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Ryder Cup 2023: Max Homa – The newcomer on Team USA

Max Homa is heading to Rome for the 2023 Ryder Cup, the first participation for the 32-year-old. (Photo:Getty)
Max Homa is heading to Rome for the 2023 Ryder Cup, the first participation for the 32-year-old. (Photo:Getty)

The 2023 Ryder Cup awaits, when the famous trophy will be on the line at the Marco Simone Golf in Country Club in Rome at the end of September. Max Homa will be taking part for the first time. With a consistent season and a top-10 finish at the BMW Championship, he took the final step towards qualification.

Max Homa at the Ryder Cup 2023

The No. 7 in the World Golf Ranking (OWGR) is coming off a victory in the 2023 season and is one of three debutants on Team USA. The 32-year-old’s shared fifth-place finish at the BMW Championship secured him the No. 5 spot in the Ryder Cup Standings, making it into the Americans’ 12-man squad. Thanks to his strong finish, Homa does not have to rely on the favor of captain Zach Johnson. Max Homa was able to secure his place around Scheffler and Co. with strong finishes at the highlights on the PGA Tour.

To start the season, Max Homa posted a third-place split finish at the Sentry Tournament of Champions. He followed that up with a win at the 2023 Farmers Insurance Open in late January, then tied for second at the Genesis Invitational in February. A month later, the California native earned a sixth-place split at the Players Championship and followed that up with an eighth-place split at the Wells Fargo Championship in May. His strong showings in the former ‘Designated Events’, as well as T6 at the FedEx St. Jude Championship and a shared fifth-place finish at the BMW Championship, allowed him to play his way up to seventh place in the OWGR. He then finished the season with his best career major finish at the 2023 British Open, tying for tenth.

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Max Homa without Ryder Cup experience yet

Although this is Max Homa’s first time at the Ryder Cup, it is not his first team competition on the international stage. After winning the NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championship, the US American played in the Walkers Cup 2013. The duel between the best US amateurs and their colleagues from Great Britain and Ireland went 17:9 to the US boys. With strong successes on the PGA Tour, Homa recommended himself for the Presidents Cup in 2022. In the duel with the best players outside Europe, Homa showed his class and won each of his four matches in the victory of the USA.

The Ryder Cup 2023 LIVE Feed

Max Homa takes off after a bumpy start

For the Californian, the professional career was to begin in 2013 with his entry onto the PGA Tour. He then had to fight for the tour card for many years and made a detour to the Korn Ferry Tour to qualify for the PGA Tour again. Then in 2019, Homa managed his first win on the PGA Tour. And what a success it was! Homa secured the Wells Fargo Championship and prize money of around US$1.4 million. Then came victory in 2021 at the Genesis Invitational in a playoff with Presidents Cup playing partner Tony Finau. In 2022, he would again take the crown at the Wells Fargo Championship. His CV now includes six victories on the PGA Tour and prize money of more than 10.5 million US dollars.

Max Homa WITB for the 2023 Ryder Cup

The Team USA rookie relies entirely on the Titleist brand for his equipment. From driver to wedge, he will also be using the latest models from the manufacturer at the 2023 Ryder Cup, where he usually prefers the sporty variants with length gain and particularly high flexibility. In addition to the TSR3 driver, Homa also plays the TSR fairway woods. However, here he relies on the 2 model with a focus on tee shots and more forgiveness. For the irons, he relies on the Titleist 620 irons. A demanding player’s iron with little room for error. In the short game, Homa, like many of his colleagues, relies on the Titleist Vokey SM9 with different sole grinds to flexibly master any situation on the course. The Scottie Cameron Mallet putter and the Pro V1 golf ball complete Homa’s golf bag.

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Ryder Cup 2023: Sepp Straka talks about not feeling his arms

Sepp Straka wants to learn from veterans Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose at the Ryder Cup 2023. (Source: Getty)
Sepp Straka wants to learn from veterans Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose at the Ryder Cup 2023. (Source: Getty)

Sepp Straka, the golf prodigy from Austria, shared his delightful experiences from Team Europe’s at the Ryder Cup 2023 locker room, emphasizing the immense bonding and camaraderie the team has developed. “Starting with the practice trip we had here a couple of weeks ago, and even during Wentworth… today was a great day. The team bonding has been incredible,” Straka shared.

Leaderboard of the Ryder Cup 2023

A Journey through Cultures

Straka delves into his personal journey, sharing insights about his cultural assimilation after moving to the States at 14. While he acknowledges the American influence, he harbors a deep connection to his Austrian lineage, “My dad is Austrian. Always made sure I spent a lot of time going back.”

Reflecting on his childhood vacations, he recalls with nostalgia the family trips to Italy, specifically Venice and Legnano,  “it was always our number one destination for trips as a kid. We always drove down to Venice, Legnano. We also did a lot of our junior camps over winter in Legnano. Yeah, always brings back memories coming back to Italy.”

His Austrian roots mixed with his American upbringing have brought a distinctive aura in the team, echoing his multifaceted identity. “I’ve grown up kind of split… I’ve always felt really close to my Austrian heritage,” Straka remarks, emphasizing his dual allegiance. Straka’s enthusiastic participation in team dinners and practice rounds highlights his commitment to fostering unity and building strong connections within the team.

