2023 Ryder Cup: Patrick Cantlay as world number 5 in portrait

Will Patrick Cantlay also be cheering at the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome? (Photo: Getty)
Will Patrick Cantlay also be cheering at the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome? (Photo: Getty)

Although Patrick Cantlay remained winless in the 2022/2023 season, he consistently delivered performances at the highest level and is in the top 5 of the world rankings. With this performance, he will be an important component of Team USA at the 2023 Ryder Cup. He already gained his first experience at the continental competition in 2021 and achieved a remarkable record of 3-0-1 (win-loss-draw).

Patrick Cantlay at the 2023 Ryder Cup

After Scottie Scheffler as number 1 in the world, Patrick Cantlay is the second US American to appear in the official golf world rankings. With a consistently convincing performance over the course of the season, the 31-year-old climbed up to 4th place in the meantime over the past weeks and months. In doing so, he earned one of the six team places that are automatically awarded and did not have to rely on the favor of team captain Zach Johnson.

Although Patrick Cantlay is not among the winners of the 2022/2023 season, his record over the last few months is impressive. The American, who has a German father, has made the cut in 18 of the 20 events he has played and has finished in the top 25 15 times. These top finishes include three of his four major starts: with two tied 14th places and one tied ninth place, he proved his ability in what are probably the best tournaments of the year. Thanks to these consistent results, Patrick Cantlay enters the competition as a safe bet.

Patrick Cantlay has not yet allowed himself a lapse at the Ryder Cup

This will be Patrick Cantlay’s second appearance at the Ryder Cup. In 2021, he made his debut at the popular event and actively supported Team USA on its way to victory. With three wins and a draw in four rounds played, he collected 3.5 important points for his team. Cantlay did not suffer a defeat.

The then 29-year-old scored his first point as a duo with his friend and teammate Xander Schauffele. After 15 holes played, they beat Rory McIlroy and Ian Poulter in the Foursome. This was followed by a draw in the Fourball against the European competition consisting of Tommy Fleetwood and Viktor Hovland. In Saturday’s Foursome, the Cantlay/Schauffele duo was again victorious – this time against Lee Westwood and Matt Fitzpatrick. Cantlay also showed strength in his final round, the singles competition, scoring his third full point for Team USA against Shane Lowry.

Patrick Cantlay’s most remarkable career

Born in California as one of four children, Patrick Cantlay developed into a promising golf talent during his childhood and youth. After a successful amateur career, he was ranked No. 1 in the world for over a year, he turned professional in 2012 after dropping out of college. Here, over time, he became a dangerous competitor, diligently collecting victories and now has eight PGA Tour successes to his credit. Even as an amateur, he gained his first experience in team competitions with his participation in the Palmer and Walker Cups and has already been part of the Presidents Cup twice. The earnings of his entire golf career now amount to over 42 million US dollars.

Ryder Cup 2023: A look inside Patrick Cantlay’s golf bag

Like his Team USA colleagues Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth, Patrick Cantlay relies on Titleist. With the driver and the 5-wood of the TS series, he gets the predecessor variant of the new TSR models into his bag. His long game is complemented by the 915F 3-wood from 2015 and the brand-new T200 Driving Iron from Titleist’s 2023 T-Series. For irons, Cantlay relies on the 2017 AP2 irons from Titleist’s 718 Series. With a few tweaks, the irons impressed with their sporty cavity-back design and the precision Tour players crave when they were launched six years ago. When it comes to wedges, Cantlay also brings Titleist’s popular classic into the bag. With the Vokey Spin Milled 7 wedge in 46-degree and 52-degree versions, as well as the Vokey Spin Milled 9 wedge with 57- and 61-degree slopes, he has four all-rounders in his bag. Finally, Cantlay is on the greens with a Scotty Cameron T5 prototype. His playing ball is the Pro V1x, the same model used by many of his teammates.

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2023 Ryder Cup: Brooks Koepka and his outstanding record

Ryder Cup 2023: Brooks Koepka is one of the captains picks (Photo: Getty)
Ryder Cup 2023: Brooks Koepka is one of the captains picks (Photo: Getty)

Brooks Koepka is the only player on Team USA who does not play on the PGA Tour, but moved to the controversial LIV Tour last year. Nevertheless, he is one of the top players in the world, which he proved at the major tournaments for which LIV players are also eligible to play. He made the cut in all four tournaments, finishing second and winning one. For Koepka, the 2023 Ryder Cup will be his fourth appearance on Team USA.

