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.
Team Europe has made a strong showing at the Ryder Cup 2023 in Italy. After the Foursomes in the morning ended with 4:0 for the Europeans, the hosts defended the lead strongly in the Fourballs in the afternoon. Rory McIlroy, who did not start too well into the tournament, won both of his matches – in the morning together with Tommy Fleetwood, in the afternoon with Matt Fitzpatrick. The afternoon match in particular caused quite a stir, as the two Europeans literally overran the guests on the front nine. Read the interview with McIlroy and Fitzpatrick.
Q. Mat, Rory, incredible performance, relief, elation, what does this mean for you personally and for Europe?
Matt Fitzpatrick: For me, it’s very, very special, and to play with this man, and to get out to the start that we did, yeah, just phenomenal.
Q. A hot start, Rory, as far as Ryder Cup Matches, where does that rank for you, and near the top, I’m sure?
Rory McIlroy: Yeah, absolutely amazing. You know, for the first nine holes I was trying to hang on to this man’s coattails. I said to him walking up 10, “At least I contributed twice.”
And then the boys made a few birdies, you know, on the back nine there and we had to just sort of hang in and hit some good, solid shots down the stretch.
But yeah, I mean, just a great day in front of some amazing home fans, and I said to Fitzy there, you know, for his first point for Europe, I’m happy that I was the one to get it with him. Proud of how him and I played, and we just have to go out and regroup for tomorrow.
Q. Going out in four-balls this afternoon gave you some freedom, didn’t it?
Matt Fitzpatrick: Yeah, absolutely, my first four-balls match. I was laughing to Rory, what do we do here. I’m just so excited to be out here, and it’s very different playing a home Ryder Cup than away to. Have the fans cheering you on makes a hell of a difference.
Q. First point in Ryder Cup competition, you got off to a hot start, what was working so well for you early on?
Matt Fitzpatrick: Six one-putts in a row is normally a big help. Yeah, felt really good with the putter on the front nine and just got off to a really hot start.
Q. Why did this pairing work so well for you today?
Rory McIlroy: Matt and I have known each other for a long time now. We have played, yeah, this is our third Ryder Cup Team together, and yeah, it’s a really comfortable pairing. I’ve been so lucky with the two partners that I’ve had with Tommy in the morning and this man, the start that he got off to, I was trying to hang on to his coattails. I contributed a couple of times there around the turn and thankfully we did enough to get it done.
In the morning, the Europeans gave their opponents no chance and made history with a score of 4 to 0. In the afternoon, the fourball matches for the stars were on the agenda. Here, Team USA made it much more difficult for the host team. While the duo McIlroy/Fitzpatrick won a clear point for Europe, the three remaining flights provided for highest tension. Team Europe secured a shared point three times at the last moment.
| Europe | vs | USA |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 0 |
| Europe | Result | USA |
|---|---|---|
| Viktor Hovland and Tyrrell Hatton | 4 & 3 Europa | Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth |
As the first flight of the tournament, Viktor Hovland and Tyrrell Hatton made it to the 18th hole of the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in a duel against Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth. Both the European and American teams were ahead at times, but each relinquished the lead. Finally, on the decisive 18, it looked as if Team USA would win the whole point, but Viktor Hovland holed a last, long putt and thus saved a half point for Team Europe. One person in particular was delighted: Shane Lowry, who did not play in the afternoon, was visibly cheering along with his teammates.
Spot @ShaneLowryGolf 😂☘️#TeamEurope | #RyderCup pic.twitter.com/mV97HOMF9A
— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) September 29, 2023
| Europe | Result | USA |
|---|---|---|
| Jon Rahm and Nicolai Hojgaard | 4 & 3 Europa | Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka |
Jon Rahm and Nicolai Hojgaard delivered at least as exciting a finish to share the point. In the duel against world number 1 Scottie Scheffler and LIV player Brooks Koepka, there was no clear favorite over 18 holes. In the end, the Americans dominated the match, which spurred Jon Rahm on to top performance. After already causing a roaring crowd with a chip-in eagle on hole 16, he also holed out for an eagle on hole 18 to secure another half point for the hosts.
