PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan in memo to players: “In accordance with the PGA Tour Tournament Regulations, Jon Rahm has been notified he is suspended and no longer eligible to participate in PGA Tour tournament play due to his association with a series of unauthorised tournaments”
Last Updated: 12/12/23 9:31am
Jon Rahm has been suspended from all PGA Tour tournament play and removed from the FedEx Cup eligibility points list
The PGA Tour has notified Jon Rahm he has been suspended indefinitely for signing with Saudi-funded LIV Golf, a move which sees him removed from the FedEx Cup eligibility points list.
Rahm himself had stated an intention to retain his PGA Tour membership, but as has been the approach since the inaugural LIV event in June 2022, each member to join the rival circuit has been banned, with Rahm the latest despite golf’s potential merger between the PGA Tour and Saudi’s PIF.
Rahm, a former critic of LIV, will be the highest-ranked player to join the league, with the world No 3 enjoying an impressive 2023 that saw him win four times on the PGA Tour – including victory at The Masters – and be part of Europe’s successful Ryder Cup team.
“As you will recall, last year we communicated our commitment to ensure that suspended members do not negatively impact other players’ tournament eligibility, position on the Priority Rankings or eligibility to compete in the Players and Signature Events,” PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan said in a memo to players.
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After Rahm’s move to LIV Golf was confirmed, we take a look back at some of his remarks about the rival tour over the past year
After Rahm’s move to LIV Golf was confirmed, we take a look back at some of his remarks about the rival tour over the past year
“Consequently the Policy Board established a new ranking – called the ‘FedEx Cup Playoffs & Eligibility Points List’ – that removes players who are under suspension for their participation in an unauthorised tournament or their association with a series of unauthorised tournaments from the FedEx Cup Points List.
“In accordance with the PGA Tour Tournament Regulations, Jon Rahm has been notified that he is suspended and no longer eligible to participate in PGA Tour tournament play due to his association with a series of unauthorised tournaments.”
Mackenzie Hughes and Carl Yuan are the immediate beneficiaries of Rahm’s decision to sign with the rival league.
PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan released a memo to players confirming Rahm’s suspension
Hughes goes from No 51 to No 50, and now is eligible for all seven of the $20m signature events in 2024. It also means Yuan, who was signed up for Q-school this week, moves up one spot to No 125 and has a full PGA Tour card for next year.
The tour last year distinguished between the FedEx Cup standings and a separate list related to eligibility for the postseason and for status. The distinction was so players defecting to LIV would not have a negative impact on those who stayed behind.
Among those who benefited last year were Rickie Fowler, who got into the postseason because of all the players who left for LIV; and Jimmy Walker and Rory Sabbatini, who moved up on the career money list and were able to use one-time exemptions to keep full status.
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Butch Harmon believes Rahm’s departure might increase the urgency of the PGA Tour to form a merger with LIV Golf
Butch Harmon believes Rahm’s departure might increase the urgency of the PGA Tour to form a merger with LIV Golf
This year, Hughes narrowly missed out on the top 50. He kept his 51st position through the autumn, which only would have guaranteed him spots in the first two $20m events. Now the Canadian can count on the likes of the Wells Fargo Championship in his home residence of Charlotte, North Carolina.
Social media had been buzzing about the possibility of Tony Finau – he and Rahm are close friends – also leaving for LIV. Finau took to Instagram on Monday and said he was “looking forward to playing my 10th season on the PGA Tour”.
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Rich Beem gave his reaction to Rahm’s dramatic move from the PGA Tour to LIV Golf
Rich Beem gave his reaction to Rahm’s dramatic move from the PGA Tour to LIV Golf
“See y’all in Maui!” he concluded, adding the hash tag, “#imnotleaving.”
Monahan also said in the memo that the policy board and management recently met with a group of players upset that signature events will offer disproportionately more FedEx Cup points than the other events, leading to concerns it will be difficult for players outside the top 50 to fairly compete.
Monahan said the board will review how the new system is working in June and evaluate whether changes are in order for 2025.
Camilo Villegas recently broke a nine-year title drought and shares his journey which includes the passing of his daughter, Mia, in 2020 and why he has the words ‘attitude’ and ‘positive energy’ as tattoos; Watch every PGA Tour event live on Sky Sports Golf in 2024
By Camilo Villegas, PGA Tour golfer
Last Updated: 05/12/23 1:00pm
Camilo Villegas reflects on the ups and downs of life on and off the golf course following his recent Butterfield Bermuda Championship win
I enjoyed two very special weeks in November where I finished runner-up in the World Wide Technology Championship in Mexico and then went on to win the Butterfield Bermuda Championship.
It’s been a real journey, and life is a journey where it goes up and down. You’ve got to go back to that Colombian kid who came to the US with a dream, played college golf, played the Korn Ferry Tour in 2005 and then everything kicked off on the PGA Tour and I managed to win a couple of FedExCup Playoffs events in 2008.
You would think that kid was on top of the world – and I was at a point in time. I was feeling pretty good from a performance point of view.
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After claiming his first victory in nine years, Camilo Villegas shared why his win in the Butterfield Bermuda Championship was such an emotional moment for him.
After claiming his first victory in nine years, Camilo Villegas shared why his win in the Butterfield Bermuda Championship was such an emotional moment for him.
But as I look at where I am now and everything that has happened, I believe I’m a better person. Maybe the results haven’t been there but this journey has been interesting.
