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Ryder Cup 2023: MacIntyre and Rose with impressive points win

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

See the full leaderboard of the Ryder Cup 2023

Saturday afternoon in the 2023 Ryder Cup for Rose and MacIntyre

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Max Homa and Brian Harman at the Ryder Cup 2023

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

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

Q. How fired up were you?

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

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

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

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

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

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Ryder Cup 2023: How Seve Inspired Jon Rahm’s Two Eagles

Jon Rahm and Nicolai Hojgaard battled Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Kopeka in the fourballs at the 2023 Ryder Cup. Despite eight birdies and two eagles, the Europeans only got half a point out of the incredible match, that had more than one highlight.

Jon Rahm and Nicolai Hojgaard at the 2023 Ryder Cup

Q. Many, many congratulations on an incredible match. You chipped in at 16 to make eagle at the last. How is it possible for you guys to produce these kind of things under this sort of pressure?

JON RAHM: I don’t know. I don’t know. You know, it’s the intention of the moment, right, and then the fact that something happens is truly unique. I’ve got to give Nicolai props because over here on 18, he gave me the freedom to basically go at it, and he told me to hit a putt, try to make it. And he said, “What would Seve do,” right, “do it for Seve.” I don’t know if he would have quite made it like that, but I’m sure glad that it went in.

Q. Your first experience at Ryder Cup, just describe that experience from your point of view, obviously playing with the world No. 3 in a match that was incredibly thrilling?

NICOLAI HØJGAARD: Yeah, it was a good match out there today. We hung in there on the front nine, played some good golf, Rahmbo took over the last few holes. Yeah, it’s pretty cool to share the stage with Rahmbo. He’s a great player, great person, and yeah, it’s a special week so far.

Q. How I am interprets pressed with your rookie Ryder Cup here, different type of pressure and you’ve handled it so beautifully?

JON RAHM: We wouldn’t have had a chance if it wasn’t for him on the front nine. I got that up-and-down on 5, which he might have made it himself and kind of road his back the rest of the front nine, his four birdies, and the chances I had, I didn’t really take advantage of.

I mean, he says I took over, but he did his part, right. He made the crucial shots when he needed to and to give us a chance. It’s a partnership and he did 50 per cent and I tried to do my part on the last 50 per cent.

Q. What’s it like to be part of that team room? The atmosphere is incredible, I’m sure?

NICOLAI HØJGAARD: Yeah, it is. I love team golf. I’ve played it my whole life, and to be part of this, the best golf event, being part of Team Europe, being part of these great players and great guys, it’s very special. I can’t wait to get out there tomorrow.

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Ryder Cup 2023: Viktor Hovland and Tyrrel Hatton Deliver Incredible Finish

In a tight match at the 2023 Ryder Cup against Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas, Viktor Hovland and Tyrrell Hatton secured half a point, after going 2 Down on the back nine. They were paired together on Friday afternoon in the fourballs.

Tyrrell Hatton and Viktor Hovland at the 2023 Ryder Cup

Q. Try to describe for us what goes through your mind and your body when you hole such a crucial putt on the 18th in front of this enormous crowd?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: It was about time the ball went in. I felt like we played some really good golf today, and the Americans played some great golf as well and they kept pushing us and yeah, — to make a putt like that on the last hole that was huge for the team.

Q. 2 DOWN and five to play; Tyrrell, how deep did you have to dig against such a formidable pairing? They have never been beaten in four-ball.

TYRRELL HATTON: Yeah, it was always going to be a tough task. But we both played great today. And like he said, it was nice to finally see a putt go in there on the last. It was a tough match but we just kept plugging away, gave ourselves opportunities and yeah, ultimately by the end we’re happy with half a point.

VIKTOR HOVLAND: I thought one of us needed to make the putt and to make that one was really cool. Put a little bit more pressure on J.T. there.

Q. Both of you won your matches this morning. How much does it mean to still contribute something this afternoon?

TYRRELL HATTON: Yeah, the team went out this afternoon in a good mood. Although we found ourselves 2 DOWN through, what is it, 13? We feel like we played decent and putts weren’t really dropping for us.

So yeah, obviously Viktor to hole the putt on the last was amazing. I think I almost corkscrewed into the ground fist-pumping. Yeah, they might need to prepare that one before anyone has that putt.

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Ryder Cup 2023: Tommy Fleetwood: “Playing with Rory McIlroy is a dream for anybody”

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.

Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood at the Ryder Cup 2023

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.

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Ryder Cup 2023: Ludvig Aberg and Viktor Hovland on using the crowds for their advantage

The Scandinavian duo Ludvig Aberg and Viktor Hovland proved a success in Friday morning at the 2023 Ryder Cup. Against Max Homa and Brian Harman they brought home a 4&3 victory, making the second point for Team Europe. The Europeans secured all four possible points in the foursome matches.

Quotes from Ludvig Aberg and Viktor Hovland at the 2023 Ryder Cup

Q. Is the Ryder Cup as incredible as you thought it would be?

LUDVIG ÅBERG: I think so. The crowds were unbelievable here today, and we could really feel that support and that’s what we need to keep winning points here in Rome, so it was a lot of fun today.

Q. How does it feel whether you’re out here are the energy from the crowd and the momentum Europe had, how much did you really ride that through the course that match?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: It was such a big difference compared to Whistling Straits. Normally I keep my head down and just play, but I’m trying to really get the crowds going and just use them because they want you to play well and they want to support you. So it was such a good start, and we’re going to keep it going.

