Tag: Ryder Cup 2023

Categories
Tour News

Ryder Cup 2023: Luke Donald Shares Insight and Strategies

Ryder Cup 2023: Luke Donald shares insights. (Source: Getty)
Ryder Cup 2023: Luke Donald shares insights. (Source: Getty)

The atmosphere is vibrant, the greens immaculate, and the stakes are higher than ever as the Ryder Cup 2023 swings into action. For the first time in its history, the tournament takes place Italy, with the eternal city, Rome, playing the host. It is a tournament steeped in tradition and fierce rivalries, as Team USA, the reigning champions, embarks on a journey to claim victory on European soil, a feat they have not achieved in three decades.

The air is tinged with anticipation and resolve as Team Europe, still nursing the wounds from their 2021 defeat, aspires to reclaim the trophy. The battle for fame and honour is set.

In an intimate discussion leading up to the anticipated Ryder Cup, Team Europe’s Captain, Luke Donald, shares exclusive insights into the team’s preparation, strategies, and dynamics, setting the tone for a thrilling confrontation on the greens.

Donald Expresses Excitement and Confidence in Team’s Strength for the Ryder Cup 2023

Reflecting on the official team photos and donning the team uniforms, Donald states, “It’s finally here… It’s a very special morning… we are officially in our first days of uniform.” Acknowledging the tradition’s significance, he highlights the close-knit relationships within the team and the special atmosphere brewing as the tournament approaches.

Addressing questions regarding potential team pairings and the setup for foursomes and four-balls, Donald makes it clear that detailed strategies are in place but remain fluid. He expresses confidence in the team’s strength in foursomes, stating, “We feel like we are just slightly stronger statistically in foursomes to four-balls… We have an opportunity to send out four very strong pairings and hopefully grab an early lead.”

The statistical approach to formulating strategies is spearheaded by Edoardo Molinari, whose extensive experience and understanding of players’ strengths play a pivotal role in decision-making. Donald adds, “He knows that numbers can make a difference… All of our decisions come from instinct and gut as well as statistics.”

Donald Lauds Fleetwood’s Leadership and Aberg’s Composure

When asked about potential tattoos commemorating a win, a playful notion following Thomas Björn’s footsteps, Donald asserts, “No guarantees on the tattoo… But I’m sure we can find a suitable way to celebrate if it goes our way on Sunday.”

Diving into team dynamics, Donald praises Tommy Fleetwood’s remarkable contributions, stating he “could be a future captain… He’s very much a team player and one of the best ball-strikers in the world.” Donald’s acknowledgment of Fleetwood’s potential leadership suggests a promising future for the talented golfer within Team Europe’s framework.

Newcomer Ludvig Aberg, a rising star in the golf sphere, also earns Donald’s recognition. “He seems very unfazed… He’s quite quiet… he’s just going to let his clubs do the talking this week,” Donald remarks, indicating Aberg’s calm demeanor and focused approach to his professional journey.

The possible deployment of the team’s 12 players is also outlined, with Donald hinting at strategies to keep the energy levels optimal on the demanding course. “It’s not out of the possibility that someone will play five [matches],” he reveals, leaving room for dynamic strategies during the tournament.

Team Unity Amid Notable Absences

On confronting opponents, Donald emphasizes the importance of controlling what the team can and focusing more on Team Europe’s preparation rather than the opponents’. He states, “Control what you can control. Get our best pairings out in the order that we think is best and let the chips fall where they fall.”

Responding to the absence of some notable names, Donald conveys confidence in the current team’s motivation and clarity in their mission, emphasizing the unity and shared goals of the players over the need for “large voices within the team room.”

As the clock ticks down to the opening shots, the combination of strategies, team dynamics, and individual talents within Team Europe hints at a thrilling showdown at the Ryder Cup, with Captain Luke Donald steering the ship toward potential victory.