To lose my PGA Tour card, to go through an injury, to lose my baby daughter in 2020, to create Mia’s Miracles (a charitable initiative to help others facing challenges), to go back to the Korn Ferry Tour, to keep grinding, to have doubts, to have fears, to have tears, have smiles – you just never know where life takes you.
Despite all the doubts, I never stopped waking up early, 5-5.30am, in the morning to do what I like to do because in all honesty, the cool thing about those two weeks is not so much the results but the process and what’s been behind those results.
As much as I enjoy reflecting on my win and the energy that I have received from the world of golf and those outside of golf, trust me, it’s been unbelievable. I had 900 messages on my phone and I’m going to reply to all of them.
To lose my PGA Tour card, to go through an injury, to lose my baby daughter in 2020, to create Mia’s Miracles, to go back to the Korn Ferry Tour, to keep grinding, to have doubts, to have fears, to have tears, have smiles – you just never know where life takes you.
Camilo Villegas
It’s unbelievable to be honest. You kind of stop believing after nine years but I never stopped waking up early and putting in the work. You’ve got to keep a path and keep your mind to where it needs to be. I’m a hard worker and I love having a purpose every morning and that’s kind of what I did.
I’ve got tattoos on my arms which says ‘attitude’ and ‘positive energy’ and sometimes, I forget to look at them. There are a lot of things you can’t control in life, but I guess these two, you can.
You’ve got to have good attitude in life, and it’s easier said than done at times. And energy, you can bring the energy not only to yourself but to the people around you and that’s something we all should strive for.
There were bumps but that’s life. I wish my little Mia is here with us but she’s not and she’s truly in a better place after a long battle that she wasn’t going to win.
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I accepted that. We turned that tragedy into something very positive with Mia’s Miracles. My wife reads messages from people we help on Mia’s Miracles every week and I go, ‘Man, if Mia was here, we wouldn’t be able to do this’.
At the beginning of the year, things were not going great and I made a little swing change. I’ve never been too excited about big swing changes but I trusted the guy I started working with, Jose Campra, and he told me he needed a year. I’m glad it took less than that, as here we are with a trophy.
Interestingly, I never felt so comfortable being in contention during those two weeks. It’s weird, even strange. When I was in contention back in the day, I didn’t have this calmness.
I’ve got to analyse what happened and try to replicate it more often. I was good at reacting to missed putts or lip-outs, which I’m not used to being like that before. There was a calmness in me.
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Highlights from the fourth round of the Butterfield Bermuda Championship at Port Royal Golf Course, Bermuda.
Highlights from the fourth round of the Butterfield Bermuda Championship at Port Royal Golf Course, Bermuda.
It was nice to have the Latin players come out to celebrate with me on the 18th green. I guess it was also payback as I sprayed Nico Echavarria with champagne when he won the Puerto Rico Open and he got me back. It’s great as it’s two wins for two Colombians this year, both guys growing up on the same golf course in Medellin.
I tell my wife all the time that if we do things in the right way, people will look at you in a positive way and respect you. I think that’s what I try to do. I enjoy being around the younger generation and sharing what I’ve lived.
Life is about experiences. You get good and bad ones and you try to learn from both. I was young once too and I had guys who helped me throughout my career.
I always want to accomplish more but I’m at peace with what I’ve accomplished already. It’s all about sharing it with others, especially the Latin kids who represent our region and grow the game of golf in South America.
Jon Rahm reportedly considering LIV offer of around $600m; USA pair Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele two more names that have been tied to LIV rumours; Woods: “Hypothetically would it surprise me? Yes, but there’s so many different things that have happened”
Last Updated: 02/12/23 12:04am
Jon Rahm has been linked with a move to LIV, with Tiger Woods saying the rumours ‘surprise’ him
Tiger Woods says he would be surprised if rumours that several big-name players are on the verge of signing with LIV Golf prove to be true.
Some media reports have suggested Jon Rahm, the reigning Masters champion and world’s No 3-ranked player, is weighing an offer of around $600m to sign with the Saudi-backed league. United States Ryder Cup stalwarts Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele are two more names that have been tied to LIV rumours.
Without being asked about specific players, Woods was asked if the rumours surprise him.
“Hypothetically would it surprise me? Yes, but there’s so many different things that have happened in the last 48 hours, but also in the last few weeks,” Woods said after his second round at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas. “Things have changed and will continue to change.”
PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan said earlier this week that a December 31 deadline to finalise an agreement with the Public Investment Fund and the DP World Tour remains “a firm target”.
“Our deadline’s coming up here soon, so there’s a lot of moving parts,” Woods said. “A lot of different things are happening very quickly because we know, you know, I think today’s the first day in December. We don’t have a whole lot of time.”
Woods, who had no knowledge of the framework agreement at the time of the announcement in June, has since joined the PGA Tour’s Policy Board as a player director. Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy left the board and was recently replaced by Jordan Spieth.
Woods instead preferred to focus on the upcoming deadline for golf’s merger between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and PIF
Spieth, who is tied for the lead at Albany Golf Club, acknowledged that losing Rahm to LIV would be a big blow to the PGA Tour.
“I’m not sure specifically how it would impact those negotiations, but all in all, Jon Rahm is one of the biggest assets that we have on the PGA Tour,” he said.
“So it would be really not very good for us in general because we want to play against the best players in the world and that’s what Jon is.
“I know there’s been some guys that have talked to him. I know he’s maybe weighing some decisions, maybe not. I really don’t know, so I don’t want to insult him and say he’s weighing decisions if he already knows he’s not or he is. You know, that’s somewhat out of my control in a way.