JON RAHM 😲#TeamEurope | #RyderCup pic.twitter.com/zSbR5vMbSE
— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) September 29, 2023
| Europe | Result | USA |
|---|---|---|
| Robert MacIntyre and Justin Rose | 2 & 1 Europa | Max Homa and Wyndham Clark |
The final four players on the course early Friday evening were Robert MacIntyre and Justin Rose in play against Max Homa and Wyndham Clark. Those two duos also turned in similarly strong performances, leaving Team USA teeing off at ‘1up’ on the 18th tee. But all good things come in threes: In this flight, too, the Europeans grabbed a half point at the last second, sending the American team into the second day without a single full point.
| Europe | Result | USA |
|---|---|---|
| Rory McIlroy and Matt Fitzpatrick | 2 & 1 Europa | Collin Morikawa and Xander Schauffele |
The only full point for the Europeans was secured in the afternoon by Rory McIlroy and Matt Fitzpatrick in their battle against Collin Morikawa and Xander Schauffele. The duel was already over after 15 holes, because the Americans had no chance against McIlroy and Fitzpatrick. Matt Fitzpatrick in particular delivered a flawless performance on Friday afternoon and gave Team Europe an early lead. At times they dominated the duel with ‘6up’.
Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood kept the momentum going and completed the European clean sweep in the Friday Foursomes at the 2023 Ryder Cup. The finished their match against Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay 2&1, after the Americans gave them a fight on the final holes.
Q. Rory, you’ve just beaten a pair that were previously 5-0 in foursomes play to complete a clean sweep for Europe. How special is this moment?
RORY McILROY: It’s been an unbelievable session. We switched the format this year to go foursomes first because statistically that’s our better session. And all week, all we’ve been talking about is getting off to fast starts. Playing three-hole matches in practise, three holes, go again, three holes, go again, something that Luke’s drilled into us. We were ready to go from the first tee shot as obviously as you can see in how everyone played.
I’m so proud of this man alongside me. He can play with anyone. I’m just so happy that he’s my partner this week and so happy to get a point on the board for Europe.
Q. There are always turning points and you’re playing 15, looked like you were going to lose it. You turned it into a victory. The adrenaline rush when the putt went in?
TOMMY FLEETWOOD: Waiting for a moment like that all today to be honest. Especially the start of the back nine where we were playing so well, I felt like I had two or three chances that I let go by. So I kept them in it, really. You’re not going to hole more unless you have a really good day.
Was due one. Felt really good over it. It’s just one of those Ryder Cup moments, really, and that’s what we’re playing for. It’s really cool. Rory is an unbelievable golfer.
Q. Talk us through that shot, the match was very tense, 1 up, two holes to play. Magnificent shot you hit. Tell us about your point of view?
RORY McILROY: Yeah, if anything, my poor shot recently has been a right shot. So I kept it simple: Keep a strong clubface going back, and fully release it on the way through, aim at the target and it never left the flag.
Q. That was the closest of four, you just pulled out the fourth straight blue point. You spoke about how determined you are to play differently and perform differently as a team as you did at Whistling Straits. How satisfying is this morning’s performance?
RORY McILROY: Amazing to sweep a session. I can’t remember the last time Europe has done that. We can’t get complacent at all. This is an unbelievably long American Team. Last week the American girls went up 4-0 in the first session there and Europe were able to come back, so we are not taking anything for granted here. It’s a great start but we need to keep our foot on the pedal and keep winning points.
Q. You’re undefeated in foursomes the in the Ryder Cup. How does Fleetwood Mac compare to Mollywood?
TOMMY FLEETWOOD: Just keep picking your partners, that’s the secret. Obviously playing with Rory is a dream for anybody, and I was the one that got to do that this morning.
Yeah, we’ve known we are going to play together for a while and just getting out there, felt like we actually played very, very good and felt like we were in control all the way. Obviously there are turning points and we needed one towards the end but yeah, just pleased to play with another great partner.
Q. Xander and Patrick were doing everything they could to get a halve, how clutch was your response on the tee at 17?
RORY McILROY: I have hit a lot of good shots in my time. That’s right up there. I didn’t know how close Patrick had hit his but I just wanted to give Tommy a chance to at least stay 1 UP going down the last. I was pretty certain we weren’t going to go down the last, but if I keep hitting iron shots like that, then I’m going to have a pretty good week.