Brooks Koepka at the Ryder Cup 2023

Brooks Koepka is one of captain Zack Johnson’s captains picks. Last year he was victorious in Orlando on the LIV Tour and became the first active LIV Tour player to win a major tournament. As one of the year’s four major winners, the choice to take him to the Ryder Cup was almost mandatory for Zach Johnson.

Brooks Koepka is a man of major tournaments. He won the PGA Championship this year for the third time in his career. At the Masters, he finished joint second with compatriot Phil Mickelson. He made the top-20 at the US Open and also made the cut at the British Open. Another win on the LIV Tour confirmed his current top form. His form, combined with his many years of Ryder Cup experience, make him one of the strongest players on Team USA.

The fourth Ryder Cup for Brooks Koepka

Brooks Koepka’s Ryder Cup record shows his strength both as a team and on his own. In a total of twelve matches, he lost only one and won six times. In singles matches, he won two of his three matches, right on his debut with an emphatic result. He shared the second singles match in 2018 with Paul Casey and in the last Ryder Cup he beat Bernd Wiesberger.

Another factor in his selection as a team member for the 2023 Ryder Cup is that he has already been victorious several times in European tournaments. Of these, twice in Spain and once in Italy. This proves that he can cope perfectly with the weather conditions and climate in southern Europe. His confidence will also be a big help for the USA team.

Brooks Koepka’s greatest successes and prize money

His PGA Tour history speaks volumes. He is a man of major tournaments. More than half of his tournament wins have come in major tournaments. He is one of the few players who managed to win both the US Open and the PGA Championship in the same year. The 33-year-old has already won a total of nine titles and five majors in his career. He won both the US Open and the PGA Championship in two consecutive years.

On the LIV Tour, he captains Team Smash GC and has already won two of the tournaments since joining the LIV Tour in 2022. Unlike the PGA Tour, players on the LIV Tour receive guaranteed prize money, which in Brooks Koepka’s case now stands at $69 million. In his PGA Tour career, he earned $43 million in prize money. That makes him one of the best paid golfers in the world.

Ryder Cup 2023: A look inside Brooks Koepka’s bag

The Major winner continued to experiment with his equipment over the past week and months. In addition to various companies, Brooks Koepka also tried out different models from different manufacturers. For his driver, he finally ended up with the ZX5 Mk II model from Srixon instead of the ZX7. With a weight in the back of the sole, the ZX5 helps create a straighter swing path and a bit more launch height compared to the ZX7. For the fairway wood, Koepka looks back to TaylorMade’s 2017 model. The M Series was the predecessor to the current Stealth models and seems to have taken a liking to the American. The M2 wood currently lands in his bag. For the irons, he again relies on Srixon and the blades of the latest series. The ZX7 Mk II irons impress with their slim design and offer Koepka the possibility of different flight curves.
He also relies on Srixon and sister company Cleveland for the wedges. The RTX Zipcore wedges hold up in his bag and seem to have gained his trust around the green. In addition to a Scottie Cameron putter in the Newport 2 Tour variant, Srixon Z-Star Diamond golf balls make it into Koepka’s bag.

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2023 Ryder Cup: Justin Thomas – The controversial Captains Pick

Justin Thomas is part of Team USA for the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome. (Photo: Getty)
Justin Thomas is part of Team USA for the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome. (Photo: Getty)

Justin Thomas was named by captain Zach Johnson to the squad for the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome. This has caused quite a stir as he has not played a good season. Still, his Ryder Cup history speaks for itself. In the past two Ryder Cups in which he has taken part, he has suffered only one defeat in nine matches. In the Dream Team with Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas is also one of the mood setters and pulls the whole team along with his passion.

Justin Thomas at the 2023 Ryder Cup

It was a very mixed season for Thomas. He failed to make the cut in three of the four major tournaments. He was unable to win a tournament and failed to make the FedEx Cup Playoffs at the end of the season for the first time since he started his career in 2013. His best finish was fourth at the World Cup Phoenix Open.

