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Luke Donald has been announced as Europe’s next Ryder Cup captain, while Team USA have yet to reveal who will lead their side; Europe claimed a 16.5-11.5 victory in the 2023 contest in Rome; Watch the 2025 Ryder Cup exclusively live on Sky Sports Golf

When is the next Ryder Cup? Which course is hosting? Who could feature for Team Europe? We look at the key questions ahead of the 2025 contest, live on Sky Sports…

When is the Ryder Cup?

The next edition will take place from September 26-28, 2025.

The biennial contest switched back to odd-numbered years from 2023, having been postponed in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic and taking place the following year.

Where is the Ryder Cup?

The 2025 edition will be held on the Bethpage Black Course in Farmingdale, New York. The venue has previously hosted the US Open twice and was also where the 2019 PGA Championship was held.

The public course has a warning sign at the first tee that reads: “The Black Course Is An Extremely Difficult Course Which We Recommend Only For Highly Skilled Golfers.”

The 2027 contest will be played at Adare Manor in Ireland and the 2029 edition will take place at Hazeltine National Golf Club, having previously hosted the 2016 event. The 2031 venue has yet to be confirmed.

Who are the current holders?

Europe will enter as defending champions after a brilliant 16.5-11.5 victory in Rome. Rory McIlroy top-scored for the hosts that week with four points from five matches, while Tyrrell Hatton and Jon Rahm both enjoyed unbeaten weeks.

Team USA won their last home Ryder Cup by a record-breaking margin in 2021, giving them back-to-back home victories for the first time since the 1980s.

Who will captain Team Europe?

Former world No 1 Luke Donald will serve as Europe’s captain for a second time, having led Europe to victory in Rome. Donald won all four Ryder Cups he played in and served as a vice-captain for two editions.

It’s the first time someone has been captain for back-to-back Ryder Cups since Bernard Gallacher held the role for three consecutive editions in the 1990s.

Who will captain Team USA?

The PGA of America have yet to reveal who will captain Team USA in 2025, with announcement expected over the coming months.

Tiger Woods is currently favourite for the role, having acted as a vice-captain during USA’s victory in 2016 and a playing-captain for the 2019 Presidents Cup win. Stewart Cink, a five-time Ryder Cup player and a vice-captain in 2023, is also a candidate.

Zach Johnson was the captain in Rome and would be the first American player to captain in successive Ryder Cups since Ben Hogan in 1949, while former vice-captain and four-time Ryder Cup player Matt Kuchar is another possibility.

How much does home advantage count?

Europe have won the last seven home editions of the Ryder Cup, while Team USA have enjoyed dominant victories the last two occasions it has been played in America. The last five editions have also seen a winning margin of five points or more.

The last away victory from either team came in 2012, when Europe produced their historic final-day comeback to win the ‘Miracle at Medinah’, while McIlroy wants to another victory on American soil in 2025.

McIlroy said: ‘I’ve said this for the last probably six or seven years to anyone that will listen: I think one of the biggest accomplishments in golf right now is winning an away Ryder Cup. And that’s what we’re going to do at Bethpage.”

How do players qualify and can LIV players feature?

The qualification process has yet to be announced, although both teams elected to have six automatic qualifiers and six captains picks for the 2023 edition.

Team Europe had three qualifiers from European Points List and three eligible players from the World Points List after a year-long qualification campaign, while the top six players on the USA Ryder Cup points list automatically qualified.

Players must currently be DP World Tour members to be eligible to feature for Team Europe, which would rule out some of those who joined the Saudi-backed LIV Golf League.

Who could play for Europe?

McIlroy will be a shoo-in to make an eighth consecutive Ryder Cup appearance, with Rahm and Viktor Hovland likely to play big roles for Team Europe once again.

It would be no surprise to see Ludvig Åberg in action, having impressed on debut in 2023, while the likes of Hatton, Tommy Fleetwood, Jon Rahm, Matt Fitzpatrick and Shane Lowry will be looking to feature once again.

What team golf is there before then?

Team USA will have the chance to extend their winning streak in the Presidents Cup next year, as Jim Furyk captains them against Mike Weir’s International Team at Royal Montreal Golf Club from September 26-29. The Americans have won 12 of the previous 14 editions of the biennial contest, losing just once.

Next year also sees the latest edition of the Solheim Cup, having switched back to even-numbered years to avoid clashing with the Ryder Cup. Suzann Pettersen will lead Team Europe against Stacy Lewis’ Team USA at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Virginia from September 13-15.

How can I watch the next Ryder Cup?

Sky Sports will continue to be the home of the Ryder Cup, with all three days of the 2025 exclusively live. Stream the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour and more with NOW.

Thriston Lawrence cards a three-under 67 to move into a three-shot lead on 15-under overall following the third round of the DP World Tour’s Joburg Open at the Houghton Golf Club

South Africa’s Thriston Lawrence carded a three-under 67 to move into a three-shot lead following the third round of the Joburg Open at the Houghton Golf Club in Johannesburg on Saturday.

The 26-year-old started the week with a brilliant 62 and while he did not match that quality in round three, he carded the lowest score of anyone in an all-South African top six to lead the way.

Dean Burmester sits in second place while Nikhil Rama is tied for third place, after the overnight leader posted a disappointing two-over 72, which featured a double-bogey at the first hole.

Lawrence won this event two years ago and has since added three more DP World Tour titles, one of which he will be defending at next week’s South African Open.

He missed out on a PGA Tour card by one shot after finishing fifth in last week’s season finale in Dubai but has insisted this week that has only inspired him to have a successful 2024 campaign on the European-based circuit.

“I had a game plan and it was to try and play the exact same golf as I did the first two rounds and I executed it,” said Lawrence, who is 15-under overall. “I stayed nice and patient.

“I could have gone lower, not a lot of made putts, there was a couple at the end that I could have made but it’s job done and I’m happy with it.

“The game plan is exactly the same tomorrow, I’ll try and make a few more putts than today but I’m very happy with the game, I’m playing really well so same game plan.”

Lawrence carded four birdies and a bogey to get to 15 under, with LIV player Burmester his nearest challenger after a 68.

World No 1,214 Nikhil Rama’s dream week continued with a 72 that left him four shots off the lead.

South Africa’s Darren Fichardt carded a 68 to sit at nine under, one shot clear of England’s Daniel Brown and two ahead of a group of eight players including defending champion Dan Bradbury.

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Ludvig Åberg turned professional just six months ago and has already won the Ryder Cup as part of Team Europe; captain Luke Donald put faith in the youngster and now believes the ‘sky is the limit’ for the ‘generational’ talent

A Ryder Cup captain always has to show the upmost faith in their players, but no one backed Ludvig Åberg more than Luke Donald and a first PGA Tour win is just more evidence as to why.

Heading to Rome, Åberg had only switched from the amateur ranks in June and had competed in just nine professional events, but received a wildcard selection after a breakthrough victory at the Omega European Masters.

He made the quickest transition from the amateur game to the Ryder Cup in the tournament’s history, breaking the previous record held by Sergio Garcia in 1999, although enjoyed a glittering career before turning professional.

“We obviously knew what he was doing in the college scene,” Donald said ahead of the Ryder Cup. “You look at what he did in those four years and the only comparables really were Viktor Hovland and Jon Rahm. He is that good.

“I played with him in Detroit and was blown away by his game. He continued to impress and I challenged him to come over to Europe and play a couple [of events].

“I really do have a lot of faith and belief in Ludvig. He is a generational player, he’s going to be around a long time and he’s going to do amazing things. If he wasn’t going to play this one he was going to play the next eight Ryder Cups, that’s how good I think he is.”

While nerves for Team Europe supporters may have been present, it did not take long for Åberg to quell them as he partnered Viktor Hovland to victory in the opening foursomes session in Rome before the same pair also thrashed world No 1 Scottie Scheffler and five-time major winner Brooks Koepka 9&7 on day two, a record margin for an 18-hole Ryder Cup match.