The 2023 Ryder Cup has one more Austrian in its history. After compatriot Bernd Wiesberger, who experienced European defeat up close in Whistling Straits in 2021, Sepp Straka is the next man from the Alpine nation on Team Europe. A strong year from Straka is made even better at the end by the Captain’s Pick of Luke Donald. The 30-year-old attracted attention with strong finishes at the majors and celebrated his second title on the PGA Tour. Despite his personal closeness to the USA, Straka will be looking to bring the title back to Europe against Zach Johnson’s men and claim his next success.
It will be a Ryder Cup debut for @seppstraka 🇦🇹#TeamEurope pic.twitter.com/juGsl9zjVG
— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) September 4, 2023
For the first time, Sepp Straka, one of four rookies in Luke Donald’s team, will tee it up at a Ryder Cup. For Donald, who raved about Straka several times, it was probably one of the easier Captain’s Picks. That’s because Straka played a terrific season and was able to put his name in the headlines, especially at the majors. A strong showing at the 2023 PGA Championship in May resulted in a shared 7th place finish at Oak Hill Country Club. Then followed an even bigger exclamation mark at the British Open 2023 in July.
Sepp Straka is the second Ryder Cup pick and he probably played the shot of the year at The Open on the way to coming T2 after winning the week before at the John Deere. Great addition to the side 💪🇪🇺
pic.twitter.com/bjpFnqKKP6 — Flushing It (@flushingitgolf) September 4, 2023
Behind Brian Harman, Straka played a strong weekend and secured the shared second place. Despite the rain at Royal Liverpool on the English east coast, Straka was to become the first Austrian with a top-3 finish at a major. But the Viennese was not only able to convince at the majors this year. A second title on the PGA Tour is also on the Austrian’s shelf after winning the John Deere Classic in July. The tall 30-year-old secured the tournament in Illinois after a closing round of 62 to finish 21 strokes under par and two strokes clear of the runner-up. In the end, he should win 1.3 million US dollars in prize money.
Team Europe will travel to Rome with no fewer than four players who will be competing in an edition of the Ryder Cup for the first time. Straka learned of the nomination while driving: “It was great, it was a big relief because if you don’t qualify, you just don’t know. It’s up to the captain’s choice and it’s an honor that he had confidence in me, and hopefully I can reward that with a good performance in Rome.”
Sepp Straka was able to gain his first experience of team competitions at this year’s Hero Cup, which apparently also convinced Luke Donald. In the duel with the team from Great Britain and Ireland against the continental Europeans, Straka went to the United Arab Emirates. There, he was already able to do a lot of advertising for himself in January and, among other things, celebrated a success with his 5-and-4 win in the singles against Ewan Ferguson and secured the triumph in the duel with the island players around Tommy Fleetwood. But it is precisely the latter that Straka has nothing but fond memories of with a view to the Ryder Cup: “My favorite is simply the combination of Molinari and Fleetwood, those guys were incredible. I think that’s probably my favorite team in Ryder Cup history and probably my favorite moment.”
.@seppstraka throwing darts🎯#TeamEurope pic.twitter.com/zg1vp2yKxC
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) September 4, 2023
Sepp Straka has spent more than half of his life in the United States, but was born in the Austrian capital, the son of a native and an American. Straka therefore also holds U.S. citizenship and is known on the tour for his American accent. But whether the native of Vienna ever considered playing for Team USA may be doubted: “I have never played golf for America. Since my first start at the Lyoness Open in Austria, my first professional start, I have always played under the Austrian flag. I played all my junior golf for Austria in the European Boys Teams and the European Amateur Team, so yes, I always assumed I was playing for Europe, and I’ve always played for the Austrian flag and represented it proudly.”