So why would Zack Johnson give one of his captain’s picks to Justin Thomas, who is in a slump of form? Zack Johnson trusts “JT” because he has the skills to compete against the best players in the world. This is also proven by his Ryder Cup statistics, he won six out of nine times and only had to admit defeat once. Over the years, Justin Thomas has earned an outstanding reputation for his consistent performance and team spirit in the Ryder Cup. His contribution to the victory of Team USA 2021 and his commitment to the competition have made him one of the most respected golfers in the prestigious tournament.

Justin Thomas the conqueror of Rory McIlroy at the Ryder Cup

The 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome will be the third of JT’s career. Two years ago, he contributed to the overall victory of the USA with his victory in the singles match against Tyrell Hatton and with his victory in the foursome, together with Jordan Spieth. In the previous Ryder Cup 2018, the USA had to admit defeat, but Justin Thomas was victorious in four of his five matches. The highlight was undoubtedly his victory over Rory McIlroy in the singles match.

Captain Johnson chose Thomas not only for his skills, but also for his passion and character traits. In previous years, he already pulled the entire team along with him and constantly ensured a good mood and motivation with his heart and soul. In an interview, Johnson said, “You don’t just leave JT at home.”

Justin Thomas’ greatest successes and prize money

Thomas’ track record is reflected not only in his victories, but also in his impressive prize money. Since entering the professional golf scene, he has earned around $55 million. Throughout his career, he has claimed some of the most prestigious tournaments on the PGA Tour, including the “PGA Championship” in 2017, where he secured the title for the first time and earned major-winning glory as one of the youngest players in history. His fearless style of play, combined with a precise stroke technique, has allowed him to stand at the top of the world rankings and win the PGA Championship for a second time in 2022.

A look inside Justin Thomas’ bag – this is the equipment he wants to use to shine at the 2023 Ryder Cup.

Justin Thomas also joins Brian Harman in his choice of equipment. Equipped with the latest models from Titleist, the recently stumbling Major winner wants to score points at the Ryder Cup 2023. Thomas will be using the TSR3 driver, one of the latest additions to the Titleist Speed Project. He also relies on the TSR3 series for his woods, in this case a 15-degree 3-wood. For the irons, the American uses the latest variant of the T100 irons as a 4-iron, and from the 5-iron onwards he relies on the Titleist 620 MB Players irons. Thomas also uses the Vokey Spin Milled 9 47 degree, 52 degree and 57 degree wedges. In addition, a Lob wedge from Titleist-Wedgeworks completes the bag. For the putter, Thomas switched back to the Scotty Cameron Phantom X 5.5 Tour in July. The model is inspired by his prototype and features a short slant neck. As a playing ball Thomas chooses the Pro V1x from Titleist.

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2023 Ryder Cup: Collin Morikawa travels to Rome as Captain’s Pick

Pure emotion: Collin Morikawa at the Ryder Cup. (Photo: Getty)
Pure emotion: Collin Morikawa at the Ryder Cup. (Photo: Getty)

At the age of 26, Collin Morikawa will be competing for the American team in the Ryder Cup for the second time. He made his debut in 2021 and made the team again in 2023. His season performance was mixed, and Morikawa did not earn an automatic spot through the world rankings. Nevertheless, he has convinced captain Zach Johnson and takes a place of the six “Captain’s Picks”.

Collin Morikawa at the 2023 Ryder Cup

Collin Morikawa has had a mixed season. After the young golfer experienced a veritable whirlwind start in recent years, sprinting to third place in the world rankings within a very short time, things went up and down for him on the PGA Tour in the 2022/23 season. At the time of his nomination, he was ranked 19th in the world rankings. At the start of last season, around the turn of the year, Morikawa was still collecting some very good finishes and just missed out on victory at the Sentra Tournament of Champions. This was followed by an alternation of solid finishes and missed cuts. Most recently, he delivered very good performances in the playoff tournaments. While he missed the cut at the Open Championship, he placed T26 or better at the three remaining majors.

At the end of the season, his performance was enough to convince captain Zach Johnson of his merits. Collin Morikawa is still considered one of the best iron players on the tour and after this season is ranked second in the “Strokes gained” statistics. Not least his performance at the last Ryder Cup speaks for the young up-and-coming talent.

Collin Morikawa’s record at the Ryder Cup

Last year was Collin Morikawa’s first appearance in the continental competition between the USA and Europe. The then 24-year-old played four matches and posted a record of 3-0-1. Morikawa played his three team appearances together with Dustin Johnson. The duo remained invincible, earning three points for Team USA.

