Month: September 2023

Categories
Highlights Tours

Ryder Cup 2023: Cantlay uses the rough crowd as fuel

Patrick Cantlay at the 18th hole in the Ryder Cup 2023 Saturday fourballs.
Patrick Cantlay at the 18th hole in the Ryder Cup 2023 Saturday fourballs.

Patrick Cantlay and Wyndham Clark decide the last match of the day against Rory McIlroy and Matt Fitzpatrick on the 18th hole for themselves. With strong nerves Cantlay putted the American team to victory in this match. The day was accompanied by rumors about his missing hat and possible money demands in Team USA. Cantlay now said, “the hat just doesn’t fit me, it’s as simple as that”.

Follow the Ryder Cup 2023 Livescoring

Patrick Cantlay at the Ryder Cup 2023: “We use the rough crowd as fuel”

Q. How clutch was that for you?

PATRICK CANTLAY: Hopefully have a ray of light and we can build on this session and try and pull off a big victory tomorrow.

Q. What was it like playing with this guy in this atmosphere?

WYNDHAM CLARK: Well, I told him, I said, I lose my money games all the time so I hope he can go out and make birdies and beat me like a money game. Coming down the stretch, he showed why he’s the best in the world.

Q. Hat gate has stormed into Italy from the United States. First of all why aren’t you wearing a hat?

PATRICK CANTLAY: It just doesn’t fit. It’s as simple as that. I didn’t wear it at Whistling Straits because the hat just doesn’t fit, so that’s really all it is?

Q. We talked to Sam Burns a little bit earlier about the crowd roughing him up a little bit about his mullet and got on you about the hat as well. Does that feed positive energy from your way when you’re getting it from a road crowd and giving it back to them, just a little bit, how much fun are you actually having?

PATRICK CANTLAY: I was smiling every day. I told him walking to the first tee, use it as fuel and we did all day.

Categories
Highlights Tours

Ryder Cup 2023: MacIntyre and Rose with impressive points win

MacIntyre and Rose at the 2023 Ryder Cup 2023 (Foto: Getty)
MacIntyre and Rose at the 2023 Ryder Cup 2023 (Foto: Getty)

Robert MacIntyre and Justin Rose won their match against the veteran team of Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth on Saturday afternoon. They were certainly considered the underdogs. But they did not let that show for a second. Rose proved that he was made for the Ryder Cup and MacIntyre shone towards the end of the match. The next point win for Team Europe at the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome.

See the full leaderboard of the Ryder Cup 2023

Saturday afternoon in the 2023 Ryder Cup for Rose and MacIntyre

You put your heart and soul trying to make this Ryder Cup, and half a point alongside this fellow yesterday and a full point today, describe your emotions?

Robert MacIntyre: It’s been brilliant. Today is everything I’ve dreamed of. I worked hard for it. Yesterday felt like I let Justin down a little bit but he stood up to the challenge and today he was brilliant again and thankfully I helped him out.

That match was tidy into the back nine. I’m sure you should have been using your experience to give him a pep talk. What were you saying?

Justin Rose: I just knew there was a huge opportunity today. I feel like we got our nose just in front there, obviously 9 and 10, we went 1 up and I just felt like when they both missed the fairway at 12, I felt like it was 20 minutes — I said to Bobby, the next 20 minutes, we have to putt our foot down and get out and get a stranglehold on this match. That’s exactly what happened. We both let them off the hook there at No. 12 which I kind of — at that point, because these two are slippery, do you know what I mean; they are very tough to beat. Bobby made that great birdie on the par 3, and the up-and-down at 15, I was barking at him all the way the last few holes, we’ve got to do this, we’ve got to do that. We absolutely did exactly what we needed to do and we were the strong pairing.

Two or three clutch moments there. Describe what goes through your mind and what through your body when you’re standing over a putt to halve a hole that’s absolutely crucial?