“Obviously, I could speak probably on behalf of 200-plus PGA Tour players in saying that we really hope that he’s continuing with us.”
Jordan Spieth, who has joined the PGA Tour’s Policy Board as a player director, says Rahm moving to LIV would ‘really not be very good’
Scottie Scheffler said this week that he’s “extremely grateful” for Woods’ involvement, and the world’s No 1-ranked player is in the Bahamas competing in his first stroke play event since the Tour Championship. Noticeably absent, however, are Rahm, Cantlay and Schauffele.
Rahm did not commit to this year’s event, while Cantlay and Schauffele withdrew last month, further fueling speculation they may join LIV.
Rahm also recently pulled out of the Woods and McIlroy backed TGL, citing the time commitment, although the league has since delayed its debut until 2025 after the roof of its facility collapsed and caused damage. Cantlay and Schauffele are among the marquee players who had committed to the league.
While acknowledging the rumours swirling, Woods sidestepped a second question about whether he’d be surprised by more marquee defections to LIV.
“Nothing has really surprised me other than the fact that there’s so many different things that have happened so fast,” he said. “That’s one of the things that all of our – all of us as player-directors we’ve been working on, just that everything is now at a time crunch.
“It’s 24 hours a day just trying to figure it out.”
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
Last Updated: 29/11/23 12:58pm
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The best of the action from day three of the Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Italy.
The best of the action from day three of the Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Italy.
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.
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Take a look at the best fancy dress from the Ryder Cup weekend with dinosaurs, astronauts, hot dogs and more!
Take a look at the best fancy dress from the Ryder Cup weekend with dinosaurs, astronauts, hot dogs and more!
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.”
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Tommy Fleetwood secured a point for Team Europe in his singles match against Rickie Fowler at the Ryder Cup, with an incredible tee shot at the par-4 16th hole at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome.
Tommy Fleetwood secured a point for Team Europe in his singles match against Rickie Fowler at the Ryder Cup, with an incredible tee shot at the par-4 16th hole at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome.
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.
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Team Europe took their celebrations onto the team bus after their thrilling Ryder Cup victory over the USA in Rome.
Team Europe took their celebrations onto the team bus after their thrilling Ryder Cup victory over the USA in Rome.
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.
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A closer look at the man who will captain Team Europe at the 2025 Ryder Cup
A closer look at the man who will captain Team Europe at the 2025 Ryder Cup
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.
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Two-time Ryder Cup captain Davis Love III has suggested that he aims to talk Tiger Woods in to becoming the next captain for 2025.
Two-time Ryder Cup captain Davis Love III has suggested that he aims to talk Tiger Woods in to becoming the next captain for 2025.
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.
Can Europe follow their 2023 success with another 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.
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Tommy Fleetwood’s brilliance saw him beat Rickie Fowler 3&1 as he earnt the winning point to ensure Europe regained the Ryder Cup in Rome.
Tommy Fleetwood’s brilliance saw him beat Rickie Fowler 3&1 as he earnt the winning point to ensure Europe regained the Ryder Cup in Rome.
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.
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Rory McIlroy headed into Sunday Singles fired up and puts on an impressive performance, winning 3&1 against Sam Burns.
Rory McIlroy headed into Sunday Singles fired up and puts on an impressive performance, winning 3&1 against Sam Burns.
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.
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
Last Updated: 25/11/23 4:06pm
Thriston Lawrence has moved into the lead following the third round of the Joburg Open on Saturday
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.
Nikhil Rama’s dream week continues at the at the Houghton Golf Club
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.
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
Last Updated: 19/11/23 10:10pm
Luke Donald believes the “sky is the limit” for Ludvig Aberg asfter his first win on the PGA Tour
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.
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Team Europe captain Luke Donald reveals why Ludvig Aberg was selected as one of his six picks to complete his Ryder Cup line up
Team Europe captain Luke Donald reveals why Ludvig Aberg was selected as one of his six picks to complete his Ryder Cup line up
“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.”
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Ludvig Aberg and Viktor Hovland set a Ryder Cup record as they thrashed Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka with a 9&7 win on day two
Ludvig Aberg and Viktor Hovland set a Ryder Cup record as they thrashed Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka with a 9&7 win on day two
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.
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Ludvig Aberg almost holed his tee shot on the par-three fourth hole during the Saturday foursomes session at the Ryder Cup in Rome
Ludvig Aberg almost holed his tee shot on the par-three fourth hole during the Saturday foursomes session at the Ryder Cup in Rome
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.
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“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.
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“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.”
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Ryder Cup stars Viktor Hovland and Tommy Fleetwood in the group two back; Robert MacIntyre and Tyrrell Hatton are four behind; Rory McIlroy 10 back after a level-par 72; Watch the third round live on Saturday from 7am on Sky Sports Golf
Last Updated: 17/11/23 1:34pm
Nicolai Hojgaard holds the halfway lead at the DP World Tour’s season finale
Nicolai Hojgaard produced a sensational final-hole eagle to take a two-shot lead into the weekend at the DP World Tour Championship, as Rory McIlroy slipped out of contention.
Hojgaard held a share of the overnight lead and recovered from two bogeys in his first four holes on Friday to card a six-under 66 at Jumeirah Golf Estates, moving him to 11 under and clear of the logjam at the top of the leaderboard.
The Dane reached the turn in level par before following a 20-foot birdie at the 10th with three more in a five-hole stretch from the 13th, then fired his approach at the par-five last to within six feet and converted the eagle putt for the halfway advantage.