Sepp Straka has earned a total of more than $13 million since joining the PGA Tour in 2019. In addition to this year’s John Deere Classic, he also won the Honda Classic in 2022, making him the first Austrian winner on the PGA Tour. The Olympics are also on Straka’s CV. He already represented his colors at the 2020 (2021) Olympic Games in Tokyo and secured a shared tenth place. The sum of his good results is proof that the Viennese has established himself as an integral part of the European golfing elite. Thanks to his performance in the last two years, Straka has played himself more and more into the focus and into the Ryder Cup considerations. Luke Donald has not forgotten this either and is now hoping for the qualities of the big hitter from Austria at the 2023 Ryder Cup.
The Austrian member of Team Europe uses the latest models from TaylorMade for his woods and driver. With the Stealth 2 Plus he chooses the adjustable model with a 15 gram weight behind the “Speed Pocket” of the club. For the irons, he then reaches for the Mk II ZX7 series. The forged Players irons from Srixon are the most sophisticated irons of the latest generation and are designed for plenty of spin and control. Together with the wedges from Cleveland, more precisely the RTX6 Zipcore wedges, Straka gets strong options for the shot on the green in his bag. For his putter, Straka continues to choose the Odyssey Stroke Lab Tuttle with a mid-mallet design. His game ball switched to the new Srixon Z-Star XV just this year. The XV is a bit firmer than Straka’s previous golf ball, but still retains plenty of feel around the greens.
[gpalbum id=8921]
The Ryder Cup 2023 awaits when the famous trophy is at stake at the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome at the end of September. For Rickie Fowler, it will already be the fifth participation in the prestigious tournament. After going winless for 1610 days on the PGA Tour, Fowler triumphed at the Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit in July. This victory put him in the sights of U.S. captain Zach Johnson for the first time, who, after further good performances, eventually nominated him as one of the “captain’s picks” for the U.S. team at the 2023 Ryder Cup.
Thanks to his victory in Detroit, the 34-year-old will be a member of a Ryder Cup team for the first time in five years. “This participation is really special,” Fowler said after being selected as one of Zach Johnson‘s six captain’s picks. “Fortunately, when I got the call from Zach, he told me the good news, and it was definitely emotional because it’s been a great year after the last few years. I knew it was going to be very difficult to be in that position, so to get that call and be a part of this team is amazing.”
ICYMI: That’s FIVE @RyderCups now for @RickieFowler pic.twitter.com/A5esMGC2k9
— Ryder Cup USA (@RyderCupUSA) August 29, 2023
In 2019, Fowler, who had previously been one of the most popular players on the PGA Tour for years and had consistently ranked in the top-10 of the world golf rankings, hit a slump. Fowler slipped further and further down the world rankings. In 2021, the likeable American missed the Masters and the US Open for the first time since 2010. The former star player was also left out of the Ryder Cup. Fowler was not present when the USA defeated the Europeans 19:9 at Whistling Straits. It was the second time since 2008 that he failed to make the U.S. team. In 2022, he finally reached a career low of 185th in the world rankings. As a result, the now 34-year-old made some changes.
He parted ways with his caddie Joe Skovron after 13 years and replaced him with Ricky Romano. He also decided to return to his old swing coach Butch Harmon. The changes quickly took effect. Entering 2023, Fowler posted a string of top-20 finishes before heading into the US Open with top-10 finishes at the Colonial and the Memorial. Fowler received an exemption to the third major of the year because of his ranking in the world rankings – and on the first day, he shot a 62, the best round in US Open history. He led after the first three rounds and finished the tournament in a tie for fifth place. His best major result since finishing second at the 2018 Masters, Fowler continued to play well the following week at the Travelers Championship, finishing in a tie for 13th place. He finally picked up a long-awaited victory at the Rocket Mortgage Classic the following week. The six-time Tour winner finished the season in 16th place in the FedExCup standings, his best finish since 2017.