Confronting the pressures at the Ryder Cup 2023

The intense pressure synonymous with the first tee is a topic many players converse about, and Straka is no exception. He reveals his strategy for managing the stress, “You’ve just got to stick to your routine in that situation,” he states, emphasizing the importance of maintaining normalcy in high-pressure environments.

His curiosity and enthusiasm are evident as he seeks advice from veterans like Justin Rose and Rory, aiming to gather insights and perspectives to navigate through his first Ryder Cup experience: “Yeah, definitely, you’ve got to lean on those guys. It’s incredible how many Ryder Cups they have been a part of and been successful in. Yeah, a typical question like, ‘What do you on the first tee box when you can’t feel your arms,’ kind of thing. But yeah, overall the goal is you’ve just got to play golf. But yeah, just sharing stories and hearing stories from them has been helpful.”

“What do you do when you can’t feel your arms?”, the interviewer asked “Hope, I guess. Yeah, maybe just stick to the routine and hope you make a good swing”, Straka responded laughing.

Fourballs or Foursome?

Straka shares his neutrality when it comes to choosing between fourballs or foursomes, citing the different mentalities required for each. He sheds light on the challenges of maintaining rhythm in foursomes, “It’s hard to get into rhythm sometimes, just because you’re only hitting every other shot.”

Straka didn’t hold back in expressing his admiration for the course, finding it highly suitable for match play.  “It’s a good course. It will be great for match play. There’s a lot of high-risk reward shots and a couple drivable par fours and reachable par fives. I think that will be really fun to watch and really fun to play.” Straka’s favorite, number five, stands out as a cool reachable par four, highlighting his penchant for strategic play. Alltough he mentioned the rough as quite a challenging part of the Ryder Cup course. “It’s very thick (…) the blades are really thick and it’s very different than anything you see almost anywhere.”

(This text was created with the help of AI)

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Ryder Cup 2023: “Obviously we enjoy to beat the Americans” – Viktor Hovland

Viktor Hovland hopes to secoure the Ryder Cup 2023. (Source: Getty)
Viktor Hovland hopes to secoure the Ryder Cup 2023. (Source: Getty)

Viktor Hovland, the golf sensation from Team Europe, has had a remarkable individual season. As he steps into the much-anticipated Ryder Cup 2023, he expresses his eagerness to translate his individual accomplishments into a unified team victory. Despite the exceptional year, Hovland maintains a team-first perspective, emphasizing that personal achievements “go out the window” when it comes to the Ryder Cup. The motivation to bring the Cup back to Europe, especially after the events of two years ago, remains high among all team members.

Leaderboard of the Ryder Cup 2023

Hovland eyeing a turnaround from last Ryder Cup

Hovland reflected on his experience at Whistling Straits two years ago, acknowledging the challenges Team Europe faced against a strong U.S. Team: “I felt like I played okay, but I lacked the special things in the matches to where you really flip the momentum around and you can build on a big putt or an up-and-down or maybe a chip-in or something like that. That just wasn’t there”. This year, he brings a more refined game, supplemented with improvements in the short game and a series of accomplishments throughout the year, fostering a belief and confidence that he can extract himself from any situation.

Sharpening the Short Game

The acknowledgment of his limitations around the greens led Hovland to seek guidance from Joe Mayo at the start of the year. With Mayo’s insights into the physics of the short game, Hovland has been working meticulously to enhance his capabilities, understanding the essential differences in approach needed for long drives and short games. “He basically just explained the physics of why I didn’t have a great short game before. It wasn’t because I wasn’t talented enough or I didn’t have the “hands” to do it. I was essentially just getting a little too shallow into the ball and getting way behind it.”

Hate at the Ryder Cup 2023

Hovland was asked about the changing of the rivalry at the Ryder Cup. The reporter reffered his question to former players like Paul McGinley: “Talking to guys like Paul McGinley, he speaks a lot about the rivalry that used to be more clear in the way that Europeans played in Europe, Americans played in America. Nowadays, you guys pretty much all play together. You’ve grown up with Collin Morikawa. How does it affect the rivalry of the Ryder Cup, in your opinion?”

“I can’t speak for the guys that played in the past,” Hovland said, “but it seems that we probably hate each other less than guys used to in the past. “But sure, hate is a big motivator to do well. That’s just a fact. But I think where we are now, we’re more motivated maybe to win for our country and continent. We want to win for Europe. It’s not so much to — obviously we want to beat the Americans. We enjoy that. “But it’s not because we hate the other team. It’s because we love Europe and we want to do well for the people that support us.”

The Role and Impact of Rankings in the Ryder Cup

Despite being one of the highest-ranked players in Team Europe, Hovland downplayed the emphasis on World Rankings: “It just goes out the window this week. Whatever technically the 12th ranked player on the team could be the best player on their team right now, so just because someone is ranked a little bit higher on the World Rankings doesn’t mean that they’re going to be tougher to beat this week.”