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Hojgaard’s Ryder Cup team-mates Tommy Fleetwood and Viktor Hovland matched his 66 to sit in tied-second alongside Jens Dantorp, Antoine Rozner and South Africa’s Thriston Lawrence, who charged into contention with a bogey-free 64.
Lawrence posted an eagle and six birdies to move to nine under, while Fleetwood made three birdies in a four-hole stretch and Hovland birdied three of his last five holes to also sit in the share of second.
Leona Maguire will be chasing more LPGA Tour success in 2024
LPGA players will compete for a record £95m ($118m) next season, LPGA Tour officials have announced.
The 2024 total prize fund represents a 69 per cent increase from 2021’s figure of approximately £56m ($70m).
“The 2024 LPGA Tour schedule reflects our historic growth,” commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan said. “With new events and improved geographic flow, enhancing the athlete experience, our global reach and competitiveness have never been stronger.
“As we embark on this season, we celebrate the remarkable journey of women’s golf, anticipating thrilling competition and unforgettable moments for fans worldwide.”
The schedule features a record 16 tournaments with purses of at least £1.93m ($2.4m), including 10 events outside the majors and Tour Championship. An increase in the CME Group Tour Championship’s purse from £5.6m to £8.8m was announced on Wednesday.
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The best of the action from day three of the Solheim Cup at Finca Cortesin in Spain
The best of the action from day three of the Solheim Cup at Finca Cortesin in Spain
Take a look at the dates, venues and tournament schedule for the 2024 LPGA Tour (as of November 16):
January 18-21- Hilton Grand Vacations, Orlando, Florida
January 25-28 – LPGA Drive On Championship, Bradenton, Florida
February 22-25 – Honda LPGA ,Chonburi, Thailand
February 29 – March 3: HSBC Women’s World Championship, Singapore
March 7-10 – Blue Bay LPGA, Hainan Island, People’s Rep. of China
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March 21-24 – Seri Pak LA Open, Palos Verdes Estates, California
March 28-31 – Arizona Championship, Phoenix, Arizona
April 3-7 – LPGA Match Play, Las Vegas, Nevada
April 18-21 – The Chevron Championship, The Woodlands, Texas
April 25-28 – JM Eagle LA Championship, Los Angeles, California
May 9-12 – Cognizant Founders Cup, Clifton, New Jersey
May 16-19 – Mizuho Americas Open, Jersey City, New Jersey
May 30-June 2 – US Women’s Open, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
June 7-9 – ShopRite LPGA Classic, Galloway, New Jersey
June 13-16 – Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give, Grand Rapids, Michigan
June 20-23 – KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, Sammamish, Washington
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Highlights from the fourth round of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship where Ruoning Yin claimed her maiden major
Highlights from the fourth round of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship where Ruoning Yin claimed her maiden major
June 27-30 – Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational, Midland, Michigan
July 11-14: Amundi Evian Championship, Evian-les-Bains, France
July 18-21: Dana Open for Children, Sylvania, Ohio
July 25-28: CPKC Women’s Open, Alberta, Canada
August 1-4: Portland Classic, Portland, Oregon
August 8-11: 2024 Paris Olympics, Paris, France
August 15-18: Women’s Scottish Open, TBD, Scotland
August 22-25: AIG Women’s Open, Fife, Scotland
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Highlights from the final round of the AIG Women’s Open at Walton Heath as Lilia Vu claimed her second major title of the season
Highlights from the final round of the AIG Women’s Open at Walton Heath as Lilia Vu claimed her second major title of the season
August. 29-September 1: FM Global Championship, Norton, Massachusetts
September 13-15: Solheim Cup, Gainesville, Virginia
September 19-22: Kroger Queen City Championship, Cincinnati, Ohio
September 27-29: Walmart NW Arkansas Championship, Rogers, Arkansas
October 10-13: Buick LPGA Shanghai, Shanghai, People’s Rep. of China
October 17-20: BMW Ladies Championship, TBD, Republic of Korea
October 24-27: Maybank Championship, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Celine Boutier takes victory at the LPGA Maybank Championship following an incredible nine-hole playoff with Atthaya Thitikul
Celine Boutier takes victory at the LPGA Maybank Championship following an incredible nine-hole playoff with Atthaya Thitikul
October 31-November 3: TOTO Japan Classic, Shiga, Japan
November 6-9: LOTTE Championship, Oahu, Hawaii
November 14-17: The ANNIKA driven, Belleair, Florida
November 21-24: CME Group Tour Championship, Naples, Florida
December 13-15: Grant Thornton Invitational, Naples, Florida
A long birdie putt on the last hole of her round put Brooke Henderson into a one-shot lead following the opening day of The ANNIKA Driven By Gainbridge At Pelican; coverage continues on Sky Sports Golf from 3pm on Friday
Last Updated: 09/11/23 11:57pm
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Highlights from the first round of The ANNIKA Driven By Gainbridge At Pelican on the LPGA Tour
Highlights from the first round of The ANNIKA Driven By Gainbridge At Pelican on the LPGA Tour
Brooke Henderson opened with an eight-under-par 62 to established a one-shot lead after the first round of The ANNIKA Driven By Gainbridge At Pelican.
The Canadian made a long birdie putt on her final hole, the par-three ninth, for a 29 on the front nine to move past a group which included Jin Young Ko and Patty Tavatanakit.
Henderson won the LPGA season opener in Florida and has not won since, falling to No 13 in the women’s world ranking and coming in at No 14 in the Race to CME Globe.