Now, Åberg has proved once again why many are touting him to be one of the star golfers of the future with an impressive win at the RSM Classic, carding back-to-back rounds of 61 over the weekend at Sea Island to finish 29 under par, four shots clear of Canada’s Mackenzie Hughes.

Donald was quick to congratulate his wildcard pick and believes we are only seeing the start of what is set to be an accolade-laden career.

“Anyone paying attention knew the unlimited potential of Ludvig, he showed that at Crans and now again dominating in Sea Island this week,” Donald said on social media.

“Congratulations to you, Jack and your whole team, the sky is the limit.”

Åberg admitted the moment felt like a “dream” and he hopes to “love golf for a long time” as he continues on in the professional ranks.

“I’m super happy. It’s kind of beyond my dreams,” Åberg said.

“It’s really cool. To first off play on the PGA Tour, I have a lot of people to thank for that. It’s been so much fun, six months that I’ll never forget.

“This is what you dream of as a kid. This is the sport that I love and the sport that I’m going to love for a very long time. Watching these events from a very young age is what I’ve done so to see myself win is really cool.”

Dale Reid has died at the age of 64; she was a life member of the tour, won 21 LET titles, the Order of Merit twice and enjoyed a successful Solheim Cup career

Former Solheim Cup captain Dale Reid has died at the age of 64, the Ladies European Tour has announced.

Reid, who had been suffering from cancer, died on Wednesday morning in Townsville, Australia, the LET said.

A life member of the LET, Reid turned professional in 1979 and won 21 times on the circuit in her career, the last two of which came in 1991.

She won the Order of Merit in both 1984 and 1987 and holds the record for the most top-10 finishes with 135, recorded between 1979-2005.

After representing Europe four times as a player in the Solheim Cup, Reid captained the side to victory over the United States at Loch Lomond in 2000.

It was only Europe’s second victory in the biennial contest and Reid was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List.

Reid also led the side at Interlachen in 2002, but Europe lost by three points after a build-up dominated by a selection row revolving around Catriona Matthew, who went on to captain Europe to victories in 2019 and 2021.

Reid was described by the LET as a “larger-than-life character who was held in great affection by her fellow Tour players, caddies and staff. (She) will be missed dearly by all who knew her.”

One week after Alison Lee lost in a playoff on the LPGA, she ran laps around the field in Saudi Arabia after shooting a mind-boggling 61-61-65 at the Ladies European Tour’s Aramco Team Series event at Riyadh Golf Club

American Alison Lee rounded off her record-breaking week in style with a commanding victory in the Aramco Team Series in Saudi Arabia.

Lee carded a final round of 65 at Riyadh Golf Club to finish 29 under par and eight shots clear of Spain’s Solheim Cup star Carlota Ciganda, with England’s Charley Hull another three strokes back in third.

Lee’s winning total set a new 54-hole scoring record on the Ladies European Tour and also equalled the best achieved over 72 holes.

“I’ve played some really good golf this week and putted even better,” the 28-year-old said.

“I hit almost every green, gave myself plenty of birdie opportunities, and made a lot of them count with aggressive, confident play. I had a lot of fun out there and I’m delighted with the win because any tournament is difficult to win.”

Alison’s first professional victory came at the 2021 Aramco event at Sotogrande.

A former No 1 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, the 28-year-old former UCLA student turned professional in 2014 after winning the final stage of LPGA Q-School.

Angel Yin defeated Lilia Vu on the opening playoff hole to win the LPGA Shanghai tournament on Sunday; the 25-year-old claimed victory at the par-four 18th after Vu had narrowly missed her 20-foot birdie putt

American Solheim Cup player Angel Yin defeated top-ranked Lilia Vu on the first playoff hole to win the LPGA Shanghai tournament on Sunday for her first tour success.

The pair finished on 14-under at the Qizhong Garden Golf Club course, forcing a playoff, but the 25-year-old claimed victory at the opening hole after Vu had narrowly missed her 20-foot birdie putt.

It was Yin’s first victory in 159 starts and she shared a warm embrace with compatriot Vu on her breakthrough win.

Yin was tied with Maja Stark for the overnight lead at 12 under and on Sunday shot a 70, with three birdies and a lone bogey on the sixth.

Vu shot a four-under 68, with six birdies and two bogeys, and was the clubhouse leader at 14-under, until Yin birdied the par-five 17th and then made par on the final hole to force a playoff.

Five players finished in a tie for third at 13 under: South Korea’s Choi Hye-jin who shot a 64, Thai pair Pavarisa Yoktuan (70) and Ariya Jutanugarn (69), Yu Liu (68) and Esther Henseleit (68).

After a promising start, Maja Stark had a frustrating day as she made an even-par round to finish in a tie for eighth on 12 under.

Meanwhile, two-time defending champion Danielle Kang of the United States shot 71 to finish five strokes back in a tie for 17th at nine under.

The event, the LPGA’s first return to China since 2019 because of the Covid-19 pandemic, is the start of a four-tournament Asia swing, with later stops in South Korea, Malaysia and Japan.

Brooks Koepka moves into lead at LIV Jeddah standing at 12-under, ahead of Sergio Garcia of Spain and Charles Howell III; Garcia’s Fireballs and Koepka’s Smash are tied for second in team play

Brooks Koepka shot a bogey-free 64 on Saturday to take a three-stroke lead heading into the final round of the LIV Golf Invitational Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.

The defending champion enjoyed four birdies in a row on holes three to six, part of his eight on the round in the $25m regular season-ending event at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club.

He stands at 12 under ahead of Sergio Garcia of Spain, who followed Friday’s 68 with a 63, and Charles Howell III (64).

Scott Vincent of Zimbabwe fired a 62 behind seven birdies and an eagle to move into a tie for fourth with Bryson DeChambeau (63), four strokes back of Koepka at eight under.

First-round leader Marc Leishman of Australia, who recorded a 65 to take the lead on Friday, responded with a five-over-par 70 and fell into a tie for 21st at three under par.

Garcia said the weather and the course proved better on Saturday than on Friday.

“It was a really nice round, obviously,” he said. “The course conditions were a little bit more favourable than yesterday. Yesterday was much windier. It was a lot trickier. A couple of tougher pins yesterday, I guess.”

Garcia said a key to the round was consecutive birdies on the final two holes, part of a strong finish.

“I finished with four birdies on my last five,” he said. “Obviously there’s moments here and there, but I also made a couple really good up-and-downs on 11 and 12 to keep my round going, and then thanks to that, I birdied 13 and 14.

“I think that I played nicely. I got a lot out of my round, and I’m very happy with that.”

In team play, Garcia’s Fireballs and Koepka’s Smash are tied for second at 19 under, three strokes behind DeChambeau’s Crushers.

Watch the Shriners Children’s Open at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas on Sky Sports Golf from 10pm on Saturday.

We take a look at who features in Zach Johnson’s Team USA at the 2023 Ryder Cup, being held at Marco Simone Golf Club in Italy.

The six automatic qualifiers on the Ryder Cup points list are world No 1 Scottie Scheffler, US Open champion Wyndham Clark and Brian Harman, winner of The Open at Royal Liverpool – both rookies – along with Patrick Cantlay, Max Homa and Xander Schauffele.

Johnson’s six wildcard selections then included five-time major winner, LIV Golf’s Brooks Koepka, as well as Jordan Spieth, Collin Morikawa, Sam Burns, Rickie Fowler and Justin Thomas to complete the USA’s line-up.

Scottie Scheffler

Age 27. Caps 1. Majors 1

Ryder Cup record: 2-0-1

Singles: 1-0-0. Foursomes: 0-0-0. Fourball: 1-0-1

The world No 1 is the standout member of a strong-looking US team, although it’s somewhat of a surprise the 27-year-old failed to add a second major to his tally this season.