Collin Morikawa also put up a good fight in the singles match on Sunday. He did not manage a win against European Ryder Cup rookie Viktor Hovland, but the two shared the point. At the end of the day, the young Morikawa won the tournament together with the American team and will be part of the group again this year.

Collin Morikawa’s successes

In 1997 Collin Morikawa was born in Los Angeles. In his amateur days, Morikawa won numerous golf tournaments and led the world amateur rankings for three weeks in May 2018. His winning streak continued after turning professional in 2019. He survived the cut in 22 tournaments in a row. Only Tiger Woods managed more as a rookie, namely 25. This was followed by his first PGA Tour victory and, in only his second season as a professional, his first major win at the 2020 PGA Championship. In total, the 26-year-old now has two major victories, five PGA Tour wins and four DP World Tour victories.

WITB: Collin Morikawa’s equipment at the 2023 Ryder Cup

Collin Morikawa is all about TaylorMade. His equipment is made up of classics and current models from the brand. From the tee, he relies on the popular SIM driver, and he also uses the classic 3-wood. The 5-wood in the American’s bag is the brand’s latest Stealth 2 series. For the irons, Morikawa uses the range of high-performance Players irons. The 4-iron comes from the P770 series, irons 5 and 6 he gets from the new P7MC irons and from the 7-iron to the pitching wedge he relies on the P7CM model. In this way, Morikawa has put together an ideal combination of distance irons and spin enhancement in the short game. TaylorMade also provides the wedges for the top player. With the brand-new Milled Grind 4 models in various sole grinds, Morikawa can use versatile pitches and chips around the greens in Rome. He chooses the putter from the TP Collection in the “Soto” blade design and reduces the weights used from 10 grams each to 7.5 grams. As a playing ball, he chooses the TP5 5-piece ball from TaylorMade.

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2023 Ryder Cup: Jordan Spieth – The Team Player

Jordan Spieth will compete for Team America for the fifth time at the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome (Photo: Getty)
Jordan Spieth will compete for Team America for the fifth time at the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome (Photo: Getty)

It was to be expected that Jordan Spieth will be one of the Captains Picks. He brings a lot of Ryder Cup experience with him and is hard to beat in a duo with his best friend Justin Thomas. So far, he has not won any of his singles matches, and he will be looking to change that this year. Although his season has been very mixed, it’s hard to imagine the golfing elite without him and he’s one of the best players in the world.

Jordan Spieth at the 2023 Ryder Cup

Jordan Spieth has been named to the U.S. team for the 2023 Ryder Cup as one of the six captain’s picks. It has been impossible to imagine the Ryder Cup team without him for many years. Rome will be his fifth appearance in a continental matchup between the U.S. and Europe. Spieth has not yet managed to win this season. He almost did at the RBC Heritage, but was defeated by Fitzpatrick in a playoff there.

In the current season he achieved six more top-10 finishes. His best major finish came at the Masters Tournament, where he finished T4. He was selected by Zach Johnson not because of his current performances, but because of his long experience and passion for the Ryder Cup. Spieth is comfortable in team competitions. His Ryder Cup statistics also prove that. Eight times he was successful in 14 matches played in fourball and foursome. He has only had problems in the singles matches, where he has not yet managed a victory.

Jordan Spieth: Hard to beat at the Ryder Cup

Jordan Spieth will certainly be playing together again this year with his best friend Justin Thomas, who was also included in Team USA as a captain’s pick. The two already played together successfully as a team at the last two Ryder Cup tournaments in 2021 and 2018. Four of the six matches they played together ended victoriously. Four more Presidents Cup appearances, all of which ended victoriously, make him a team play expert and a great asset to Team USA for the 2023 Ryder Cup.

He has won two of his four Ryder Cups so far. He would like to improve this record. A thorn in the side of the world number twelve is that he has not won any of his singles matches so far. Spieth is a player for the big moments and exceptional shots. In the 2021 Ryder Cup, for example, he played an incredible shot from an almost vertical slope one meter to the flag and still almost fell.