Robert MacIntyre: Well, there’s a lot of nerves. But you’ve got to embrace them. I’ve had it before, never in this magnitude but I just knew what to do. I was actually happy when I got to that bunker shot and it was plugged because I knew I could get an 8 on it. A lot of people would have been worried about it but I just said to Greg, you know what, it’s better than being plugged in that bunker. You’ve just got to trust what you do, and to have a guy like Justin beside to you kind of guide you is massive

Categories
Highlights Tours

Ryder Cup 2023: Europe heads into final day with five-point lead

Justin Rose secures the point at the Ryder Cup 2023. (Photo: Getty)
Justin Rose secures the point at the Ryder Cup 2023. (Photo: Getty)

Saturday afternoon in Rome brings a small turnaround in the narrative of the 2023 Ryder Cup so far. The Americans can at least fight their way back into the tournament with three wins in Saturday’s fourballs. Only Ryder Cup veteran Justin Rose secures a point in his match with Robert MacIntyre. Thus, Europe nevertheless goes into the singles matches and the final day in Rome with a comfortable lead.

Europe vs USA
10,5 5,5
Follow the Ryder Cup 2023 Livescoring

Ryder Cup 2023: The results of the four Fourballs of Saturday

Europe Result USA
Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg  4&3 USA Sam Burns and Collin Morikawa

After the incredible performance in the foursomes with the 9&7 victory over Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka, the Scandinavian duo can’t keep their form in the afternoon in the Fourballs. Hovland and Aberg have to fight for every tied hole from the start after the Americans can already take the lead on hole 1. The only point win on the front nine for Team Europe comes on hole 4.  Team USA goes into the back nine with 4Up and Hovland/Aberg fight to stay in the match. At one point it looked like a comeback with scores on holes 13 and 14, but they would have to win every hole to turn the match around. Then on number 15, the par was enough to “All Square” the hole and win the match for Sam Burns and Collin Morikawa. This means that Hovland has to give up the first point in this Ryder Cup 2023.

Europe Result USA
Nicolai Hojgaard and Tommy Fleetwood 2 & 1 USA Max Homa and Brian Harman

The match Tommy Fleetwood and Nicolai Hojgaard against Max Homa and Brian Harman developed early in favor of the American team. After a few hole losses on the front nine, Team Europe goes into the second half of the round with 4Down. It was not until the back nine that Team Europe was able to catch up and win a few holes. Fleetwood and Hojgaard show strong nerves and fight their way back to the dominating Americans with scores on holes 10 and 14. The first match hole then follows on hole 16, where Harman and Homa could decide the match in their favor. With a strong chip-in, Fleetwood at least temporarily prevents the match loss. At the following hole, however, the Europeans finally have to admit defeat after neither Fleetwood nor Hojgaard could hole the birdie on the par 3. Team USA wins 2&1 and secures the second point of this fourball session.

Europe Result USA
Justin Rose and Robert MacIntyre 3 & 2 Europa Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas

Rose and MacIntyre start with an exchange of blows on the front nine. Two holes go to the Europeans, Spieth and Thomas can secure two points. But on the back nine, the veteran of Team Europe really turns up the heat and relegates the duo from the USA to the spectator ranks. First, Rose gets the important point on the 10th hole for 1-up, then “Bob” MacIntyre can hole out for a birdie and a win on the 13th hole. Rose then takes the third point of the back nine on hole 14. After that, the two only had to maintain their lead to finally end the match on hole 16. Of course, Justin Rose shows his Ryder Cup strength here as well and holes the putt for a 3&2 win in front of the packed grandstands on the 16th hole.

Europe Result USA
Rory McIlroy and Matt Fitzpatrick 1Up USA Patrick Cantlay and Wyndham Clark

Rory McIlroy and Matt Fitzpatrick find themselves in probably the most even match of the afternoon. The thriller between the Europeans and Cantlay/Clark allows only one hole win for Europe on the front nine. Team USA can secure two holes on the back nine, the most important of which is certainly hole 17 with a nerve-racking putt from around three meters to bring the match to a split on the 18th hole. Team Europe secured another point on hole 14 to make it all square before the final hole. After two weak drives by the Europeans, Cantlay and Clark have every chance to win the 18th hole. Finally Cantlay holes for birdie and Fitzpatrick has the chance for a tie with the birdie putt on the part of the Europeans, after McIlroy already missed the birdie. The putt falls short and the Americans finish the afternoon with three points out of four.

Categories
Live

Collin Morikawa And Sam Burns Defeat Scandinavian Record Duo

Sam Burns and Collin Morikawa defeat Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg on Saturday afternoon at the 2023 Ryder Cup. (Photo: Getty)
Sam Burns and Collin Morikawa defeat Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg on Saturday afternoon at the 2023 Ryder Cup. (Photo: Getty)

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.

Follow the Ryder Cup 2023 Livescoring

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.

