Tag: Ryder Cup 2023

Categories
Highlights Tours

Live Feed Ryder Cup 2023: Golf’s Grandest Spectacle

Experience the Ryder Cup 2023 up close. All information in the live ticker. (Source: Getty)
Experience the Ryder Cup 2023 up close. All information in the live ticker. (Source: Getty)

For the 44th time, Team Europe and Team USA will clash at the Ryder Cup 2023. The Americans, aiming to defend their title at the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club, are determined to break their 30-year-long losing streak on European soil. Meanwhile, the Europeans are resolute in their quest to bring the trophy back to Europe following their defeat at Whistling Straits. Hundreds of thousands of spectators are expected to gather outside the gates of Rome, creating the famous and infamous Ryder Cup atmosphere.

The Scores of the Ryder Cup 2023

The Teams at Ryder Cup 2023

Once again, this year’s teams consist of twelve players who have either qualified through their respective rankings or have been selected by the captains. European team captain Luke Donald has opted for a mix of experience and fresh talent. With the inclusion of Ludvig Aberg and Nicolai Hojgaard, two young talents have made it into the team, alongside European stars like Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm. The nomination of Austrian player Sepp Straka is also noteworthy. Straka, following in the footsteps of Bernd Wiesberger, is only the second Austrian to participate in a Ryder Cup and has gained attention this season with his victory at the John Deere Classic and a shared second place at the British Open.

The Americans, on the other hand, are aiming for their first victory on European soil in 30 years. After their win at Whistling Straits two years ago, they enter the Ryder Cup with great confidence. Among their ranks are world number 1 Scottie Scheffler, alongside seasoned Ryder Cup players such as Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth, and Rickie Fowler. Team USA also features several rookies, including Sam Burns, Wyndham Clark, Brian Harman, and Max Homa. Unlike Aberg and Hojgaard, the Americans boast years of experience on the PGA Tour. Captain Zach Johnson has also added LIV Golf League player Brooks Koepka to the team, a move expected to significantly strengthen Team USA.

Ryder Cup 2023 LIVE on golfpost.com

Follow the action live at the 2023 Ryder Cup and never miss a point from your team. Golf Post provides not only the live scores, but also news, photos, a free fantasy game and of course the tee times and pairings.

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club – The Venue for Ryder Cup 2023

The Ryder Cup is played alternately on American and European soil, and this year, the venue is the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Rome. Extensive course redesign work began in August 2018 and was completed in March 2021. The primary focus was to create a golf course specifically tailored for dramatic match play. The transformation not only introduced numerous risk-and-reward opportunities for the world’s best golfers but also made optimal use of the natural, hilly terrain. Spectators at this location will enjoy unparalleled vantage points of the action on the golf course while taking in panoramic views of the famous Eternal City. The spectacular vistas include St. Peter’s Basilica and the Castle of Marco Simone, forming the backdrop for the greatest team competition in golf.

Ryder Cup Format: Foursome, Fourball and Singles

Traditionally, Ryder Cup spectators are treated to not your typical stroke play but direct head-to-head matchups between players from both teams. Various formats of golf are played during the event. Foursomes and Fourballs are played in pairs on the first two days, and on the final day, each player competes individually. In total, 28 matches will be played. Team USA, as defending champions, needs 14 points to successfully retain their title, while the Europeans require 14.5 points to reclaim the Cup on home soil.

Categories
Highlights Tours

Ryder Cup 2023: Scottie Scheffler, the number one in the world

Ryder Cup 2023: Scottie Scheffler, the number one in the world (Photo: Getty)
Ryder Cup 2023: Scottie Scheffler, the number one in the world (Photo: Getty)

The 27-year-old American Scottie Scheffler has been at the top of the world rankings for several months. Two years ago, he won the Ryder Cup with the USA on his debut. In total, he has already been victorious six times on the PGA Tour. Currently the best player in the world, he is a mainstay in the American team.

Scottie Scheffler at the Ryder Cup 2023

Scottie Scheffler collected so many Ryder Cup points last season that he was determined early on as the first qualifier. By winning two events in 2023, including the Players Championship, he collected almost twice as many points as Wyndham Clark, who was the second qualifier.

In the 2022/23 season, he played a full 21 tournaments and did not miss a cut. He finished in the top-25 in 19 of the tournaments, won the Players Championship, finished tied for tenth at the Masters, second at the PGA Championship and third at the US Open. With almost $20 million in prize money this season, he is the most successful player of the year and will be a great challenge for the European team. Last year he also proved his match play skills when he won the Dell Matchplay, this year he was eliminated only in the semifinals.

Scottie Scheffler: A mainstay at the 2023 Ryder Cup

Scottie Scheffler made his debut in the historic victory for the USA in 2021. The USA won 19 to 9, setting a new record. Never before has a Ryder Cup team won by such a margin. Scheffler had his part in it.

Ryder Cup 2023 Live Scoring

On the first day, together with Bryson DeChambeau, he played to a draw in fourball against Tyrrell Hatton and Jon Rahm. The following day, with the same playing partner, he picked up his first win in fourball against Tommy Fleetwood and Viktor Hovland. The highlight followed on the final day in his singles match against Jon Rahm. With a win of 4 & 3, he scored one of the highest victories of the day against a well-known opponent.

Scottie Scheffler’s greatest achievements and prize money

In Scottie Scheffler’s still young career, he has already achieved great success. The 27-year-old has won six tournaments on the PGA Tour and two more on the Korn Ferry Tour. He is only in his fourth season and further successes of the American are to be expected. With the Masters Tournament last year, he won his only Major title to date.

In 111 tournaments on the PGA Tour, Scheffler made the cut 92 times, finished in the top-10 43 times, finished third nine times and second seven times. In just three years of his career on the PGA Tour, he has collected more than $42 million in prize money.

Follow The Ryder Cup 2023 LIVE Feed Here

Scottie Scheffler WITB for the Ryder Cup 2023

Scottie Scheffler’s golf bag contains a colorful mix of different manufacturers. When it comes to woods, the top golfer relies on TaylorMade Stealth Plus models as drivers and 3-woods. For the long distances on narrow fairways or into the green, he relies on the Srixon Z U85 driving irons and takes the 3- and 4-iron series into his bag. With the P7TW irons from his sponsor TaylorMade, Scheffler reaches for the Players iron set specially designed by and for Tiger Woods. He complements the sporty, slim irons with three wedges from the Titleist Vokey Spin Milled 8 series and a Scotty Cameron putter from the Special Select series. He also relies on Titleist for the ball and tees it up with the Pro V1.

Categories
Highlights Tours

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.

Follow The Ryder Cup 2023 LIVE Scoring

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.

[gpalbum id=8871]
Categories
Highlights Tours

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)

Categories
Highlights Tours

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)

Categories
Highlights Tours

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)

Categories
Live

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
Categories
Highlights Tours

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

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

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

Nicolai Hojgaard at the 2023 Ryder Cup

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

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

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

Nicolai Hojgaard as a Rookie to the Ryder Cup 2023

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

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

The career of Nicolai Hojgaard so far

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

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

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

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

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

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

Categories
Highlights Tours

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

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

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

Jon Rahm at the Ryder Cup 2023

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

Woods conqueror Rahm faces third Ryder Cup appearance

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

Jon Rahm’s greatest successes and prize money

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

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

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

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

Categories
Highlights Tours Team USA

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.