Fowler will be competing in his fifth Ryder Cup, making him one of the most experienced members of the U.S. team alongside Jordan Spieth. At just 21 years old, Rickie Fowler made his Ryder Cup debut back in 2010. On the grounds of Celtic Manor, he was the first PGA Tour rookie to compete in the Ryder Cup and impressed with an impressive recovery in his singles match against Edoardo Molinari. Other appearances followed in 2014, 2016 and 2018, and the last time Fowler was on the Ryder Cup stage was at Le Golf National in France in 2018. One of the best-known and most popular players, Fowler participated in the biennial competition for the then fourth time. The Americans lost 17.5-10.5 and tough years began for Fowler on the PGA Tour. Because of a great comeback season, Zach Johnson nominated Fowler for the 2023 Ryder Cup. “It’s been a great 2023,” Johnson said. “Obviously that win (at the Rocket Mortgage Classic), a very good US Open in LA, basically consistently good performances throughout the season. The stats have shown that. He’s also extremely flexible in terms of pairings. Those who know him, or at least have been around him, know that he makes every team better. That’s Rick.” Now, 13 years after making his debut on the Ryder Cup stage as a rookie with the famous ‘wispy’ hairdo, Fowler will try to lead the U.S. team to its first victory on foreign soil in 30 years. And given all he’s been through in recent years, the 2023 Ryder Cup could be Fowler’s most momentous.
To match his Puma outfit, the newly crowned PGA Tour winner is equipped with the latest woods from Cobra. The Aerojet LS driver is joined by the 3-wood from the same series. The LS variants are characterized by a particularly low spin and thus generate even more length from the tee. At around 290 meters, Rickie Fowler makes full use of this additional length in the tournament. When it comes to irons, he relies on the Cobra King Tour. Unlike the CB/MB irons, the Player irons are not forged from a single piece but have an aluminum insert. This makes them a bit more forgiving while still generating plenty of spin. The Cobra King wedges in Rickie Fowler’s bag are designed for maximum variability and are said to develop extra spin and control around the green with their specially designed grooves.
Nicolai Hojgaard is set to make his debut at the Ryder Cup 2023. With back-to-back top five finishes in the final two events of the European Ryder Cup qualification, Hojgaard earned a Captain’s pick from Luke Donald. The 22 year old impressed with a tie for fifth at the Ryder Cup venue Marco Simone at the DS Automobiles Italian Open – the event and venue he won at in 2021- and once again among a strong field at the Genesis Scottish Open, where he finished tied sixth.
Nicolai, your first Ryder Cup. Talk about the experience so far of being in the team room and being out on the golf course for 18 holes yesterday.
Nicolai Hojgaard: Yeah, it’s a special week. You’re sitting next to your idols and heros and you’re going out preparing for a big week. It’s pretty cool to be here and preparing and being in the team room and seeing the stuff that goes behind it. That surprise Luke made yesterday with our shirts next to each other and then Seve’s in the middle, it was special and emotional, and that’s what this week is about.
You talked about some of your heros on this team have said if there’s anything they could do to help you, don’t hesitate, you can ask them anything. Have you been asking them anything, and what sorts of things have they been telling you?
Nicolai Hojgaard: I think the good part of all this is they have been in the same position that I’m in now. They got the rookies — obviously Rory and Rahm and Rose, those guys have been here a lot. They were rookies at one point as well, and they had guys, they had questions. So being in the same position as them, trying to learn from the best is pretty cool. It’s about how you prepare for this week going in as a rookie compared to when you’re an experienced guy.
Is there anything you arrived worrying about?
Nicolai Hojgaard: I wouldn’t say probably worried but more about making sure that we are all part of the team and we are all interacting with each other and we all make that team room the best possible place to go. Everyone is very good at it, and you always are like a little worried or scared getting into a team room where you haven’t been before, and you’re getting into a team room with your idols, the guys you’ve been looking up to your whole life. Sometimes you’re here and you have to pinch yourself a little bit, but it’s reality now and now it’s about going and preparing those guys and get ready for Friday.
What’s the best thing you’ve experienced or the thing that’s pleased you most since you’ve arrived here? Doesn’t have to be golf-related.
Nicolai Hojgaard: I think being in that team room yesterday, Seve’s shirt in the middle, and we all talked about all the guys and heros before us and keeping that legacy going and the DNA of The European Team. You hear about it, but once you’re in that team room, you get goosebumps just talking about it, and what it means to Europe and European golf. That’s been obviously the biggest or the coolest experience.
Do you feel confident to express your thoughts in that environment?