Jordan Spieth’s greatest successes and prize money

The 30-year-old can already look back on a successful career. So far, he has won 13 of the 259 events he has played, missed just 47 cuts and has finished in the top 10 86 times. Spieth has won three majors so far, including two in one year. 2014/15 was his showcase season. In addition to the US Open and the Masters, he won three other tournaments, including the Tour Championship.
He finished in the top 5 53 times and runner up 18 times. That earned the American quite a bit of prize money. His earnings from prize money alone amount to just over $60 million.

Jordan Spieth’s bag at the 2023 Ryder Cup

Like his friend and colleague Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieht relies on Titleist equipment. The Major winner has had the TSR2 Driver in his golf bag since August. The range of woods is supplemented by a 3-wood from the TSR3 series. For the irons, Spieth has chosen the manufacturer’s T100. The sporty Players iron with tungsten weights on the heel and toe of the club is designed for consistent spin and recently received a new version with an improved look. Spieth also relies on the Vokey Spin Milled 9 wedges from last year around the green. Together with a Scottie Cameron prototype putter in blade design, his golf bag is completed. Spieth also uses the Pro V1x as a playing ball, which should be a practical side effect, especially for a potential Foursome match with team-mate Thomas.

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Phil Mickelson’s Heartfelt Warning on the Perils of Gambling

Phil Mickelson opened up on his gambling addiction prior to the beginning NFL season. (Credit: Getty)
Phil Mickelson opened up on his gambling addiction prior to the beginning NFL season. (Credit: Getty)

Phil Mickelson, the renowned golfer with the storied career, has taken to Twitter to share a deeply personal reflection on his past struggles with gambling addiction. As the football season kicks off in the United States, Mickelson’s words serve as a poignant reminder of the perils of betting and the impact it can have on personal relationships.

He begins by acknowledging the majority who enjoy the football season in moderation, indulging in fantasy leagues and friendly bets. However, he candidly admits, “I won’t be betting this year because I crossed the line of moderation and into addiction which isn’t any fun at all.” Mickelson’s struggles were never about financial insecurity, he claims. Instead, the true cost of his addiction was the emotional and relational toll it took on him and his loved ones. A haunting sentiment he recalls from those close to him is: “You’re here but you’re not with us.” This sense of detachment, likened to being in a shelter during a hurricane, oblivious to the destruction outside, encapsulates the isolating nature of addiction.

Phil Mickelson On His Gambling Addiction

Mickelson’s account also highlights the dangers of surrounding oneself with enablers, who can often be mistaken for friends. His public profile added another layer of complexity, making him vulnerable to those who sought to profit from his missteps. Yet, amidst the turmoil, a beacon of support remained: his partner, Amy. He lauds her unwavering love and strength, crediting her with helping him navigate through his “darkest and most difficult times.”

The journey to recovery wasn’t swift. After years of professional help and abstaining from gambling, Mickelson describes a newfound sense of peace. He admits, “I still have a lot of cleaning up to do with those I love the most but I’m doing it slowly and as best I can.”

In closing, Mickelson implores his followers to approach this football season with caution. The allure of betting should never overshadow the value of presence, for, in his words, “the moments with the ones you love will be far more remembered than any bet you win or fantasy league triumph.”

Mickelson’s heartfelt confession underscores the potential dangers of gambling and sports betting. While many engage in such activities harmlessly, it’s crucial to recognize the fine line between enjoyment and addiction. For those teetering on the brink, or already ensnared, Mickelson’s story is a testament to the power of love, professional help, and personal resolve in the face of adversity.

This article was created using AI.

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Highlights Tours Team USA

2023 Solheim Cup: Team USA ready for revenge

This is the trophy Team USA wants to hold in its hands at the 2023 Solheim Cup. (Photo: Getty)
This is the trophy Team USA wants to hold in its hands at the 2023 Solheim Cup. (Photo: Getty)

In just a few days, the 2023 Solheim Cup kicks off in Spain. After two losses in a row, Team USA will try to reclaim the coveted trophy at the Finca Cortesin Golf Club in Andalusia. Captain Stacy Lewis is relying on detailed data analysis to assemble the team for victory.

Team USA at the 2023 Solheim Cup in Spain

When taking a look at Team USA for the Solheim Cup 2023, one thing stands out immediately: Compared to Team Europe, the U.S. team is significantly younger and less experienced. An average age of 29 years and a total of 31 participations in the Solheim Cup by the Europeans contrasts with an average age of 25 years and a total of only 17 participations by Team USA. In addition, Stacy Lewis (38) is the youngest US captain ever. This makes the participation of an experienced player like Lexi Thompson, who plays a leadership role in the inexperienced team, all the more important.