“Up until this year, ball-striking has definitely been a strength of mine, and hasn’t been as sharp as I would like the last couple months,” Henderson, who switched irons recently and felt she was headed in the right direction, said.
“To hit all 18 greens is more what I used to be used to a little while ago. It feels amazing not to have to get up and down and give myself a lot of birdie opportunities.”
This is the last tournament for the top 60 players to reach the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship down the coast in Naples. That is not an issue for Henderson or Ko, who is No 5 on the strength of two LPGA victories.
It is a different story for the others who were at 63, however. Tavatanakit, a former major champion, is at No 61 and got off to the ideal start.
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“Obviously, I knew what I had to do,” Tavatanakit said. “I’m pretty stressed, but at the same time, I feel like I did everything under my control.
“I did everything with no regrets. I’m just going to be out here and know at the back of my mind that I did everything I could.”
Emily Kristine Pedersen is at No 80 and Minami Katsu of Japan is at No 78, and they also shot 63. Katsu rallied late on a beautiful day at Pelican Golf Club, starting the back nine with five birdies in six holes to get near the top of the leaderboard.
Lexi Thompson, playing for the first time since missing the cut by three shots in Las Vegas on the PGA Tour, opened with a 64 and was in a five-way tie for sixth. She has gone more than four years without winning, and she’ll likely need to finish third or better to make it to the season finale in Naples.
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Thompson started on the back nine, made the turn and ran off four birdies in five holes.
“I just went into the day knowing I had to make birdies,” Thompson said. “It was perfect weather – maybe five miles per hour when it gusted – so ideal weather for us.
“I knew I had to make birdies, but I just tried to stick to my game plan with my swing shots and fire at the pins and give myself as many birdie opportunities.”
Defending champion Nelly Korda opened with a 70, while Lydia Ko had to settle for a 67, and at No 101 in the Race to CME Globe, she likely would have to be alone in second to reach the Tour Championship and defend her title.
Coverage of The ANNIKA Driven By Gainbridge At Pelican continues live on Sky Sports Golf from 3pm and Sky Sports Main Event from 4.30pm on Friday. Also stream with NOW.
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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
Last Updated: 08/11/23 5:35pm
Dale Reid has died at the age of 64
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.
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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.”
Mone Inami wins Toto Japan Classic on home soil to claim maiden LPGA Tour victory; defending champion Gemma Dryburgh three shots back in sixth after seven-under final round; Nasa Hataoka’s hopes fade with two-over 74, including double bogey
Last Updated: 05/11/23 9:04am
Gemma Dryburgh finished sixth at the Toto Japan Classic after a seven-under final round of 65
Defending champion Gemma Dryburgh finished tied sixth at the Toto Japan Classic with a seven-under-par final round leaving the Scottish player three strokes behind winner Mone Inami.
Dryburgh, who won this event by four shots in 2022, made four birdies on her front nine and three more coming home during a blemish-free Sunday at Taiheiyo Club Minori Course.
The 30-year-old ended on 19-under-par for the tournament with Japan’s Inami triumphing on home soil on 22-under, one clear of compatriot Shiho Kuwaki and South Korea’s Seon Woo Bae.
Mone Inami won by one stroke in Japan for her first LPGA Tour victory
Inami trailed Kuwaki and fellow Japanese player Nasa Hataoka by one heading into the final day but a three-under 69 was enough to take the title as Kuwaki carded a 71 and Hataoka stumbled to a 74.
Hataoka’s two-over round included a bogey at the fourth and double bogey at the 15th.
Inami’s victory was the 13th of her career but first on the LPGA Tour, with the win earning her LPGA Tour membership for the remainder of this season and the entirety of 2024.
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Shares of real-estate names plunged Tuesday following a jury ruling that has the potential to shake up the way people purchase homes.
A Missouri jury earlier Tuesday deemed that the National Association of Realtors, HomeServices of America and Keller Williams colluded to inflate or maintain high commission rates. Jefferies analyst John Conaltuoni said in a note to clients that a judge could issue an injunction preventing commission sharing on MLSs, or multiple listing services, which would hurt the buyer-agent business.
Shares of Opendoor Technologies Inc. OPEN, -9.09%
plunged 9% on Tuesday, while shares of Zillow Group Inc. ZG, -6.87%
Z, -6.98%
fell 7%, shares of Redfin Corp. RDFN, -5.67%
dropped 6% and shares of RE/MAX Holdings Inc. RMAX, -4.36%
declined 4%.
Conaltuoni thinks the recent ruling could bring big changes to the Participation Rule, which is an NAR requirement for seller agents to disclose the compensation being offered to buyer agents when they list through an MLS. The Participation Rule could soon get banned or turn optional, in his view.
Such a ban “would cause negotiations about buyer agent commissions to occur when an offer is presented, since there would no longer be an avenue to communicate splits up front,” he wrote. “This would eliminate the seller’s incentive to compensate buyer agents, which would force them to seek compensation directly. Shifting the burden of payment to buyers would likely meaningfully reduce their use of agents given most already struggle to cover closing costs.”
Conaltuoni further commented that were the rule to become optional, the “status quo” likely would continue.
What would these developments mean for Zillow, which reports earnings Wednesday afternoon? He flagged that nearly two-thirds of the company’s revenue comes from its Premier Agent business, which itself is primarily made up of revenue from buyer agents. “[A] reduction in their usage would force [Zillow] to pivot to offering products for seller agents and create near-term headwinds to revenue,” he wrote, while cutting his price target on Zillow’s stock to $48 from $60.