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Ryder Cup 2023: Jon Rahm narrowly misses hole-in-one

Not only Viktor Hovland seems unstoppable on this Friday morning, but also Jon Rahm inspires with incredible golf. His tee shot from around 180 meters on hole 7 hits the flagstick and just misses the hole-in-one at the Ryder Cup 2023. The birdie after that is just a free skate.

Ryder Cup 2023: Jon Rahm’s almost-hole-in-one in video

It took six holes and an iron shot for Jon Rahm to almost play his way into the Ryder Cup history books. On the par-3, the Spaniard goes straight for the flag with an aggressive shot and hits the line to the stick perfectly. The shot comes up a few feet short of the flag, bounces a few times and then rolls toward the flag. But the speed of the ball seems a bit too high and the golf ball bounces off the flagstick and stays next to the flag for a tap-in.

The spectators in Rome, of course, celebrate the shot and cheer along during the ball flight and many a person cannot believe that this incredible tee shot did not land in the hole.

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Ryder Cup 2023: Historic victory for Team Europe in the Friday Foursomes

The first matches of the Ryder Cup 2023 are played and Team Europe starts with outstanding Foursome-Matches into the tournament. Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton led the way, with Hovland/Aberg and Straka/Lowry following suit to secure points for the European team. Lastly Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood beat the previously unbeaten duo of Schauffele/Cantlay in an incredible match.

The historic result with four points from the morning sessions has never been seen before at a Ryder Cup. After the clear defeat two years ago, a real liberation for the European team.

Europa vs USA
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Ryder Cup 2023: The Foursomes of Friday at a glance

Europa Ergebnis USA
Jon Rahm und Tyrrell Hatton  4 & 3 Europa Scottie Scheffler und Sam Burns

The first match of the Ryder Cup 2023 goes clearly to the Europeans. Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton get going early and secure the first wins on holes 3 and 5. The only point for Team USA follows on hole 6, one hole before Jon Rahm narrowly missed a hole-in-one. After that, the match was almost decided from a European point of view. With further point wins on holes 11 and 12, the two finished the match early with 4&3 on hole 15.

Europa Ergebnis USA
Viktor Hovland und Ludvig Aberg  4 & 3 Europa Max Homa und Brian Harman

Viktor Hovland and rookie Ludvig Aberg also ended their match early on hole 15. Already on the first hole Hovland showed his current outstanding form and holed out of the semi-rough for birdie after a stumble by Aberg. Hole 2 also went to the two Europeans. With hole wins on holes 3 and 4, Homa and Harman closed the gap early on, but Hovland was unstoppable. All in all, the Scandinavian duo could win three more holes on the front nine, even if Aberg showed his fluttering nerves a few times. On the back nine, the Europeans didn’t give up another point to their opponents and secured another hole win on hole 14. With a shared 15, the match also ends with 4&3.

Europa Ergebnis USA
Sepp Straka und Shane Lowry  2 & 1 Europa Rickie Fowler und Collin Morikawa

The European duo impressed with an outstanding front nine and five hole wins, with only one point allowed by the Americans on hole 5. They then faltered on the back nine and allowed Fowler and Morikawa to make up three points. After the disappointing 16th hole, Lowry and Straka finally managed to prevail, but had to tremble once more.

Rickie Fowler almost carried the match against Straka and Lowry to the 18th hole. With “2 Up” for Europe it went to hole 17 and Team USA needed a birdie to win the hole. The shot missed the hole by a few centimeters and Straka can book his first Ryder Cup point.

Europa Ergebnis USA
Rory McIlroy und Tommy Fleetwood  2 & 1 Europa Xander Schauffele und Patrick Cantlay

It is probably the most even match of the morning. Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood are engaged in an unparalleled battle with Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay. Although the Europeans do not give up the lead, Team USA remains constantly within reach. This is also the case on hole 16, when Team USA can once again cut the lead to 1 down after Fleetwood misses his tee shot into the left water hazard. But McIlroy and Fleetwood manage to do what no one has done before. They beat the previously unbeaten American duo with an outstanding shot on the green of the 17th hole and secure the historic fourth point for Europe.

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Ryder Cup 2023: Team Monty wins first All-Star Match

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.

Novak Djokovic and Gareth Bale at the 2023 Ryder Cup

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.

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.

Ryder Cup 2023 All-Star Match a “real privilege” for Montgomerie

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 about the rough at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club

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

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Fourball – an exciting form of tournament play

Fourball (also called bestball or fourball) is played in golf with two, three or four players per team. Each golfer in a team plays his or her own ball. However, after each hole, only the best score is included in the team score. If one player locks in a four and the team partner needs five or more strokes, only the four is scored.

The fourball format holds some tactical possibilities: In the team it can be decided, for example, that one player plays more on risk and attacks the flag directly in order to win the hole (in match play). The other team partner tries to provide back-up by trying to place the ball safely on the green and thus take the pressure off. Who takes on which role depends on the current game situation.

Fourball with numerous variations

If a player with a very low handicap competes against players with a higher handicap, another variant is conceivable: The strong golfer is on his or her own and plays alone against a team that can take advantage of the synergy. In addition, the pairing of low handicap with high handicap is advantageous in fourball tournaments played according to Stableford. Such tournaments are often offered at the beginning or end of the season, when the course is not yet or no longer in the best condition.

In stroke play, the best scores of all the holes played by a team are added together and the total number is counted at the end of the course. In match play, as it is played at the Ryder Cup or Solheim Cup for example, you play against your opponents for each hole. The team that needs fewer strokes for the respective hole gets a point. In the event of a tie, the hole is split – both teams receive half a point. The team that wins the most holes wins the match.