Scheffler did win The Players in March, along with the Phoenix Open a month prior, while he carded a tied-second finish at the PGA Championship and third at The US Open, albeit he barely threatened the runaway leaders (Brooks Koepka and Wyndham Clark, respectively) on the final day of either event.

Scheffler’s pedigree though is undoubted at this early stage of his career and more majors will certainly follow. As for Ryder Cups, it was an impressive start for him on debut two years ago, winning two of his matches and halving the other in Team USA’s convincing win at Whistling Straights.

Wyndham Clark

Age 29. Caps 0. Majors 1

Ryder Cup record: N/A

You would have been forgiven for not knowing the name Wydnham Clark at the start of the year, with the 29-year-old yet to win on the PGA Tour since turning professional in 2017 and a best major finish of tied-75th at the 2021 PGA Championship.

By June 18, however, you were left in no doubt as to who he was and his golfing credentials as Clark raised aloft the US Open trophy – having held off the final-day challenge of four-time major winner Rory McIlroy – to follow off the back of his first tour win at Wells Fargo the month prior.

It does not look like a flash in the pan either, with Clark finishing third at the Tour Championship to close out the FedExCup Playoffs.

Brian Harman

Age 36. Caps 0. Majors 1

Ryder Cup record: N/A

Another Ryder Cup rookie, with Harman catapulting himself into contention much in the same way he blazed his way to the top of the leaderboard en route to winning The Open at Royal Liverpool this summer.

Harman carded a six-under 65 on the second day and never looked back, ultimately running away with things to win by a massive six strokes.

Just to stir the competitive juices further among the English fans following the fortunes of Team Europe, Harman bears a striking resemblance to former Australian cricket captain, and great Ashes enemy, Ricky Ponting. Google it, trust us.

Patrick Cantlay

Age 31. Caps 1. Majors 0

Ryder Cup record: 3-0-1

Singles: 1-0-0. Foursomes: 2-0-0. Fourball: 0-0-1

Slow play or not, Cantlay performed brilliantly on his Ryder Cup debut two years ago, winning three of four matches and halving the other, while he is fully deserving of his spot on this team again as one of the most consistent performers on tour if not always the quickest.

The 31-year-old has eight PGA Tour wins to his name, including the 2021 season-ending Tour Championship, but he has failed to add to that tally in 2023 and major success still eludes him, with a tied-ninth finish at the PGA Championship his best of the year and only the fourth top 10 of his career.

Max Homa

Age 32. Caps 0. Majors 0

Ryder Cup record: N/A

With six PGA Tour wins in total and five since the start of 2021, Homa has been a popular tip as ‘the next first-time major winner’ on tour.

However, the 32-year-old Homa has not lived up to those lofty expectations quite yet, with his tied-10th finish at The Open this year the first time he has cracked that very top 10.

A debut Ryder Cup cap now gives him a further chance to prove he can cut the mustard when the spotlight is at its brightest and pressure at its most intense.

Xander Schauffele

Age 29. Caps 1. Majors 0

Ryder Cup record: 3-1-0

Singles: 0-1-0. Foursomes: 2-0-0. Fourball: 1-0-0

Xander Schauffele is another to have impressed in his Ryder Cup debut two years ago, with a singles loss to Rory McIlroy to kick off Sunday his only blemish.

His foursomes partnership with Patrick Cantlay proved particularly fruitful, with two wins in two, so could that be a pairing we see again this year?

The 29-year-old has had a solid, if unspectacular, 2023 season, carding top-10 finishes at The Masters and US Open though that first major success still eludes him.

Brooks Koepka

Age 33. Caps 3. Majors 5

Ryder Cup record: 6-5-1

Singles: 2-0-1. Foursomes: 2-2-0. Fourball: 2-3-0

The only LIV Golf representative among the 24-player field, but it’s easy to see why Koepka has been able to bridge the divide despite his absence on the PGA Tour over the last year and a bit.

The 33-year-old won his fifth major in some style, claiming the PGA Championship at Oak Hill courtesy of rounds of 66, 66 and 67 over the final three days. That also followed off the back of a brilliant week at Augusta, albeit one which ended in agonising fashion as he let a two-stroke lead slip to Jon Rahm on the final day to see a maiden Masters win slip through his fingers.

Koepka also brings a decent wedge of Ryder Cup experience to this US team, having appeared in the past three, which has included two big wins for the US either side of losing handily themselves in France in 2018.

Jordan Spieth

Age 30. Caps 4. Majors 3

Ryder Cup record: 8-7-3

Singles: 0-3-1. Foursomes: 3-2-2. Fourball: 5-2-0

Spieth is a four-time Ryder Cup veteran, at the age of 30, but it has been a bit of a mixed bag at times for the three-time major winner.

Spieth, for example, has still yet to win a final-day singles matchup, coming closest when halving his tie with Tommy Fleetwood two years ago. In pairing with his US team-mates he has fared much better, particularly when paired with his great mate Justin Thomas – the pair have won four of six matches they have played together.

Spieth had five top-five finishes on tour this year, including coming second to Matt Fitzpatrick at the RBC Heritage and ending tied for fourth at Augusta in his best placing at a major in 2023.

Collin Morikawa

Age 26. Caps 1. Majors 2

Ryder Cup record: 3-0-1

Singles: 0-0-1. Foursomes: 2-0-0. Fourball: 1-0-0

Two years ago, Morikawa was an absolute shoo-in for the US team, topping the points list – off the back of two major wins over the previous 12 months – to qualify outright.

This time, his path to Italy has not quite been so seamless, relying on a captain’s pick after finishing a still-decent 10th on the points list.

His selection was really a bit of a no-brainer, especially when you consider his success – three wins in four – last time out. That said, his budding partnership with Dustin Johnson, which secured a 100 per cent record in their three matchups, has been broken up. Who will he team up with this time round?

Sam Burns

Age 27. Caps 0. Majors 0

Ryder Cup record: N/A

It was no real surprise to see Burns claim one of Zach Johnson’s captain’s picks, having won five PGA Tour titles since 2021, including the World Matchplay earlier this year.

The 27-year-old is making his Ryder Cup debut, though he did get a little bit of a practice run when part of the US team at the Presidents Cup last year – albeit it did not go particularly well.

Burns went winless from his five ties (three losses, two halves), his partnership with great mate Scottie Scheffler proving far from fruitful as the high-profile pair lost two of their three matches. Will they dare to be paired together again this week?

Rickie Fowler

Age 34. Caps 4. Majors 0

Ryder Cup record: 3-7-5

Singles: 1-2-1. Foursomes: 1-3-2. Fourball: 1-2-2

Fowler has found the Ryder Cup a struggle, winning only three of his 15 career matchups and tasting victory on the US team only once in 2016 (where two of his wins came), having failed to make the team at Whistling Straights two years ago.

While Fowler might therefore seem a strange captain’s pick this time round, 2023 has seen the 34-year-old return to somewhere near his best form. Starting the year still outside the world’s top 100, and without a PGA Tour victory since 2019, Fowler’s return to former coach Butch Harmon has reaped stunning results, most notably at this year’s US Open where he equalled the lowest score in men’s major championship history with a stunning eight-under opening round of 62.

Fowler ultimately faded to finished tied-fifth but he would end that PGA Tour title drought less than a month later with success at the Rocket Mortgage Classic.

Justin Thomas

Age 30. Caps 2. Majors 2

Ryder Cup record: 6-2-1. Singles: 2-0-0. Foursomes: 3-1-0. Fourball: 1-1-1

Thomas can consider himself somewhat fortunate to earn a captain’s pick after one of his poorest seasons by his high standards.

The two-time major winner only just secured a spot in the FedExCup playoffs by the skin of his teeth after a dismal run which saw him miss the cut in five of seven PGA Tour starts. Those struggles stretched to the majors too, with his defence of the PGA Championship (finishing tied-65th) the only instance in which he made the weekend.