There are five rookies competing for Team USA in this year’s Solheim Cup, Lilia Vu, Rose Zhang, Allisen Corpuz, Andrea Lee and Cheyenne Knight. But Vu and Zhang in particular have their work cut out for them: while Lilia Vu is ranked second in the Rolex Rankings after winning two majors, Rose Zhang qualified for the Solheim Cup just a few months after starting her professional career at the age of 20.

2023 Solheim Cup: Revenge thanks to statistical data?

The young rookies are joined by Team USA’s three most experienced golfers in Lexi Thompson (28), Danielle Kang (30) and Ally Ewing (30). Jennifer Kupcho, Megan Khang, Angel Yin and Nelly Korda – number three in the Rolex Rankings – complete the team. The deciding factor for potential success will certainly be which players captain Stacy Lewis pairs for the tournament. “As we get closer to the event, we’re starting to look into pairings, ’cause the data can, based on the course, simulate who’ll play well together,” Lewis said in an interview with Golf.com.

Statistical data in general plays a big role in the captain’s tournament preparation for the 2023 Solheim Cup, as she revealed in the interview, “When I was announced as captain, I started doing research and reading, including [Shane Ryan’s] book about the Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits. It talked a lot about analytics – what the guys do, the two different [analytics firms] the teams used.”

“Quirkly” golf course in beautiful Spain

The captain has an unusual opinion about the venue, the Finca Cortesin golf course in Andalusia: “Finca is beautiful. The resort is awesome. Five stars. So it’s gonna be great for players to stay on-site. The golf course itself is a little quirky. It’s got some funny holes, and you’re on the side of a mountain, so it’s hilly. It’s gonna be a tough walk for the players.” The question is whether the young star power around Lexi Thompson will be enough for Team USA to win the Solheim Cup on this course, or will the lack of experience prove to be a stumbling block?

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Ryder Cup 2023: Tyrrell Hatton with third participation in a row

Tyrrell Hatton will compete in the 2023 Ryder Cup for the third time. (Photo: Getty)
Tyrrell Hatton will compete in the 2023 Ryder Cup for the third time. (Photo: Getty)

The Ryder Cup 2023 is just around the corner. Tyrrell Hatton will be part of the team again this year. Despite rather disappointing performances at the Major tournaments and a season without a title so far, the 31-year-old Englishman qualified for Team Europe for the third time in a row. Alongside Viktor Hovland, Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm, Hatton is thus the fourth player who will certainly be competing for the European team at the Ryder Cup. Known for his temperament, Hatton could be a valuable points contributor for Team Europe – as long as he keeps his emotions in check.

Tyrrell Hatton at the Ryder Cup 2023

In a year that has so far lacked major success, Hatton qualified for the Ryder Cup through consistent performances and a strong finish on the world points list. With Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm qualifying via the European points list, Hatton, with the fourth-best world points score among European players, made the jump to one of the contested spots for the 2023 Ryder Cup.

For Team Europe, the talented Englishman could be a key to success. This season, for example, the 31-year-old is once again proving that he is one of the best golfers in the world, with seven top-10 finishes in 21 tournaments played in 2023 and only one missed cut. While Hatton did not manage a top finish at the majors, his best results this year include a runner-up finish at the Players Championship and a shared third place at the Wells Fargo Championship and the Canadian Open.

Tyrrell Hatton’s third consecutive Ryder Cup appearance

For Hatton, the participation in the 2023 Ryder Cup represents his third consecutive involvement in the tournament. The two previous competitions in 2018 and 2021 could not have been more contrasting. While Team Europe claimed a convincing victory in France in 2018, Hatton and Co. suffered a historic defeat at the hands of Team USA in Wisconsin in 2021. Hatton himself turned in solid performances in both tournaments, contributing one point (1-2-0) in 2018 and 1.5 points (1-2-1) in 2021.

For the 2023 Ryder Cup in Italy, the European team will be looking for revenge for 2021 despite being perceived underdogs. “I think Europe will have a strong team. The media will portray us as underdogs, but we will have a very strong team,” Hatton announced in an interview with talkSPORT. In any case, the fact that Team USA has not been able to win on European soil for 30 years speaks in favor of success for the Europeans.