Categories
Live

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

Rory McIlroy (left) and Tommy Fleetwood are undefeated after three sessions at the 20223 Ryder Cup. (Credit: Getty)
Rory McIlroy (left) and Tommy Fleetwood are undefeated after three sessions at the 20223 Ryder Cup. (Credit: Getty)

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)

Categories
Highlights Tours

Ryder Cup 2023: Max Homa and Brian Harman Win First Match for Team USA

Brian Harman at the 2023 Ryder Cup. (Photo: Getty)
Brian Harman at the 2023 Ryder Cup. (Photo: Getty)

Max Homa and Brian Harman secured the first full point for Team USA in their 2023 Ryder Cup match against Sepp Straka and Shane Lowry. While both Teams were on equal footing on the front nine, Harman and Homa gained the upper hand on the back nine with two birdies and an eagle in a row.

Follow the Ryder Cup 2023 Livescoring

Max Homa and Brian Harman at the Ryder Cup 2023

Q. Many congratulations, the first full point for Team USA. How big, how special does this moment feel?

MAX HOMA: It’s good. We needed something to go our way. I felt like we were ready this morning. We were ready to come out and play some great golf which we did. Somebody had to start a spark, so I’m just glad it was us.

Q. How fired up were you?

BRIAN HARMAN: Yeah, Ludvig has been playing so well, making so many putts, chipping in, so it was good to come out and at least put red up on the board.

Q. Describe the vibe in the U.S. camp? What was the intensity level heading out?

MAX HOMA: Great. We know how good we are. Everybody knows how good the man to my left is. We obviously are in a big hole but we have the right guys to dig ourselves out of it.

Q. Can this give the team the spark you need?

BRIAN HARMAN: Hope so. We are going to rest up and get ready for this afternoon.

Categories
Highlights Tours

Ryder Cup 2023: Team Europe overruns its American opponents

Tommy Fleetwood won his match alongside Rory McIlroy. (Photo: Getty)
Tommy Fleetwood won his match alongside Rory McIlroy. (Photo: Getty)

The second round of Foursomes is behind the 24 players of the Ryder Cup 2023. While Luke Donald continued to rely on the pairings of the previous day, Zach Johnson put his players together in new pairings. However, these remained largely unsuccessful on the second day. Only Max Homa and Brian Harman secured a point for the American team. The Europeans, meanwhile, appear unstoppable.

Europe vs USA
9,5   2,5

Ryder Cup 2023: The four Foursomes of Saturday

Europe Ergebnis USA
Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg  9 & 7 Europe Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka

Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg are making history. After winning points in the first round on Friday, the Scandinavian duo delivered a flawless performance from the start on Saturday as well, leaving their rivals no chance. Undeterred by the fact that they were up against the world’s No. 1 and a reigning major champion, the young duo scored hole after hole to claim the highest foursome victory in Ryder Cup history. After only eleven holes played, it was clear that Team USA had no chance in this duel. With Hovland and Aberg, a new dream duo was born.

Europe Ergebnis USA
Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood 2 & 1 Europe Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas

Rory McIlroy remains undefeated at the Ryder Cup 2023. Teaming up with Tommy Fleetwood, he secured the next point for the European account on the morning of the second day. Facing a challenge from Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas, the pair went head-to-head at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club. In the end, the Team Europe players had the edge.

Europe Ergebnis USA
Shane Lowry and Sepp Straka 4 & 2 USA Max Homa and Brian Harman

First point win for Team USA: Max Homa and Brian Harman broke the Americans’ losing streak and claimed the first full point win for the defending champions. While the team was still on par with their European rivals, Lowry and Straka, on the front nine, they quickly developed into the favorites of the match on the back nine. They finished the match with a birdie on the par-3 16th to celebrate Team USA’s first win.

Europe Ergebnis USA
Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton 2 & 1 Europe Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele

The match between Rahm/Hatton and Cantlay/Schauffele was exciting until the last second. Although the Europeans were clearly superior in the meantime, the Americans fought their way back on the back nine. Both teams showed nerves of steel under the enormous pressure situation and challenged each other to top performances. On the par-3 17th, Rahm finally put his tee shot to the flag, while Schauffele failed to birdie the equally successful tee shot of his team partner Cantlay. Point number 3 for Europe on Saturday morning.