Nicolai Hojgaard: I do, yeah. I feel like we’ve got a very good environment in that room. You can say whatever — we all have the same goal. We are all part of the same team. We all focus and determine on the job ahead, and that’s why I think it’s such a cool place to go.
You are 22 years old and the youngest player in the Ryder Cup. Tell us how you feel as such a young prodigy playing in the Ryder Cup?
Nicolai Hojgaard: Yeah, I don’t think about it that much, actually. There’s a lot of young players in both teams, and it’s not really something I think about. But in the end of the day, it’s a cool achievement being the youngest I think on both teams. It’s just a cool thing to say that you’re playing in the Ryder Cup when you’re 22. It’s not really that important. It’s just more of a cool thing to say, I’d probably say.
If you can tell us specifically some of the things Luke Donald has done for you?
Nicolai Hojgaard: When I started playing a little bit in America this year, he was very good to me. We were out for dinners and lunch and always interacted during the weeks. That’s probably where I learned (about) Luke. He’s been a very important part of all this process, of course. That’s the thing about America, I’d say you feel probably a little bit alone in some way because you’re in a different environment you’re not normally used to.
Can you identify a point where you thought, I might be able to make this Ryder Cup 2023 Team? Was there a point you thought you would be a part of this?
Nicolai Hojgaard: When I started the season, I wasn’t really thinking about it too much. We put a plan in place at the start of the year where this was one of the goals, and there was two goals on that list. We tried to focus on how would we build our game to get in the Ryder Cup, and I could see slowly when the season went on that there were some good things in place and that happened. And then when we got to Prague and Switzerland, I played some good golf where I needed to, and I feel like I’ve been doing that for a long time. Probably really haven’t had like the really top results, but it’s been on the right track for a long time. A couple good finish there probably put me in a position where I’ve probably done my part and hopefully that will be enough. But I’ve always had in mind that I think I could be on the team and I get on the team golf-wise, and yeah, sitting here now is pretty special.
Nicolai, thanks for joining us. We wish you well this week.
Robert MacIntyre will make his first appearance for Team Europe at Ryder Cup 2023 after securing the third automatic qualification spot on the European Points List. The Marco Simone Golf & Country Club arises good memories for MacIntyre. In 2022 he secured his second DP World Tour title at the italian venue, where he now returns to as part of Team Europe.
Joined by Robert MacIntyre for Team Europe. We know team sport has been a part of your life with shinty, but how much have you been enjoying the team environment this week?
Robert MacIntyre: Yeah, it’s good. There’s been a lot going on, obviously, but it feels very much like home. All the guys behind each other for one goal, and it’s part of why, we say in shinty, it’s one goal to win the match, and it’s one goal this week to win the trophy back.
Having won here, you know this place really well. Can you talk about how different it’s set up this week to the Italian Open?
Robert MacIntyre: Yeah, there’s a couple drivable holes than what it was before but still very similar. You’ve got to hit it in the short stuff. The rough’s brutal. But it’s no different. Good golf scores will win matches, and if you keep it reasonably straight off the tee, then you’ve got a great chance.
Even for a young guy like you, Seve is this huge inspiration for European golfers?
Robert MacIntyre: Yeah, he turned it around, didn’t he. He turned the tide. Obviously Americans were dominating, but then kind of Seve took it upon himself to change that, to rectify it. I think ever since then, I mean, I’m sure Jon said it. That’s the reason he plays golf. I mean, Seve has done so much for the game of golf. For me, obviously I didn’t really get to watch him. I didn’t get to meet him. But I’ve watched so many clips of him but there’s so many others. Last night I spoke to Monty, and I mean, for a Scotsman, Monty was everything. Again, just a little bit before my time. But I mean, I’ve heard all about him. I’ve watched so many clips about him. Yeah, there’s just so many idols that have done so well in this tournament.
You spoke last year about the excitement you felt arriving at St Andrews ahead of playing an open there. How does the feeling arriving here compare for this week?
Robert MacIntyre: Slightly different. A bit more excitement in it. There’s more buzz around it. There’s more people around it. When I arrived at St Andrews, it was on me. I was the only one that could control what was going to happen. This week, there is so much more to it than just me.
How much detail have Luke and the vice captains given you? Do you know when you’re playing and who you’re playing with? Does that help you in your preparation knowing what your role is going to be?