Bernstein’s Nikhil Devnani wrote that Zillow “is NOT part of this case and not directly impacted by the ruling,” but there’s the potential for repercussions down the line.
“Premier Agent is built around buyer commissions,” Devnani said. “And a reduction to commission rates (which could happen if cooperative compensation were outright banned in the worst case scenario) would create challenges for industry revenue growth, in our view. Maintaining the current structure with more transparency would have less impact we believe. It would need a stronger decoupling of who pays for buyer and seller agents.”
While Redfin shares dropped Tuesday along with other names, Chief Executive Glenn Kelman put out a blog post titled: “Change Comes to the Real Estate Industry.”
“The judge may take days or weeks to decide what structural changes the jury’s verdict will entail,” he wrote, and appeals could take years.
But traditional brokers “will undoubtedly now train their agents to welcome conversations about fees, just as Redfin has been doing for years, especially when advising a seller on what fee to offer to buyers’ agents,” he continued. “Rather than saying that a fee for the buyers’ agent of 2% or 3% is customary or recommended, agents will say that a buyers’ agent fee, if one is offered at all, is entirely up to the seller. This is as it should be.”
RBC Capital Markets analyst Brad Erickson wrote after the ruling that just over half of Redfin transactions come from the buyside. Its stock and Zillow’s “partially reflected these risks coming in,” in his view.
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
Last Updated: 29/10/23 4:53pm
Alison Lee rounded off her record-breaking week in style with a commanding victory in the Aramco Team Series in Saudi Arabia
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.
Collin Morikawa eased to the biggest victory in Zozo Championship history
Collin Morikawa ended a two-year winless run by cruising to an impressive sixth PGA Tour title and six-shot victory at the Zozo Championship in Japan.
Morikawa, without a worldwide win since the DP World Tour Championship in November 2021, overturned a two-shot deficit in an impressive display on the final day at Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club in Chiba.
The two-time major champion fired seven birdies in a bogey-free 63 to end the week on 14 under, seeing him pull clear of closest challengers Eric Cole and Beau Hossler.
Morikawa carded a bogey-free 63 to end the week on 14 under
Morikawa struck his tee shot at the par-three third to inside four feet to set up a his opening birdie of the day, with three more on a four-hole stretch from the sixth seeing him reach the turn three ahead.
The American added to his birdie tally at the 12th and poured in from 15 feet at the 15th, before producing an impressive par-save at the 17th and signing off his victory with a final-hole birdie.
More to follow…
What’s next?
The PGA Tour takes a week off before heading to Mexico for the World Wide Technology Championship, with coverage live next month on Sky Sports. Live coverage begins on Thursday November 2 from 8.30pm on Sky Sports Golf. Stream all your favourite sports – including golf – with NOW.
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
Last Updated: 15/10/23 11:06am
Angel Yin poses with the Shanghai Champion Trophy
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.
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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.
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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
Last Updated: 14/10/23 6:03pm
Brooks Koepka takes a three-stroke lead heading into the final round of the LIV Golf Invitational Jeddah
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).
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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.”
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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.
Maja Stark leads the way at the halfway mark of the Buick LPGA Shanghai after moving to 10-under on Friday; Stark was only one stroke off the tournament’s 36-hole record of 134 with a two-under 68; Danielle Kang, defending champion, is tied for second with China’s Yu Liu
Last Updated: 13/10/23 4:23pm
Maja Stark
Maja Stark leads two-time champion Danielle Kang and home favourite Yu Liu of China by one stroke after two rounds at the Buick LPGA Shanghai.
Stark kept a hold of her first-round lead and moved to 10-under with a two-under 68 in Friday’s second round at the 6,672-yard Qizhong Garden Golf Club. She finished one stroke off the tournament’s 36-hole record of 134.
Kang, who won the last two titles here in 2018-19 prior to the pandemic, and Liu both carded scores of 67. Another shot back at eight-under are Spain’s Azahara Munoz (66 Thursday), Japan’s Yuna Nishimura (67) and Pavarisa Yoktuan of Thailand (68).
Stark is seeking her first victory since winning her maiden LPGA title at the 2022 ISPS Handa World Invitational.
“I think I played a little bit better than yesterday actually because I hit better shots. Obviously didn’t make as many putts as I did yesterday, but overall my game felt better,” said Stark, who recorded five birdies with one bogey at the par 3 seventh hole after missing the green.
“I’m really excited to play with (Liu). On her home soil I think she’s going to be ready to play really well. Her home course, I didn’t actually know that, but I feel like I could maybe get some tips because it’s pretty tricky out there. Maybe I’ll steal some of her strategies.”
Maja Stark was one of Europe’s Solheim Cup heroes last month
After one birdie and one bogey through eight holes, Liu birdied five of the next six – four straight from 11-14 – to join the final grouping.
“To be honest, pretty low expectations coming in because I’m not good at playing in the rain, so I knew the forecast was pretty much going to rain all throughout the round, which it did,” Liu said. “So I just feel like, my goal today was just to get through the round without making too much damage. I feel like I did a pretty good job.”
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Liu tied for ninth in 2018 and tied for third in 2019 in the first two editions of the event. Kang finished strong with four birdies in her last six holes.
“I have hit some good drives,” Kang said. “Keep giving myself some good opportunities it be able to hit the second shots and stuff, so game has been feeling good for a little bit.”
First-round co-leader Wichanee Meechai shot 72 to slip into a six-way tie for eighth at 6-under. World No 1 Lilia Vu is tied for 14th at five-under after a second-round 67 with seven birdies and two bogeys.