But, Thomas has earned captain Zach Johnson’s trust likely due to his Ryder Cup pedigree of years past. Thomas has won six of his nine career matches, including claiming four off five when last held on European soil in 2018.

Watch the Ryder Cup this month exclusively live Sky Sports. Live coverage of the opening day begins on Friday September 29 from 6am on Sky Sports Golf. Stream the PGA Tour, Ryder Cup and more with NOW.

Team Europe battled back in the fourballs to keep their hopes of a Solheim Cup threepeat alive, but what can Suzann Pettersen’s side learn from an eventful opening day against Team USA?

Europe arrived as pre-tournament favourites and with a side that Pettersen felt was the strongest in their history, with the hosts looking to build on victories at Gleneagles in 2019 and Ohio in 2021.

Momentum quickly went in the way of Stacy Lewis’ USA side after a dominant foursomes session, where they enjoyed a clean sweep for the first time in their history, only for Europe to fight back superbly to claim three of the four points on offer in the fourballs.

Europe now trail 5-3 heading into another double-session on Saturday, live from 6.30am on Sky Sports, although will be encouraged by their afternoon performance that their hopes of a historic threepeat remain on track.

Beware of Team USA’s talent

Team USA hadn’t led after an opening Solheim Cup session since 2009, when fourballs used to be played first, which makes the manner of their fast start to this year’s contest even more remarkable.

It’s the first time since 1996 that the United States went undefeated in the opening round of a foursomes session and the first time in the biennial contest’s history that they swept a foursome round.

The fast start is just the sixth time in the Solheim Cup that a team has managed to win all four matches in a session and the first time since 2017, when Team USA won all four Friday fourball fixtures on their way to a 16.5-11.5 success.

One hope for Team Europe is that there has been a previous occasion when a team has recovered from losing a session 4-0 to win the Solheim Cup, with Team USA achieving that in 2002 after bouncing back from being swept in the Saturday fourballs.

Mixed fortunes for line-up gambles

The decision to lead off with two rookies quickly felt like a mistake for Europe, with Maja Stark and Linn Grant losing each of their opening three holes to immediately see Team USA dominate the leaderboard.

Although the Swedish pair battled back into the contest and were level with four holes remaining, they never led and were eventually beaten 2&1 by Lexi Thompson and Megan Khang.

Thompson hit the opening tee shot despite struggling for form this season, with the Solheim Cup veteran without a top-10 all year on the LPGA Tour, with that decision a last-minute call from captain Stacy Lewis.

“She wasn’t in my line-up that I’ve had for a couple weeks and just the way the last four days have gone, just the way she seemed mentally, I had a good feeling about it,” Lewis explained.

Lewis also left out world No 2 Lilia Vu and rising star Rose Zhang from the opening session, although unlike Pettersen – who left out Caroline Hedwall all day – elected to use all 12 players in at least one match.

“You could not ask for much more,” Lewis added after the 4-0 session sweep. “We knew just seeing the pairings, those middle two matches were going to be tough. We saw a ton of fight in our girls and fortunately we were on the right side of it.”

Europe’s character shines through

Having lost the foursomes 4-0, Europe went into the fourballs under extreme pressure.

Aside from the final pairing of Carlota Ciganda and Grant, who controlled their match from almost start to finish, the other six European players had to come through nail-biting finales knowing that coming up short would leave the team facing a mountain to climb over the weekend.

Rather than succumbing to the moment, the pressure produced the best play we saw from Europe all day.

Emily Pedersen, who had been heavily beaten alongside Charley Hull in the morning before struggling on the front nine of the fourballs, holed out at the 12th and almost did so again at the 17th to help herself and Stark to half a point.

Leona Maguire, having already made several clutch putts on the back nine, produced a shot that might have even upstaged Pedersen’s ace by chipping in at the 18th to turn a probable loss into victory for herself and Georgia Hall.

Meanwhile debutant Gemma Dryburgh, who looked terribly nervous as she struggled on the greens in the front nine, came to life on the way in to hole out brilliantly at the 16th, having already holed a couple of crucial putts

If there was any doubt that Pettersen’s team had the characters to come back from an unenviable 4-0 deficit, they proved it on Friday afternoon.

‘No concerns’ for Hull despite record loss?

Hull mentioned she was dealing with a neck strain in the build-up to her sixth consecutive appearance for Team Europe, with the Englishwoman left out of the Friday fourballs after suffering the heaviest defeat of her Solheim Cup career.

Hull said midweek she was only swinging at 80 per cent and received physio ahead of partnering Pedersen, where they were an estimated eight over par for the front nine on their way to a 5&4 foursomes loss against Ally Ewing and Cheyenne Knight.

Hull was a late arrival at the first tee and was nowhere near her best during a convincing loss, although captain Pettersen played down any possible concerns over her fitness.

“Charley is okay,” Pettersen told Sky Sports. “Probably didn’t feel the best in the front nine and the more she played she felt better, so she’ll be fine. She has some treatments but nothing to worry about – just Charley being Charley, so I have no concerns!”

Unbeaten partnerships end for Europe

Celine Boutier and Hall’s four match unbeaten partnership – across two Solheim Cups – came to an end when they suffered a final-hole loss against Danielle Kang and Andrea Lee, with the pair kept apart for the afternoon session as the Frenchwoman sat out.

Europe’s top-scorer from their 2021 success in Ohio, Maguire was unable to build on her unbeaten debut two years ago as her and Anna Nordqvist – a playing vice-captain – were also beaten by the same margin.

It was that dominant of a display from Team USA that the European team only led for four holes across the entire morning session, Stark, Grant, Pedersen and Hull completing the group that were heavily beaten.

Who will win the 2023 Solheim Cup? Watch exclusively live this week on Sky Sports! Live coverage continues on Saturday from 6.30am. Stream the Solheim Cup and more with NOW.

Leona Maguire won 4.5 points on her Solheim Cup debut in 2021; can Team Europe claim a historic third consecutive victory over Team USA? Watch the opening ceremony live on Thursday from 5pm on Sky Sports Golf ahead of day one live on Friday from 6.30am.

Leona Maguire is refusing to put any additional pressure on herself as she looks to build on a stellar Solheim Cup debut and help create history for Team Europe this week in Spain.

Maguire top-scored for Catriona Matthew’s side in a 15-13 victory in 2021, winning 4.5 points in an unbeaten debut as Team Europe successfully defended their title on American soil.

The Irishwoman has won twice on the LPGA Tour in the two years since and contended in several majors during that time, cementing inside the world’s top 20, with Maguire likely to play a key role for Suzann Pettersen’s side at Finca Cortesin.

Team Europe are chasing a third consecutive win over Team USA for the first time in the tournament’s history, although Maguire played down the prospect of her stellar achievements in her previous Solheim Cup appearance.

“Obviously last time went about as well as it possibly could have, but it’s a brand-new event this time,” Maguire said in her pre-tournament press conference. “It’s a brand-new venue and a brand-new team, both on the Europe and the US side.

“I think the US have a fantastic team this time. I think they have a young team that’s ready to go. Ultimately, I’ll try and win as many points as I can, but we’ll just prepare as well as we can and go in with very little expectations like the last time, the same way as I approach any other event.

“Just because it’s worked well in the past doesn’t really make much difference for this time. It almost feels a little bit like a rookie again playing on home soil. This is all still a new experience for me, so will just try and enjoy the week as much as I can and feed off the energy of the crowd.”

Maguire won 2.5 points alongside Mel Reid in 2021 and one point alongside former AIG Women’s Open champion Georgia Hall, although was seen playing a practice round with Anna Nordqvist, Caroline Hedwall and Madelene Sagstrom on Tuesday.

The 28-year-old held her pre-tournament press conference alongside reigning Evian Championship winner Celine Boutier, with the pair both hinting at the possibility of the pair playing together at some point during this year’s event.

“I think we have a fantastic team this week,” Maguire added. “I think there’s lots of options of who can play with who. It’s obviously a new team and you’ll see some familiar pairings and some new pairings.