Robert MacIntyre: Yeah, I’ve got kind of a hint on who I’m going to be playing with and what I’m going to be playing in. Again, nothing’s going to prepare me for that first tee shot. It’s just plain and simple. It’s something bigger than I’ve ever been involved in and ever experienced. Just try and keep it as light as I can so that I can play golf the way I know that I can play golf, and the main part is just enjoy it.
Will you calm down by the time you get to the first tee, or do you need that nervous energy to keep going?
Robert MacIntyre: For me, as I said, I’m as calm as ever just now. I actually said to my family, at the start of the week, do you know, I’ve not got the nerves yet. I’m very chilled. I think it’s because the team environment I’m in, it’s very much what I’m comfortable in. But I think Friday or Thursday night, when I know it’s coming, I think the excitement will pick up and the nerves will start to hit. But it’s part of it and it’s part of the journey, and I’ve just got to enjoy it. It’s there. It’s not going to go away, and just accept it’s there and go and do your best.
Thinking about conditions this week, the course undulations and the weather and stuff, how does everyone think about that?
Robert MacIntyre: Yeah, it’s good. The majority of the guys have been here and played it from kind of 2021. There was a few guys that came. But no, the course is a course. It is hilly. It’s hot. But no, we’ve got all the best stuff. We’ve got the best guys for the job from hydration, nutrition, everything. Just as well we’re athletes.
As a Scotsman, how are you dealing with the sun?
Robert MacIntyre: Yeah, it’s all right. Get out there and enjoy yourself.
Bob, thanks for joining us. We wish you well this week.
Rory McIlroy is one of the experienced Ryder Cup participants. Shortly before the start of the Ryder Cup 2023, the Northern Irishman spoke in an interview about the special atmosphere at the continental competition and the absence of great players who have long characterized the European Ryder Cup teams, such as Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter or Lee Westwood.
I’m joined by Rory McIlroy from Team Europe. Rory, remarkably, your seventh Ryder Cup.
Rory McIlroy: Thanks, Steve.
That’s all right. We saw a video last night talking through being in the team environment. How has the team environment been this week.
Rory McIlroy: It’s been fantastic. Everyone knows this is a bit of a transitional period for The European Team and there’s people that have been part of The European Team for a long time that aren’t here this week. But I think the guys that we brought in are going to be awesome. Nicolai, Ludwig, Bob, that’s the future of our team and the future of the Ryder Cup.
I think we came here to Rome a couple of weeks ago for a practise trip, and I thought that was incredibly important. Honestly I couldn’t believe that we’ve never done it before. We played a practise round and we got familiar with the golf course but then the sort of time we spent off the course I thought was great. Just sort of sharing stories around the fire pit and sort of describing our journeys in golf and what the Ryder Cup means to us. Sort of just getting to know one another a little better, even people that I thought that I knew for a long time, sort of getting to know them a little better, too, was wonderful.
I think Luke and his vice captains have really sort of tapped into that emotional connection around Team Europe this week, and we have all bought into it. It’s been an amazing experience so far, and it’s only Wednesday. There’s a lot of great things to come. But couldn’t be more excited to be a part of the team, and to have those other 11 guys be my teammates.
Just on the fans, you’ve obviously experienced the odd rogue fan at the Ryder Cup and thinking of Brian Harman getting heckled, do you think it might go too far here?
Rory McIlroy: No because I think that’s all part of the Ryder Cup. There’s not a lot of other instances in the game of golf where that happens but there’s certainly a line. Most fans that come out to watch golf are very respectful and they know what that line is.
Rory in Rome 🇪🇺#TeamEurope | #Rydercup pic.twitter.com/HSHMzMuMbP
— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) September 27, 2023
A lot of water under the bridge in the last couple years, but in this week of all weeks, do you actually miss guys like Sergio, Poulter, Westwood?
Rory McIlroy: I mean, it’s certainly a little strange not having them around. But I think this week of all weeks, it’s going to hit home with them that, you know, they are not here, and I think they are going to miss being here more than we’re missing them, so — and I’m not saying that that’s like — it’s just more I think this week is a realisation that the decision that they made has led to not being a part of this week, and that’s tough. The landscape in golf is ever-changing and more dynamic, and we’ll see what happens and whether they will be part of it in the future. I always thought leading up to this week is when it’s going to hit home that they are not going to be here.