(This text was created with the help of AI)

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Ryder Cup 2023 – Jon Rahm: “I would pay to play”

Jon Rahm said he would pay to play in the Ryder Cup 2023. (Source: Getty)
Jon Rahm said he would pay to play in the Ryder Cup 2023. (Source: Getty)

The Ryder Cup 2023 is going to be the third appearance at the prestigious tournament for Jon Rahm. The experienced spaniard, a pivotal figure for Team Europe, radiates an infectious enthusiasm about the Ryder Cup. The camaraderie, the competition, and the collective commitment to victory are elements that Rahm emphasized during a press conference on Tuesday.

Leaderboard of the Ryder Cup 2023

Jon Rahm love the team feeling at the Ryder Cup 2023

Jon Rahm of Team Europe brought forth his views and experiences associated with the Ryder Cup. “It’s incredible,” he shares, speaking about his anticipation and enjoyment at the prestigious event, highlighting the special bonds created amongst the elite golfers. Rahm reveals, “The greatest thing of the Ryder Cup… is going in that team room and seeing all these great golfers come together.” He paints a vivid picture of the unity and enduring relationships that blossom through shared victories and defeats within the team room, enriching the sport’s landscape.

“I don’t have to get paid to come here and perform in front of people.”

While discussing the commercial aspect of the sport, Rahm makes it clear that his passion for golf transcends material gain. Unaware of the financial perks, he admits, “I didn’t even know we got any money… Me, yeah, I don’t have to get paid to come here and perform in front of people.” It’s the love for the game and the joy derived from it that drives him. He even humorously entertains the idea of paying an entry fee to be part of the team: “Probably, yes,” Rahm said, when asked about, if he would pay to play in the Ryder Cup 2023. “This week is a lot of fun, so yeah, I think as long as it’s manageable for everybody on the team, because we have one that was in college like two days ago”, he joked about Ludvig Aberg, who notably, was playing college golf as late as May.  

With new talent like Aberg integrating into the team, Rahm shares insights on the challenges and adaptations involved in transitioning from college to professional golf. He commends Aberg’s potential and advises rookies to stay curious, seek advice, and learn from experienced players. Rahm confesses his introverted nature made his first Ryder Cup daunting, but the subsequent experience was easier and more enriching.

No extra pressure despite ranking

Rahm’s humility and team-centric approach shine through as he dismisses the pressures of being one of the top-ranked players in Team Europe. “It shouldn’t really impact how we prepare for this week,” he stresses, emphasizing that personal achievements should not overshadow the collective goal. It’s the game’s match play nature that resonates with Rahm, where individual focus aligns with the team’s success.

Reflecting on the event’s historical significance, Rahm denotes the ‘87 Ryder Cup victory on American soil and the emotion-laden ‘06 Ryder Cup as monumental moments that fuel his motivation. These moments, coupled with individual accomplishments like Sergio Garcia becoming the all-time leader in points for Europe, showcase the myriad of inspiring stories within the Ryder Cup’s rich history.

(This text was created with the help of AI)

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Foursome format – the rules in match play

Foursome is one of the forms of play at the Ryder Cup. (Photo: Getty)
Foursome is one of the forms of play at the Ryder Cup. (Photo: Getty)

In foursomes, two teams (usually two players each) compete against each other. Within a team, players take turns stroke by stroke: Player “A” tees off. Once at the ball, player B takes the second shot with the same ball. This continues until the respective team has holed the ball in team work.

A tactically extremely important decision is made by the team before the match even begins: the two team members agree on who will tee off on the even holes and who will tee off on the odd holes. Depending on who feels confident with their driver or irons, the par 3 and par 5 holes can be divided accordingly.

Click here for the leaderboard of the Ryder Cup 2023

Foursomes – Matchplay with your partner

Foursomes can be played both as stroke play and as match play. Alltough the match play variant is the most common and is also played in this form at major team events such as the Ryder Cup and the Solheim Cup. In English, the foursomes format of play is also often referred to as the “Alternate Shot”.

The Foursome Teams at the Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup

In major tournaments such as the Ryder Cup or the Solheim Cup, the captains of both teams have to take great care in deciding their lineups for the foursomes format. Playing strength and current form must be factored into the decision on pairings, but equally the captains would have to pay attention to the human element in the lineup – the players must function as a team.

Ryder Cup 2023: Rules and Format

In addition, golfers should ideally complement each other in many ways. For example, a popular option is to pair rookies, who are on the team for the first time in a major tournament, with an experienced player. Some pairings have already proven themselves in previous events and have a strong record together – so it is logical not to change anything. In the end, gut feeling certainly plays a not insignificant role in the pairing of the captains.

Ryder Cup 2023 Tee Times
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How To Watch The 2023 Ryder Cup Online And On TV

The 2023 Ryder Cup is held in Rome, Italy and can be watched all over the world. (Credit: Getty)
The 2023 Ryder Cup is held in Rome, Italy and can be watched all over the world. (Credit: Getty)

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

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

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

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

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

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

(With material by Ryder Cup Media)

How to watch the 2023 Ryder Cup in Europe

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

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

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

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

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

How to watch the 2023 Ryder Cup in Asia

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

How to watch the 2023 Ryder Cup in Oceania

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

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.