“She [Pettersen] has done a lot of these, she’s done nine herself, so she knows what she’s doing. So I think both myself and Celine (Boutier) are pretty flexible. We’ll play with just about anybody, so we’re going to do whatever Suzann needs us to do this week.”

Pettersen: Europe know the plan for Friday!

Team Europe had 11 of their 12 players involved in practice rounds on Tuesday, with only Charley Hull sitting out as a precaution due to a slight neck issue, with speculation gathering on the potential partnerships that could be used by Pettersen on the opening day.

“I’ve been very transparent with the players already and I’ve literally told them what we’re thinking for Friday morning,” Pettersen told Sky Sports. “I wanted the players to take ownership and the more they early know early then the easier it is to prepare.

“I think the players are pretty set on what’s going to be happening on Friday, which I think is great. As a player I always appreciated getting the information as early as possible. Who you see playing in the practice rounds could have a lot to do with who they potentially play with [on Friday], for sure.”

Eight of the winning side from two years ago return this time around, with Caroline Hedwall also part of previous successes, with the strength of depth at her disposal leaving Pettersen plenty to consider.

“Women’s golf is about to explode,” Pettersen added. “It’s massive in Asia, it’s big in the United States and it’s obviously getting stronger and stronger here in Europe. I think the strength of the team shows the strength of the European talents coming through.

“It’s going to be fun see all these players go out there and just embrace it. It’s great to have a strong team but gives me a lot of headaches. Everyone can’t play all matches so you have to bench certain good players, but it’s a good problem to have.

“With good performances also comes expectations, but the great part here is the players are so up for it. I don’t have to say anything to inspire them or motivate them – they’re just all so on it and ready to go.”

Who will win the 2023 Solheim Cup? Watch exclusively live this September on Sky Sports! Live coverage from the opening ceremony begins at 5pm on Thursday September 21, with the opening day’s play live on the Friday from 6.30am. Stream the Solheim Cup and more with NOW.

Who is playing in the BMW PGA Championship? When does coverage start? Ways to watch the DP World Tour’s flagship event at Wentworth live from Thursday September 14 on Sky Sports, ahead of the Ryder Cup later this month in Rome

The stars of Europe’s next Ryder Cup team are all in action this week at the BMW PGA Championship, with extended coverage live on Sky Sports.

All 12 of Luke Donald’s side are scheduled to tee it up at Wentworth in the flagship event of the DP World Tour calendar, beginning on Thursday, ahead of trying to regain the Ryder Cup when the biennial contest takes place in Rome later this month.

Shane Lowry returns as defending champion after last year’s one-shot victory, with the Irishman looking to build on an impressive week at home soil at the Horizon Irish Open and become the first player since Donald to win back-to-back BMW PGA Championship titles.

Rory McIlroy holds a commanding 2,350-point advantage over Jon Rahm at the top of the DP World Tour season-long standings as he targets Race to Dubai victory for a fifth time, with both players aiming to go one better than their joint runner-up finish in 2022.

McIlroy has already won two Rolex Series titles this season, the Hero Dubai Desert Classic and Genesis Scottish Open, with this week’s event the fourth of five Rolex Series events on the DP World Tour schedule.

2019 champion Tyrrell Hatton, FedExCup winner Viktor Hovland and new star Ludvig Åberg are all part of a strong line-up, with Matt Fitzpatrick, Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose, Sepp Straka, Nicolai Hojgaard and Robert MacIntyre completing the Ryder Cup contingent in the field.

Sky Sports will have extended coverage from one of the highlights of the golfing calendar, with Featured Group action available from all four rounds and over 35 hours of live golf throughout the tournament.

Featured Group coverage starts at 8.30am each day on Sky Sports Golf, ahead of the full coverage beginning from midday for all four rounds. Coverage runs until 6pm from Thursday to Saturday and 5.30pm on Sunday, with extended highlights also available each day.

TV Times (on Sky Sports Golf)

Thursday September 14

8.30am to 12pm – Featured Groups

12pm to 6pm – Full live coverage

Friday September 15

8.30am to 12pm – Featured Groups

12pm to 6pm – Full live coverage

Saturday September 16

8.30am to 12pm – Featured Groups

12pm to 6pm – Full live coverage

Sunday September 17

8.30am to 12pm – Featured Groups

12pm to 5.30pm – Full live coverage

What else should you know?

Download the Sky Sports App to get news, interviews, highlights and clips, plus a dedicated blog over the final two rounds. Viewers can follow the coverage on the move via SkyGo, while non-Sky subscribers can get Sky Sports to keep up with the extensive Sky Sports Golf coverage or stream the biggest moments on NOW.

Watch the BMW PGA Championship throughout the week live on Sky Sports. Live coverage begins on Thursday with Featured Groups from 8.30am ahead of full coverage from midday on Sky Sports Golf.

Live coverage from the opening day of the Ryder Cup begins on Friday September 29 from 6am on Sky Sports Golf. Stream the PGA Tour, DP Tour, Ryder Cup and more with NOW.

Watch the Walker Cup live on Sky Sports from 6pm on Saturday and 5.30pm on Sunday, live on Sky Sports Golf

Great Britain and Ireland captain Stuart Wilson has welcomed being given a selection headache for the 49th Walker Cup against the United States at the Old Course at St Andrews.

The visitors are odds-on favourites to secure a fourth consecutive victory in the biennial contest for the top male amateur golfers, with eight of Mike McCoy’s 10-man side ranked in the world’s top 10.

Only Stewart Hagestad (19th) is ranked lower than GB&I’s top-ranked player John Gough (14th), while the home side includes 16-year-old Scot Connor Graham, the youngest player to contest the Walker Cup for either side.

The last win for the hosts came in 2015 at Royal Lytham, where Jimmy Mullen compiled a perfect 4-0 record in a seven-point win over an American side which included this year’s captain McCoy and Bryson DeChambeau.

“The team has done a fantastic job this week of preparing,” said Wilson, who also captained the side to a narrow 14-12 defeat at Seminole in 2021.

“It’s been a long week. I don’t think there’s many weeks like this in the golfing calendar when there’s so much preparation.

“But we had our two practice rounds early in the week and then we had a little break over to Kingsbarns, which was a bit more of a social kind of relaxed day, and then rounding them up Thursday and Friday here for the official practice days.

“Preparations have gone well and the guys are all playing well, which is great to see.

“Playing well and practising creates a nice situation but a difficult situation, as well, giving us a little bit of a headache as to pairings, and obviously we’ve got to leave two players out of each of the first three sessions, so the guys have made my job difficult by deciding who to leave out.”

England’s Barclay Brown and Ireland’s Mark Power are the only players from the 2021 side to have returned this year, Power having won three of his four matches at Seminole.

“I’m trying to help some of the younger guys out and even some of the guys who haven’t played here before,” Power said.

“I suppose it’s a different feeling than last time. Circumstances were a little bit different with Covid and everything.

“I feel like this week has been a lot longer, and I feel like our preparations have been great. I feel like everyone is confident we’ve done the right things.

“It’s just about getting into the matches now, and I suppose just locking into your own process, not trying to do anything too different. That’s a big thing I would say.

“Last time around there was a restricted crowd, so it wasn’t quite the full experience. It was still probably the best week of my golfing career so far. I’d imagine this week will top it.

“We’ll definitely be leaning on the home crowd to give us a little extra support, but we’re all really going to embrace it and it’s going to be amazing. At the Home of Golf it’s extra special, so really looking forward to it.”

The teams will contest four foursomes matches and eight singles on Saturday, followed by four more foursomes and 10 singles on Sunday.

Watch the Walker Cup live on Sky Sports from 6pm on Saturday and 5.30pm on Sunday, live on Sky Sports Golf. Stream the DP World Tour, PGA Tour, Ryder Cup and more for £26 a month for 12 months with NOW.