(This article was written with the help of AI)

Categories
Tour News

Ryder Cup 2023: Zach Johnsons Insightful Leadership

Ryder Cup 2023: Zach Johnson, radiates a calm, focused energy, revealing glimpses into his strategy, hopes, and experiences. (Source Getty)
Ryder Cup 2023: Zach Johnson, radiates a calm, focused energy, revealing glimpses into his strategy, hopes, and experiences. (Source Getty)

The atmosphere is vibrant, the greens immaculate, and the stakes are higher than ever as the Ryder Cup 2023 swings into action. For the first time in its history, the tournament takes place Italy, with the eternal city, Rome, playing the host. It is a tournament steeped in tradition and fierce rivalries, as Team USA, the reigning champions, embarks on a journey to claim victory on European soil, a feat they have not achieved in three decades.

The air is tinged with anticipation and resolve as Team Europe, still nursing the wounds from their 2021 defeat, aspires to reclaim the trophy. The battle for fame and honour is set.

Zach Johnson on Team Acclimatization and the Grandeur of Ryder Cup 2023

During the first practice round, Johnson asserts that the team is still acclimating, “waking up,” given the extensive travels. He remains hopeful about the acclimatization, emphasising the importance of “feeling the golf course” and adjusting to each other’s play styles. “It’s good to get the guys out there,” he asserts, thanking Italy for the “spectacular” weather contrasting the usual Ryder Cup conditions.

For the first-timers on the Ryder Cup stage, Johnson underscores the value of savoring and relishing the moment, mentioning the unique opportunity and addressing the grandeur of the event, calling it “one of the best spectacles in sports.” Johnson recalls his own first tee experience, emphasizing the role of focus, “It’s still just golf,” he remarks, underlining the importance of grounding in the midst of the incredible spectacle.

Balancing Acts and Rising Challenges

Justin Thomas, controversial for his form this year, still secures his spot. Johnson acknowledges the varied elements involved in the selection, balancing objective and subjective considerations. “There’s a lot of, I’d say, invaluable elements when it comes to J.T. and this event,” he says, noting Thomas’s potential to be a vocal and silent leader.

Reflecting on the last Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits, Johnson acknowledges the peculiar environment due to limited traveling fans and underlines the uniqueness of each Ryder Cup, “It’s going to be more trying. It’s going to be more difficult,” he states, emphasizing the necessity of embracing the challenge.

When probed about Team USA being labeled as the favorite by media, Johnson, with a hint of humor and modesty, doesn’t see his team as the favorite due to historical transpirations and the prowess of the opposing team. “Our backs are against the wall, and that’s the way we are going to approach it,” he avows.

A Leader in Service and Simplicity

Johnson’s approach to captaincy is thoughtful, relying on the foundation laid within Team USA and aiming for simplicity to avoid clouding the judgment of his team. He focuses on controlling what’s within his reach, “I’m here to serve, number one, and take all the burden off them as much as possible so they can go play.”

Addressing the practice strategies, he encourages players to play some alternate-shot to gain more reps and become accustomed to different golf balls for various scenarios, reiterating trust in his team’s experience and understanding, “These guys know what they are doing. I don’t need to coach them on how to go about doing that.”

Johnson’s leadership, a blend of serving, wisdom, and calmness, seems to reverberate through his team, underlining a unified focus and preparedness that will be essential in the coming competition. As the Ryder Cup draws near, the golfing world watches with bated breath to witness the unfolding of this revered golfing spectacle.

Categories
Tour News

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
Tour News

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
Tour News

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.

Categories
Tour News

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.

Categories
Tour News

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.

Categories
Tour News

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.

Categories
Tour News

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

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

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

Collin Morikawa at the 2023 Ryder Cup

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

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

Collin Morikawa’s record at the Ryder Cup

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

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

Collin Morikawa’s successes

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

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

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

Categories
Tour News

2023 Ryder Cup: Jordan Spieth – The Team Player

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

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

Jordan Spieth at the 2023 Ryder Cup

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

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

Jordan Spieth: Hard to beat at the Ryder Cup

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

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

Jordan Spieth’s greatest successes and prize money

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

Jordan Spieth’s bag at the 2023 Ryder Cup

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