Tyrrell Hatton: Dry spell and great successes

The breakthrough in his career came in 2016 when Tyrrell Hatton won the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. Particularly impressive in this first big success were the 62 strokes in round three. In the following years, Hatton collected five more successes on the European Tour and won the Arnold Palmer Invitational on the PGA Tour in 2020. He also won the 2018 Ryder Cup with Team Europe, but since his victory in 2021 at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, Tyrrell Hatton has been waiting for another trophy. A triumph at the 2023 Ryder Cup would certainly be a welcome sense of achievement for him in the context of this dry spell and will provide extra motivation.

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Professionals

José María Olazábal vice captain for the Ryder Cup 2023

Olazábal is a vice captain for the 2023 Ryder Cup (foto:european tour)
Olazábal is a vice captain for the 2023 Ryder Cup (foto:european tour)

The 57-year-old Spaniard is synonymous with the biennial contest against the United States, having played for Europe on seven occasions from 1987 to 2006; been a Vice Captain on three further occasions, in 2008, 2010 and 2014; and, of course, was Captain for the most famous European comeback victory of all time at Medinah in 2012.
 
In his seven Ryder Cup appearances as a player, which yielded three wins and a tie in 1989 which saw Europe retain the trophy, Olazábal played 31 times, winning 18 of those matches and returning 20½ points in total for the European cause. His partnership with the late, great Seve Ballesteros still stands head and shoulders above any other pairing in the contest’s history, the Spanish duo winning 12 points from their 15 outings together.

Olázabal is looking back on a long and successful career

Outside of the Ryder Cup arena, Olazábal has notched up 33 professional wins worldwide in a storied career, including 23 on the European Tour from 1986 to 2005. But he is best remembered for his two Masters triumphs at Augusta National – in 1994 and 1999 – the second being especially emotional as it came in the wake of fears that rheumatoid arthritis might mean he would never play professionally again.
 
Olazábal joins the successful European Ryder Cup Captain of 2018, Denmark’s Thomas Bjørn, in Luke Donald’s backroom team, alongside Italian Edoardo Molinari, a winner with Team Europe in 2010, and Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts, a member of Olazábal’s winning Medinah team alongside Donald in 2012.

Olazábal: “It was a very nice surprise to be asked by Luke.”

 “With my previous experiences in the Ryder Cup I am obviously thrilled to be back involved once again. I am really looking forward to feeling that special adrenaline flow, the intensity and the electricity that only the Ryder Cup can bring – I’m really excited to be part of it all again.
 
“It was a very nice surprise to be asked by Luke. I didn’t expect it but I was delighted when the call came. My role will be the same as the rest of the Vice Captains, namely to support and help Luke and the 12 players in any way we can, so they can perform at their best and be able to win that trophy back.
 
“I have no doubts that Luke will be a great Captain. He has played in the Ryder Cup four times and won four times and he therefore knows what is required to perform well in the match.
 
“He is great on detail and how important things like team spirit are. On top of all of that, he is still very much a competitive player playing at a high level. Because of that he is close to the players and he knows what they will need to perform to their best. My job as Vice-Captain will be to help him achieve that.”

Luke Donald: “Just his mere presence brings energy.”

“When you think of José María Olázabal, you immediately think of the Ryder Cup. He brings amazing passion and I couldn’t be more excited to have him on board.
 
“He was my Captain when I last played in the Ryder Cup – at Medinah in 2012 – and I thoroughly enjoyed playing for him that year. He picked me to play number one in the singles and that was hugely gratifying.
 
“To know he had that respect and confidence in me to go out and lead Europe in such a pressurised last day environment meant a lot and this feels, perhaps, that I am returning that favour a little bit, as I have a huge amount of confidence in him.
 
“Just his mere presence brings energy to any Ryder Cup environment and I saw that first hand when I asked him to be involved in the Hero Cup we staged in Abu Dhabi at the beginning of this year.
 
“He was such a big part of that week, being with the players and sharing stories with them of just what the Ryder Cup is all about. People notice when José María walks into a room and you could see at the Hero Cup how much everyone respected him and admired him for all he’s done in the game. I could not be more excited to have him on my team.”

Text: European Tour Group Communications