Viktor Hovland mixed 10 birdies with a lone bogey in a stunning final-round 61, setting the course record and earning a two-shot win; Scottie Scheffler leads FedExCup standings after finishing tied-second with Matt Fitzpatrick

Viktor Hovland produced a sensational back-nine birdie barrage to stun world No 1 Scottie Scheffler and claim a dramatic victory at the BMW Championship.

Hovland overturned a three-stroke deficit during a gripping final round at Olympia Fields Country Club, where he fired seven birdies in a back-nine 28 to set the course record with an incredible nine-under 61.

The Norwegian ended the week on 17 under to register a second PGA Tour title of the season and fifth overall, with the latest success also seeing him close the gap on Scheffler at the top of the FedExCup standings heading into the Tour Championship.

Scheffler held at least a share of the lead for the majority of the day but saw his hopes ended with a penultimate-hole bogey, with the American finishing tied-second on 15 under with Matt Fitzpatrick and Rory McIlroy a further three strokes back in fourth.

Special Sunday on the PGA Tour

Scheffler missed a six-foot chance at the par-five first but edged ahead when he converted from 10 feet at the next, with the world No 1 almost holing his approach into the third to set up a tap-in birdie.

Fitzpatrick poured in from 20 feet to match his playing partner’s birdie and added another from close range at the next to pull level, with both then firing tee shots to inside six feet and picking up shots at the par-three sixth to move to 14 under.

Hovland – playing two groups ahead – had birdied three of his opening five holes to briefly get within one of the lead but then bogeyed the seventh, resulting in him turning in 33, while playing partner McIlroy was a further stroke back after finishing his front nine with a bogey.

Scheffler burned another birdie opportunity at the seventh and watched Fitzpatrick produce a remarkable up and down from the sand to save par at the eighth, only for the Englishman to bogey the ninth and fall one behind at the turn.

Fitzpatrick converted from 12 feet to join Scheffler in birdieing the 10th and temporarily moved back tied for the lead when the American bogeyed the par-four next, while Hovland charged into contention by starting his back nine with three consecutive birdies.

Hovland responded to a missed birdie chance at the 13th by making a tap-in birdie at the next to temporarily make it a three-way tie, only for Scheffler to roll in from 15 feet and 25 feet over his next two holes to card back-to-back birdies and go two clear.

Fitzpatrick recovered from bogeying the 14th by birdieing his next two holes to get back within one, as Hovland took advantage of the par-five 15th and added to his birdie tally at the par-four 17th to pull back alongside Scheffler on 16 under.

Scheffler had to settle for a par at the 15th and squandered a look from six feet after a brilliant tee shot at the 16th, which saw him fall behind for the first time when Hovland capped off an incredible back nine by slotting in an eight-foot birdie at the last to set the clubhouse target.

Hovland’s lead doubled when Scheffler inexplicably carded a three-putt bogey at the 17th, with victory secure when neither Scheffler or Fitzpatrick could hole their second shots into the last and both settled for closing pars.

McIlroy birdied three of his last five holes to post a four-under 66 and take fourth, with Open champion Brian Harman and halfway leader Max Homa a further shot back in tied-fifth.

Hovland: My best round ever!

Asked where that round ranked in his career, Hovland told Sky Sports: “It has to be number one. I remember playing a pretty special round of golf my first year on Tour, I shot seven under at Torrey Pines when it was hailing and windy and raining and that’s probably the best I’ve ever struck it throughout a round.

“But to shoot 61 and shoot 28 on the back nine at this golf course and under the circumstances, I have nothing that beats that.”

Hovland, who started the day three off the lead, added: “I was thinking if I post a score like I did yesterday (65) I could at least have a chance, but it’s hard when you have so many guys in front of you that are really good and playing awesome. Catching heat on the back nine was what I had to do.”

What’s next?

The PGA Tour season reaches its climax on Thursday at the Tour Championship, where only the top 30 in the FedExCup standings get to feature and players are given a strokes-based advantage based on their position.

Scheffler will start with a two-shot lead over Hovland and McIlroy will begin on seven under in third spot, while Jon Rahm begins in fourth ahead of Lucas Glover.

Who will win the FedExCup? Watch the Tour Championship throughout the week live on Sky Sports. Live coverage begins on Thursday from 5pm on Sky Sports Golf. Stream the PGA Tour and more for £26 a month for 12 months with NOW.

Increase in no-cut events and events with limited fields; eight ‘signature events’ form part of 36-event regular season; PGA Tour says new-look schedule will create “excitement for our fans and reward players like never before”; watch the PGA Tour live on Sky Sports Golf

The PGA Tour has released a new “reimagined” schedule for the 2024 season, which features more no-cut events than ever before and an increased $25m prize for the winner of the FedExCup.

Returning to a calendar-year schedule for the first time since 2012, the PGA Tour has described the events as being “interconnected like never before to deliver maximum drama and consequence”.

The FedExCup Regular Season will consist of 36 events.

The 2024 season begins in early January with the ‘Opening Drive’ double-header at The Sentry and Sony Open in Hawaii, and runs through to the Wyndham Championship in early August.

These tournaments include the four majors, The Players Championship and eight ‘signature events’.

At the end of the regular season, the top 70 players will advance to the FedExCup Playoffs.

“We are excited about the roll-out of the PGA Tour’s reimagined schedule and what the season will offer to our fans: a January start with stars competing head-to-head more often, alongside the weekly drama of life-altering moments and the emergence of new stars,” said PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan.

“While winning on the PGA Tour continues to be the ultimate – and most difficult – challenge, we have further connected every tournament, with more at stake each week.

“From The Sentry through the FedExCup Playoffs and into the soon-to-be-announced FedExCup Fall, this new, cadence will create consistent excitement for our fans and reward players like never before.

“We are grateful to the membership – especially the Player Directors and Player Advisory Council – as well as our tournaments and partners for the collaboration that has set us up for an exciting 2024.”

The release of the 2024 calendar comes two months after the the PGA Tour and DP World Tour announced a shock proposed agreement with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which funds LIV Golf, to form a new joint commercial entity in order to “unify the game”.

The ‘signature events’ explained

Previously referred to as ‘designated events’ in 2023, the newly-renamed signature events underline the continued evolution of the PGA Tour’s season format.

The eight events are limited-field tournaments with increased prize money and FedExCup points.

Five of these will not feature a cut, but the three player-hosted invitationals – The Genesis Invitational, Arnold Palmer Invitational and the Memorial Tournament – will still feature a 36-hole cut to the top 50 and ties and any player within 10 shots of the lead.

The eight ‘signature events’ are as follows:

• The Sentry (January 1-7)
• AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am (January 29-February 4)
• The Genesis Invitational (February 12-18)
• Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard (March 4-10)
• RBC Heritage (April 15-21)
• Wells Fargo Championship (May 6-12)
• the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday (June 3-9)
• Travelers Championship (June 17-23)

Explaining the qualification process for these events, the PGA Tour said in a statement: “The 2024 schedule cadence connects events through several new eligibility paths, allowing trending players to earn Signature Event starts and ensuring every member the opportunity to compete alongside the game’s best.

“The Sentry is the season’s first Signature Event and includes PGA TOUR winners from the previous calendar year as well as the top 50 members from the 2022-23 FedExCup standings (i.e. those who qualify for the BMW Championship, the second FedExCup Playoffs event).

“Eligibility for the remaining seven Signature Events (field sizes anticipated to be between 70-80 players) includes the top 50 members from the 2022-23 FedExCup standings and 15 members who can play their way in through The Next 10 and The Swing 5.”

The AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am is a new addition to that list for 2024 and will feature a revised format. Amateurs will now compete alongside professionals (80 players) over the first two rounds, with the competition limited to professionals only for the final two rounds.