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Home hero Robert MacIntyre and England’s Matt Fitzpatrick and Tommy Fleetwood were the big draws in Scotland after starring in last week’s 16.5-11.5 win over the United States but it was Belgium’s Nicolas Colsaerts who carded a 65 at St Andrews to sit at seven under, a shot off the lead
Last Updated: 05/10/23 9:24pm
Nicolas Colsaerts, a Europe vice captain at the recent Ryder Cup in Rome, sits a shot off the lead at Dunhill Links
Ryder Cup vice captain Nicolas Colsaerts showed no signs of a hangover from Europe’s triumph in Rome as he outshone three of his victorious players to sit just a shot off the lead after day one of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
Home hero Robert MacIntyre and England’s Matt Fitzpatrick and Tommy Fleetwood were the big draws in Scotland after starring in last week’s 16.5-11.5 win over the United States but it was Belgium’s Colsaerts who carded a 65 at St Andrews to sit at seven under, one behind Spaniard Adri Arnaus, Swede Sebastian Soderberg and American Peter Uihlein.
Soderberg had pulses racing at the thought of a 59 over the Old Course as he birdied eight of his first 10 holes but made no more progress as he was caught by Uihlein and Arnaus.
Uihlein, one of several LIV players teeing it up on an invite in Scotland, lost out in a play-off at this event 10 years ago and he was bogey-free with eight birdies at St Andrews in just his second DP World Tour event in five years.
Arnaus was playing at Carnoustie – the toughest of the three layouts this week – and he was also bogey-free, starting with three birdies and adding an eagle on the 14th in a 64.
Colsaerts was playing the Old Course and he made five opening birdies after starting at the tenth, bogeying the treacherous Road Hole but picking up further shots on the first, third and fifth.
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The 65 was his lowest score of a season where he has made just five cuts in 20 starts, and the 40-year-old admitted he had been inspired by last week’s win in Italy.
“Inspiration to say the least,” he said. “I’ve always thought there was still a little bit of a stud inside me but when you get to spend a week with 12 of them, we’re trying to land as softly as possible from the high of a couple of days ago.
“Everything felt a little bit gloomy and dark after the ride of emotions last week, and no expectations whatsoever, and started hitting good shots and played a lovely round.
“When you throw anybody with a bit of talent in last week and then you play golf the week after, it is inspirational.”
Home favourite Grant Forrest was alongside Colsaerts after playing Kingsbarns, two clear of Fitzpatrick, four ahead of Fleetwood and five clear of MacIntyre, with the Ryder Cup trio having all taken on Carnoustie on day one.
Team Europe and Team USA practiced at Marco Simone on Tuesday ahead of the Ryder Cup; Luke Donald looking to avenge 19-9 loss at Whistling Straits in 2021; Watch the opening day live on Friday from 6am on Sky Sports Golf
By Jamie Weir and Dharmesh Sheth in Rome
Last Updated: 26/09/23 7:55pm
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The greatest rivalry in golf will reignite again this weeks as Europe take on the USA in the Ryder Cup, exclusively live on Sky Sports
The greatest rivalry in golf will reignite again this weeks as Europe take on the USA in the Ryder Cup, exclusively live on Sky Sports
A look at the latest storylines from Rome ahead of the Ryder Cup, including potential Team Europe pairings, Jordan Spieth’s likely partner, challenging conditions and possible drama ahead at Marco Simone GC…
Early look at Europe’s pairings
As always during the practice days before the Ryder Cup gets under way, we try to second-guess the captains by seeing who is playing with who during the practice rounds.
Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry, Sepp Straka and Tommy Fleetwood teed off in Europe’s first group on Tuesday, with the second fourball being Jon Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton, Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg. The final four on the tee were Matt Fitzpatrick, Justin Rose, Nicolai Hojgaard and Bob MacIntyre.
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As Team Europe prepare to take on Team USA in the Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club, take a look at the best shots from his six appearances in the competition
As Team Europe prepare to take on Team USA in the Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club, take a look at the best shots from his six appearances in the competition
McIlroy’s group played with their own balls on the front nine but then switched it up to foursomes on the back nine, with McIlroy and Fleetwood forming a foursomes team taking on Lowry and Straka. Perhaps we could see McIlroy and Fleetwood together in Friday morning foursomes?
Team USA giving away big clues?
When he faced the media, European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald said we shouldn’t read too much into Tuesday’s pairings, but it seems a bit more straightforward on who we could see playing together for Team USA on Friday.
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Luke Donald says his Ryder Cup team can take inspiration from the European team’s success in the Solheim Cup
Luke Donald says his Ryder Cup team can take inspiration from the European team’s success in the Solheim Cup
In their first group out, Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas were joined by Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay, who are two readymade pairings we’ve seen in Ryder Cups and Presidents Cups in years gone by.
The second group featured Collin Morikawa and Max Homa; a pair of California boys who are good friends and played together at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans earlier this year, with Rickie Fowler and Brian Harman also in that fourball.
Their third fourball saw world No 1 Scottie Scheffler together with Sam Burns, a pairing we saw at last year’s Presidents Cup, with Brooks Koepka and Wyndham Clark completing that group.
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As Team Europe prepare to take on Team USA in the Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club, take a look at Jon Rahm’s best shots from his two appearances in the tournament
As Team Europe prepare to take on Team USA in the Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club, take a look at Jon Rahm’s best shots from his two appearances in the tournament
‘Gentleman’ Spieth to stick with Thomas?