We obviously don’t know the pairings yet, but assuming you might have to use a different golf ball. I’m just wondering if you can discuss the challenges that brings with it, and how much time you would devote to maybe practising with another ball in the lead up to that.
Rory McIlroy: Yeah, I guess the nice thing is that you can do it in way where — I think all these golf balls react pretty similar with a driver. It’s more the iron shots and around the greens. If I’m playing with a guy that uses a different golf ball, I can just hit his golf ball off the tee. He’s able to hit it into the green and we go from there. Vice versa; he can hit my golf ball off the tee, and I can hit my ball into the green and do that. Yeah, it can get a little tricky and you’re chipping and putting and different feels of balls.
I think a couple of days, hitting some, getting numbers with that golf ball. Spin rates is a big thing. Especially in the wind gets up in some of these elevations. Just if you’re into the wind, and, say, the other golf ball minutes 200 or 300 more RPMs more than your golf ball, that makes a huge difference into the wind. So just trying to get comfortable with that in some ways and trying to be mindful of it.
But I don’t think it presents a huge challenge. I think guys are pretty much adaptable. We have 24 of the best players in the world here. If we can’t adapt a little bit to a slight change of the golf ball, the game is certainly not going in the right direction. So I think we are all okay.
Rory, thank for joining us. Enjoy your week.
Team Monty took victory in today’s inaugural Ryder Cup 2023 All-Star Match, beating Team Pavin 7-4 in a closely fought match play contest played over seven holes at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club.
24-time tennis Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic, paired with G4D Tour player Kipp Popert struck an excellent opening tee shot which set the scene for a 3-1 win against Scuderia Ferrari Formula One driver Carlos Sainz, and Italian G4D Tour player Tommaso Perrino – both of whom enjoyed strong local support. Djokovic even managed to drive the iconic short par 4 16th, a hole which promises to be the scene of some epic battles when the Ryder Cup gets under way on Friday.
The par-4 16th green is surrounded by danger… no bother for @DjokerNole 😉 #AllStarMatch | #RyderCup pic.twitter.com/DomPrmbbL5
— Ryder Cup (@rydercup) September 27, 2023
Match Two, featuring the all-American pairing of actress Kathryn Newton and former NFL player Victor Cruz, ended in a 2-2 tie against the pairing of Italian professional surfer Leonardo Fioravanti and Garrett Hilbert from Dude Perfect. With it all still to play for, Captain Colin Montgomerie turned on the style in the closing holes to edge out a 2-1 victory with close support from his teammate Gareth Bale, in a match against another footballing legend in Ukraine’s Andriy Shevchenko, and opposing Captain Corey Pavin.
Speaking about the victory, winning captain Colin Montgomerie, said: “Playing in the Ryder Cup was such a big part of my life and my career and today has really taken me back there. I was actually getting a little bit emotional coming down the 18th and it was a real privilege to Captain such a talented team of all stars. It was also amazing to see the support from the crowds who were fantastic all the way round. This was the first time I’ve played this golf course and it’s a true risk and reward test, so the Ryder Cup is set up perfectly for a dramatic contest. Corey has always been an incredibly tough competitor to face, so it was nice to be able to get one up on him today.”
Novak Djokovic, said: “My partner Kipp really delivered his A-game today and is such a talented player and so inspiring. Overall, I’m pleased with how I played. I haven’t had the chance to practice too much coming into today, but I hit a good opening tee shot which really settled the nerves and I managed to play some good holes. The crowds were amazing and it was a really fun experience.”
Gareth Bale, added: “I thoroughly enjoyed that. With big crowds following us there were some nerves there, but I’ve played a few pro-ams before so knew what to expect and that helped. Monty was on top form today and really led from the front. The rough was pretty penal so I had a few tough shots when I missed the fairway, but I hit a good shot on 16 and got up and down for birdie, so that was a good memory to take away.”
Text: Ryder Cup Europe