Watch all the women’s majors, the Solheim Cup, the Ryder Cup and the end of the PGA Tour and DP World Tour seasons exclusively live over the coming months on Sky Sports Golf. Stream the best sport with NOW

The leading three players at the Genesis Scottish Open who are not already exempt will earn the final three spots into The 151st Open at Royal Liverpool; Watch the Scottish Open live on Thursday from 8am on Sky Sports Golf

The field is almost set for the final men’s major of the year, but who has already qualified for The 151st Open and who is yet to secure their invite to Royal Liverpool?

There are 153 players – as of July 11 – already confirmed to tee it up in Hoylake from July 20-23, exclusively live on Sky Sports, with the final three places up for grabs this week at the Genesis Scottish Open.

Eight of the world’s top 10 are in action in Scotland for the co-sanctioned event, including world No 1 Scottie Scheffler, in-form Rory McIlroy and defending champion Xander Schauffele, while all of those involved from inside the world’s top 50 are already secured a place in next week’s field.

The top three players not already exempt at The Renaissance Club – providing they make the cut – will secure a last-minute invite to Hoylake, with PGA Tour regulars, major stalwarts, and Ryder Cup hopefuls among those looking to earn a late spot at The Open.

World No 53 Cam Davis is the highest-ranked player in action yet to be guaranteed a spot at The Open, although the Presidents Cup player is currently first reserve and is likely to end up featuring next week.

Keith Mitchell, Alex Smalley, Taylor Montgomery and Mackenzie Hughes are the next highest-ranked players currently missing out, while England’s Aaron Rai will need to build on his impressive form on the PGA Tour, at the event he won in 2020, if he’s to play in The Open.

English pair Ben Taylor and Harry Hall – both PGA Tour players – are also looking to earn their spot along with compatriot Callum Tarren, who was in contention at the PGA Championship earlier this year.

Eddie Pepperell, who posted a top-five finish at The Open in 2018, former major champion Jimmy Walker and China’s Haotong Li – who carded a final-round 63 during the final round at Royal Birkdale in 2017, are all trying to qualify.

This week’s event has a huge amount of Ryder Cup qualification points on offer, ahead of the biennial contest taking place in Rome this September, with Team Europe captain Luke Donald and vice-captain Edoardo Molinari also in the field as they look at potential candidates.

One player likely to draw interest this week is Swedish star Ludvig Aberg, who has impressed on the PGA Tour since turning professional last month and enhanced his hopes of a Ryder Cup rookie appearance with a tied-fourth finish at the John Deere Classic last week.

Tom McKibbin, the Northern Irishman from the same town as McIlroy who claimed a breakthrough victory at the Porsche European Open last month, is among this season’s winners on the DP World Tour yet to earn a place at The Open.

Scandinavian Mixed winner Dale Whitnell, Soudal Open champion Simon Forsstrom and Ras Al Khaimah Championship winner Daniel Gavins have all won on the DP World Tour in 2023 but are not in the field for The Open, along with Matthew Baldwin and Nick Bachem.

Sweden’s Sebastian Soderberg, who has a runner-up finish at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship among three top-10s this year, is the highest-ranked player in the DP World Tour rankings (20th) not yet in next week’s field.

Nicolai Hojgaard is looking to join twin brother Rasmus in playing at The Open, while Grant Forrest, Calum Hill and David Law are the Scottish contingent looking to impress on home soil and earn a major spot.

After Davis, the next two players on the reserve list for The Open – should there be any withdrawals – are Canada’s Adam Hadwin and 2017 runner-up Matt Kuchar, who are both not featuring in Scotland this week.

Watch the Genesis Scottish Open throughout the week live on Sky Sports. Live coverage begins on Thursday with Featured Groups from 8am on Sky Sports Golf, ahead of full coverage from 12.30pm. The Open is then live from July 20-23 on Sky Sports Golf.

Cameron Smith claimed a one-shot win at The Open last summer, a few weeks before switching from the PGA Tour to LIV Golf; Smith will look to defend the Claret Jug at Royal Liverpool from July 20-23, with The 151st Open live on Sky Sports

Open champion Cameron Smith picked up seven birdies in his last 10 holes to post an eight-under 63 and earn a one-shot lead after day one of LIV London.

Marc Leishman sits in second after an opening 64 as he also made hay on the closing holes at Centurion Golf Club, birdieing five of the last six holes – albeit his round started at the 12th in the shotgun start format.

Smith and Leishman play for Ripper, which led the team scoring after one day.

Thomas Pieters is in third after an opening 66, while Talor Gooch – who leads the LIV Golf points list – is in a grouping of players who shot 67.

PGA champion Brooks Koepka started and finished his round with a bogey as he posted a 72, leaving him in a tie for 33rd.

Koepka this week criticised his Smash team-mate Matthew Wolff, accusing him of quitting on rounds and wasting his talent. Wolff had only two birdies in his round of 73 and was tied for 38th in the 48-man field.

London is where the Saudi-backed LIV Golf league began last year, only in 2022 the tournament was played a week before the US Open.

For Smith, this is the last tournament he will play before defending his title at The 151st Open at Royal Liverpool from July 20 – live on Sky Sports.

The 151st Open takes place from July 20-23, with exclusive coverage throughout tournament week live on Sky Sports. Live coverage of the opening round begins on Thursday July 20 from 6.30am on Sky Sports Golf.

US Ryder Cup captain Zach Johnson could select players from the LIV Golf circuit, including Brooks Koepka, who won the PGA Championship in May; Watch the Ryder Cup live on Sky Sports from September 29-October 1 in Rome

Zach Johnson has suggested LIV Golf players are “technically” eligible to join the United States Ryder Cup team.

Despite the recent thawing of relations between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and LIV Golf, players from the Saudi circuit have only been able to pick up points at the majors to earn qualification points.

LIV golfers who were suspended indefinitely by the PGA and DP World Tour will be able to re-apply for membership from the end of the 2023 season.

The 2023 Ryder Cup takes place live on Sky Sports Golf between from September 29 and October 1 in Rome.

“What’s transpiring in professional golf from a competitive level, competition level, is PGA Tour; right?” Johnson said.

“It’s not PGA of America. So the individuals that are Americans that play on other tours that are not the PGA Tour, they could play, I mean, technically the Latin Tour or the Asian Tour or wherever.

“More times than not they’re going to be members of the PGA of America for a number of reasons. Our liability insurance is number one and some other benefits.”

Although he didn’t outwardly come out and say LIV Golf members were welcome on Team USA, Johnson made it clear that nothing was barring them from securing a spot on the squad.

“These guys that left the PGA Tour that had status and left to play on that other tour, the LIV Tour, they’re still members of the PGA of America, so they are still able to garner points,” Johnson said. “They’re able to play in the PGA Championship as a result because that’s what the PGA of America runs. Obviously, technically, they can still be a part of Team USA.”

Johnson: Koepka has ‘really good chance’ of making team

Brooks Koepka, who is ranked 12th on the Official World Golf Ranking and won the 2023 PGA Championship after finishing tied for second at the Masters, has been backed by Rory McIlroy for a place in the US team.

Johnson has admitted Koepka is a player he’s keeping an eye on when it comes to selection.

“Brooks is third on the list. The top six earn their berth after the BMW Championship in mid-August in Chicago. So after that Sunday the top six are solidified, and then we make our six picks,” said Johnson. The next week is the Tour Championship. The Tuesday after the Tour Championship is when I make the picks.

“We’ll formulate 12 by then, but he has worked his way to second after the PGA Championship because of how well he played at the Masters and at the PGA Championship, the majors kind of last year too, but they were smaller in points, he has a really good chance of making the team, earning his way on the team, which is extremely impressive.”

Rickie Fowler takes a one-shot lead over Canada’s Adam Hadwin into the final round in Detroit, with England’s Aaron Rai three strokes back; Sunday’s tee times have been brought forward due to the threat of thunderstorms

Rickie Fowler produced a spectacular finish to take a one-shot lead into the final round of the PGA Tour’s Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit.