Dharmesh Sheth: “I wanted to give you a little insight into what a gentleman Jordan Spieth is. I saw him at the driving range on Monday and asked him for a couple of minutes of his time for Sky Sports News, to which he replied ‘I can’t right now but I can do it tomorrow.’
“I saw him again a day later and said ‘I’m back, is it possible to do that interview?’. He asked if we could do it over by the chipping green and was more than happy to do so. He kept with his word and offered plenty of great insight on a variety of subjects.
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Jordan Spieth speaks to Dharmesh Sheth after practicing with his friend Justin Thomas out on the course and on the driving range
Jordan Spieth speaks to Dharmesh Sheth after practicing with his friend Justin Thomas out on the course and on the driving range
“Team USA went out for nine holes of practice on Tuesday morning, playing holes 10-18, and the two people stood alone on the driving range when we got there, shortly after they had finished, were Spieth and Justin Thomas.
“They’ve played together before in Ryder Cups and Presidents Cups, they practiced together and you can’t separate them. Something tells me that we may see them continuing that partnership when play gets under way.”
Drama ahead at the driveable 16th?
Marco Simone GC’s 16th hole will see plenty of drama this week. The 16th hole is always pivotal when it comes to match play, as matches can arrive there with one side two or three up and trying to close out the match, or it could be right in the balance.
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Ryder Cup Team Europe captain Luke Donald advises to not read too much in Tuesday morning’s practice pairings and adds that he has no plans to get a Ryder Cup tattoo should Europe win the competition!
Ryder Cup Team Europe captain Luke Donald advises to not read too much in Tuesday morning’s practice pairings and adds that he has no plans to get a Ryder Cup tattoo should Europe win the competition!
The 16th here is a driveable 303-yard par-four which plays downhill, with a couple of caddies suggesting to me that their players will always take it on because laying up isn’t really an option for them.
On Tuesday, McIlroy took a five-wood and comfortably reached, as did Fleetwood with a three-wood, but the wind was behind them. It is is howling into their teeth it could be a different story.
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We explain why the opening hole of the Ryder Cup is ‘unique’ and what the players will expect at the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club
We explain why the opening hole of the Ryder Cup is ‘unique’ and what the players will expect at the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club
With rough surrounding the green, a roll-off area at the back and a huge expanse of water to the right, it could prove a real risk-reward hole which will be entertaining for fans watching both on the course and at home.
Hot week ahead in Rome
A feature of European Ryder Cups in years gone by used to be the unpredictable weather. In both 2006 at the K Club in Ireland and in 2014 at Gleneagles in Scotland, players would arrive onto the tee box from head to toe in layers of clothes, mittens and woolly hats.
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Dame Laura Davies joins Dharmesh Sheth on the 18th hole of the Marco Simone course where she predicts there will be a nail-biting finish to this year’s Ryder Cup
Dame Laura Davies joins Dharmesh Sheth on the 18th hole of the Marco Simone course where she predicts there will be a nail-biting finish to this year’s Ryder Cup
In 2010 at Celtic Manor in Wales, the tournament even ran over to a Monday after the heavy rain plagued the event at the start of the week. This will not be the case at Marco Simone in 2023, with temperatures forecast to be gloriously sunny and touching 30 degrees every day.
We’re in for a hot Ryder Cup. I’m told this phenomenon is called Ottobrata Romana, or a Roman October. The locals proudly boast that Rome, at this time of year, is the best place in Europe to be.
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You can see Europe take on the United States in the Ryder Cup from September 29, exclusively live on Sky Sports
You can see Europe take on the United States in the Ryder Cup from September 29, exclusively live on Sky Sports
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
Can Scottie Scheffler impress for Team USA this week?
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.
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Highlights from the final round of The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass
Highlights from the final round of The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass
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.
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Highlights of the final round from the 123rd US Open as Wyndham Clark held off Rory McIlroy to claim his first major win
Highlights of the final round from the 123rd US Open as Wyndham Clark held off Rory McIlroy to claim his first major win
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.
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Highlights from the final round of the 151st The Open championship from the Royal Liverpool Golf Club
Highlights from the final round of the 151st The Open championship from the Royal Liverpool Golf Club
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.
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Take a look back at Brian Harman’s final round of 70 that sealed him victory and the Claret Jug at Royal Liverpool
Take a look back at Brian Harman’s final round of 70 that sealed him victory and the Claret Jug at Royal Liverpool
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.
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Patrick Cantlay made quick work of the seventh with this hole-in-one at the RBC Heritage
Patrick Cantlay made quick work of the seventh with this hole-in-one at the RBC Heritage
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.
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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.
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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.
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As Brooks Koepka aims to win his third US Open title this week, check out his five previous major victories
As Brooks Koepka aims to win his third US Open title this week, check out his five previous major victories
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.
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Highlights from the final round of the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill which saw Brooks Koepka lift the trophy for a third time
Highlights from the final round of the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill which saw Brooks Koepka lift the trophy for a third time
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
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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.
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Zane Scotland and Henni Koyack use the Audi Performance Zone to analyse Rickie Fowler’s technique
Zane Scotland and Henni Koyack use the Audi Performance Zone to analyse Rickie Fowler’s technique
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.
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Justin Thomas missed the FedExCup Playoffs in a painful way as his chip attempt stayed out after hitting the pin, meaning he finished outside the top 70 in the points standings
Justin Thomas missed the FedExCup Playoffs in a painful way as his chip attempt stayed out after hitting the pin, meaning he finished outside the top 70 in the points standings
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.