Categories
Highlights Tours

Ryder Cup 2023: Aberg and Hovland with Historic Foursome Win

Victor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg will make history at the 2023 Ryder Cup. (Photo: Getty)
Victor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg will make history at the 2023 Ryder Cup. (Photo: Getty)

Unbelievable. On the second day of the 2023 Ryder Cup, Ludvig Aberg and Viktor Hovland make golf history. In the morning foursomes, the two Scandinavians dominated against none other than world number one Scottie Scheffler and his teammate Brooks Koepka. With a 9&7, the two Europeans swept the US boys off the course and thus ensured the highest Foursomes victory in the history of the Ryder Cup.

Sensational performance at the 2023 Ryder Cup by Ludvig Aberg and Viktor Hovland

Nobody would have expected this result in a match in which Scottie Scheffler competed. The ‘9Up’ on the eleventh hole decided the record match in favor of the young Europeans. In the run-up to the match, it seemed likely that the pairing of Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka would have a good chance of winning the first match for Team USA at the 2023 Ryder Cup against the inexperienced Scandinavians. But Aberg and Hovland had other plans.

The failure of the US-Americans is historic. The dispatch with 9&7 is the highest win at the Foursomes in the history of the Ryder Cup. Both Ludvig Aberg and Viktor Hovland played outstanding golf on the second day of the Ryder Cup. On the other hand, Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka also played well below their capabilities and thus enter the history books of the Ryder Cup.

“We’re meeting two strong guys, No. 1 in the world and five-time major champ, so we tried to not give them anything, and we played really, really solid”, Hovland said after their round. “Obviously we didn’t meet a sharp Scottie and Brooks but we played some really nice golf today.”

“I don’t think we could have done a whole lot better. It’s nice to kind of speak our own language and we understand each other. Obviously same humour, same culture. Ludvigs’s a stud. He doesn’t miss a shot, so it’s easy when I’m playing well and he’s playing well and we are just feeding off of each other.”

Ludvig Aberg couldn’t quite believe what was happening. “For me it’s unbelievable, but obviously today was quite surreal at times. Almost pinch myself at times but obviously super happy with it and looking forward to this afternoon.”

Scottie Scheffler reacts emotionally to historic defeat

Ludvig Aberg and Viktor Hovland put pressure on the two US Americans right at the start of the match. After Team Europe won four foursomes the day before, the confidence of the two Europeans was palpable. The first four holes all went to the duo from Scandinavia, on the front nine the two played five birdies and were already in the lead with ‘7Up’. On the back nine, two quick birdies and the resulting hole wins followed and the historic match had already come to an end. After the record defeat Scottie Scheffler let his emotions run free.

Team Europe is off to a historically good start in the 2023 Ryder Cup, putting itself in an ideal position for the remainder of the tournament. Team USA, on the other hand, urgently needs to find its way into the tournament in order to increase the pressure on the Europeans and still turn the tide.

Categories
Highlights Tours

Ryder Cup 2023: Ludvig Aberg inspires with near ace

Ludvig Aberg delivers at the 2023 Ryder Cup. (Photo: Getty)
Ludvig Aberg delivers at the 2023 Ryder Cup. (Photo: Getty)

Ludvig Aberg is probably the surprise in the European team. Thanks to his successes as a newly turned professional, the Swede had virtually booked a direct ticket for the Ryder Cup team. The scores in his first months as a professional speak for themselves, but the atmosphere at the Ryder Cup and the pressure on the players are a different matter.

Aberg, however, already proved in his first round at the 2023 Ryder Cup that he is up to the task and presented himself from his best side on Friday morning alongside Viktor Hovland. The Scandinavian duo will also compete in the Foursomes on Saturday morning – with Aberg running at full speed.

Ryder Cup 2023: Just inches away from dream shot

‘5up’ after six holes played. The young Scandinavians give their seasoned opponents, Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka, no chance at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club. The icing on the cake: Ludvig Aberg missed the ace on the first par-3 of the day by a hair’s breadth.

Categories
Live

Ryder Cup 2023: Watch The Highlights of Europes Clean Sweep

Viktor Hovland and Tyrrell Hatton of Team Europe played brilliant on day 1 of the 2023 Ryder Cup. (Credit: Getty)
Viktor Hovland and Tyrrell Hatton of Team Europe played brilliant on day 1 of the 2023 Ryder Cup. (Credit: Getty)

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.

Follow the Ryder Cup 2023 Livescoring

Watch: Highlights Ryder Cup 2023