Fowler – chasing his first PGA Tour victory since 2019 – birdied five of his last six holes to post a eight-under 64 at Detroit Golf Club and move to 20 under, a shot clear of Canada’s Adam Hadwin.

The American rolled in a 20-footer at the second and took advantage of both par-fives on the front nine, seeing him turn in 33, then cancelled out a wayward drive and bogey at the tenth by picking up a shot at the par-three next.

Fowler made three consecutive birdies from the 13th and made a two-putt gain at the par-five 17th, then fired his approach at the par-four last to within three of the flag and set up a close-range birdie.

“I’m still going to have to play some solid golf tomorrow because there’s plenty of guys right behind me,” Fowler said. “It’s not like I have an eight-shot lead or anything like that where I can just go cruise.

“Like I mentioned at the US. Open, being through these last few years, I’m not scared to fail. I’ve dealt with plenty of that and dealt with plenty of bad golf. So just keep trusting swing thoughts and go stick to our game plan and go play some golf.”

Hadwin equalled the course record by carding an eagle and seven birdies in a bogey-free 63, while compatriot halfway co-leader Taylor Pendrith slipped two strokes back into third after signing off his five-under 67 with a bogey.

England’s Aaron Rai is three strokes back in a share of fourth, while two-time major champion Collin Morikawa is one of five players in tied-sixth on 16 under and four back going into the final day.

The threat of thunderstorms has seen tee times brought forward for the final round, with players going out in threesomes on Sunday and a two-tee start in operation. The final group are now scheduled to tee off at 8.55am local time (1.55pm BST).

Watch the final round of the Rocket Mortgage Classic live on Sky Sports! Live coverage will begin on Sky Sports Golf immediately after the conclusion of the Betfred British Masters.

Rory McIlroy posted fifth consecutive top-10 PGA Tour finish, claiming a share of seventh at the Travelers Championship and ending five strokes behind Keegan Bradley after a low-scoring week at TPC River Highlands

Rory McIlroy believes TPC River Highlands could be “obsolete” in the modern game after a week of low scoring at the Travelers Championship.

McIlroy posted a final-round 64 in Connecticut to end the week in a share of seventh spot on 18 under, five strokes behind winner Keegan Bradley.

The par-70 layout produced eight rounds of 62 or lower during the latest of the PGA Tour’s elevated event, with McIlroy admitting that soft conditions made for easier scoring conditions.

“I don’t particularly like when a tournament is like this,” McIlroy said. “Unfortunately, technology has passed this course by, right? It sort of has made it obsolete, especially as soft as it has been with a little bit of rain that we had.

“Again, like the conversations going back to, you know, limiting the golf ball and stuff like that, when we come to courses like this they just don’t present the challenge that they used to.

“You can grow the rough up and hope you get some firm conditions so it gets tricky. I think the blueprint for a really good golf course isn’t growing the rough up and making the fairways tight. That bunches everyone together.

“The blueprint is something like Los Angeles Country Club, where you have wide targets, but if you miss it’s penal. This isn’t that sort of golf course. It’s not that sort of layout. It doesn’t have the land to do that.

“Unfortunately when you get soft conditions like this and you’ve got the best players in the world, this is what’s going to happen.”

How McIlroy impressed in Connecticut

McIlroy made a close-range birdie at the second and followed back-to-back gains from the fourth by two-putting from 30 feet to take advantage of the par-five sixth.

The world No 3 converted from six feet at the seventh to go five under for his round, although bogeyed the ninth after a wayward drive left him having to take a drop.

McIlroy slotted in a six-foot birdie at the 11th but missed an opportunity from a similar distance at the next, then picked up a shot at the par-five 13th before closing a blemish-free back nine with a run of five consecutive pars.

“I got off to a hot start, which was nice and what I felt like I needed,” McIlroy said. “Then, yeah, hit a drive on nine that I didn’t think was that bad. Ended up against the boundary fence and made a bogey there, which halted the momentum that I had.

“Bounced back well with a birdie on 11, but then missed a chance on 12. Birdied 13 and then just couldn’t get anything to drop over those last few holes. I knew I was never going to win with the way Keegan [Bradley] was playing, but I felt like I probably needed a couple more birdies.

“It would’ve been nice to finish a little higher. Still, it’s another good week and solid performance after a long run and looking forward it a couple weeks off.”

McIlroy will next feature at the co-sanctioned Genesis Scottish Open at the Renaissance Club from July 13-16 – an event he skipped in 2022 – ahead of teeing it up at The 151st Open the following week.

The final major of the year takes place at Royal Liverpool for the first time since 2014, when he claimed a two-shot victory, with McIlroy hoping for a repeat performance as he looks to lift the Claret Jug for a second time.

The PGA Tour heads to Detroit next for the Rocket Mortgage Classic. Live coverage begins on Thursday from 5pm on Sky Sports Golf.

Denny McCarthy leads Keegan Bradley and Adam Scott after opening day of the Travelers Championship, with world No 1 Scottie Scheffler in fourth spot; Rory McIlroy fires first hole-in-one of his PGA Tour career on his way to opening-round 69; watch throughout the week on Sky Sports Golf

Denny McCarthy holds a two-shot lead after a low-scoring opening round at the Travelers Championship, as Rory McIlroy fired in the first hole-in-one of his PGA Tour career.

McCarthy carded 10 birdies in a stunning bogey-free 60 on the par-70 layout at TPC River Highlands, the venue which saw Jim Furyk’s historic ’58 round’ in 2016, to top the leaderboard ahead of major winners Adam Scott and Keegan Bradley.

McIlroy is alongside Xander Schauffele and US Open champion Wyndham Clark on two under, with the former world No 1 posting a hole-in-one at the par-three eighth, alongside five birdies and five bogeys during an eventful first round.

McCarthy opened with four straight birdies and two-putted from 60 feet to pick up another at the 15th, having driven the par-four green, then started his second nine with a run of three consecutive birdies.

The American got up and down from off the sixth green to add a ninth birdie of the day and move into the solo lead, before nearly holing his approach into the final green to set up a closing birdie.

Scott made four birdies in a five-hole stretch from the second and cancelled out a bogey at the seventh by picking up a shot at the ninth, seeing him turn in 31, then charged up the leaderboard by firing five consecutive birdies from the 11th.

The 2013 Masters champion saw his hopes of a sub-60 round ended when he found the water with his approach into the par-five 17th, although the Australian birdied the last to join Bradley on eight under.

Bradley had threatened a historic round himself when – beginning on the back nine – he birdied his first five holes and added three more in a five-hole stretch from the 17th, with the 2011 PGA champion cancelling out a bogey at the fifth by draining a 20-footer at the seventh.

Scottie Scheffler’s opening-round 63, which put him in fourth place, included four birdies in the last six holes, while Shane Lowry is within four of the early lead after also making a blemish-free start in his 64.

McIlroy’s ace part of mixed start

McIlroy rolled in a 10-foot birdie at the second but missed a chance from half the distance at the next, with the world No 3 bogeying his next two holes and slipping over par until his moment of brilliance at the par-three eighth.

“Five-iron to 215 yards, slightly back into the wind off the right,” McIlroy explained. “As hole-in-ones go, I’ve had them in the past where it has been an okay shot and you get a little lucky.

“That was the best shot of the day that I hit. Obviously a bonus for it to go in the hole, but it was really cool. I played pretty averagely up until that point and felt like that hole-in-one got me going a little bit.”

McIlroy almost holed his next approach from a bunker to set up a tap-in birdie, the first of back-to-back gains around the turn, only to bogey the par-five 13th after finding water off the tee.

He responded with successive birdies from the 14th, before two bogeys in his last three holes saw him card a 68 and fall eight strokes behind McCarthy at the top of the leaderboard.

Watch the Travelers Championship throughout the week live on Sky Sports. Early coverage continues on Friday from midday via the red button on Sky Sports Golf, ahead of full coverage from 8pm on Sky Sports Golf.