RYDER CUP PREVIEW: MEET THE TEAMS – Golf Information

TEAM EUROPE

Captain: Luke Donald
Vice-Captains: José Maria Olazabal, Thomas Bjorn, Francesco Molinari, Eduardo Molinari, Nicolas Colseaerts

JON RAHM
Age: 28 World rating: 3 Ryder Cup Appearances: 2 (’18, ‘21) File: P3 W1 L2 H0
It’s superb to suppose that it will solely be Rahm’s second Ryder Cup. Fashionable with followers on each side of the Atlantic, the big-hitting Spaniard must put in an enormous shift in Rome, most certainly taking part in in all 5 matches. A fiery competitor, JR might pair up with everybody and anybody and produce dwelling the factors, however with out Sergio Garcia within the group, he received’t have a Spanish-speaking accomplice to share unprintable jokes with.

RORY MCILROY
Age: 34 World rating: 3 Appearances: 6 (’10-’21) File: P24 W11 L9 H4
The Northern Irishman has skilled a irritating 12 months by his personal excessive requirements, particularly within the majors, the place he has drawn a clean for the ten^th 12 months working, however with two wins and a powerful run of seven consecutive top-nine finishes stretching again to the US PGA Championship in Might, he’s taking part in some critically good golf that might be even higher if his putter behaved itself. A Ryder Cup veteran now, it’s laborious to think about the world.2 not taking part in in all 5 matches if early outcomes go his approach.

TOMMY FLEETWOOD
Age: 32 World rating: 15 Appearances: 2 (’18, ‘21) File: P8 W4 L2 H2
Fleetwood was a pressure of nature on the 2018 Ryder Cup, profitable all 4 of his matches taking part in alongside Francesco Molinari, however he was introduced again right down to earth in 2021, halving two matches, together with his singles, and shedding the opposite. His type this season has been extraordinarily constant, with seven top-10 finishes, 5 of which have are available his final seven begins, taking him as much as 15^th on this planet. He completed runner-up on the Italian Open held at Marco Simone in 2021, so has strong course type, and may make a dependable accomplice in all codecs if he can discover some type with the putter.

VIKTOR HOVLAND
Age: 25 World rating: 4 Appearances: 1 (’21) File: P5 W0 L3 H2
Norway’s first ever Ryder Cup participant when he made his debut in 2021, Hovland is without doubt one of the most enjoyable skills to emerge within the professional recreation in lots of a 12 months, as he confirmed along with his two gorgeous victories on the PGA Tour’s closing two occasions of the season, the place he shot 42 below par for eight rounds and pocketed a cool $21m in prize cash for profitable the FedEx Cup and the Tour Championship. Having ironed out weaknesses in his chipping recreation, he’ll land in Rome within the type of his life, and will likely be eager to erase the recollections of Whistling Straits, the place he solely managed two half-points.

MATT FITZPATRICK
Age: 29 World rating: 8 Appearances: 2 (’16, ’21) File: P5 W0 L5 H0
The 2022 US Open champion has endured a combination run of outcomes this season both facet of profitable the RBC Heritage in April, with 4 missed cuts earlier than and two since, and a greatest end of ninth at The Memorial. His debut Ryder Cup look at Hazeltine in 2016 resulted in two defeats from two matches, and he additionally drew a clean in 2021, shedding his two foursomes matches when paired with Lee Westwood and shedding 1dwn to Daniel Berger within the closing singles when the match was already misplaced. A way more skilled campaigner now, and with a serious title below his belt, the Yorkshireman will likely be determined to get on the rating sheet in Rome however might want to have certainly one of his ‘on’ weeks.

TYRRELL HATTON
Age: 31 World rating: 14 Appearances: 2 (’18, ‘21) File: P7 W2 L4 H1
It will likely be a supply of a lot frustration to Tyrrell that he has solely 2.5pts to point out for his seven matches within the Ryder Cup, and England’s angriest golfer will likely be eager to proper that incorrect in Rome. A former Italian Open champion, he can have the gang on his facet this time, and this ultra-consistent performer will likely be hopeful of profitable his first singles level after being rolled over 4&3 by Justin Thomas in 2021. He comes into the matches in good type, having solely missed one reduce this 12 months and having had ten top-10 finishes from his final 24 begins.

SHANE LOWRY
Age: 36 World Rating: 37 Appearances: 1 (’21) File: P3 W1 L2 H0
After profitable the BMW PGA Championship final September, Lowry has been out and in of type in 2023, failing to essentially threaten the leaderboard and with a greatest outcome being a tied 5^thin below-par subject on the Honda Traditional in February. A feisty competitor, he clearly relished the white warmth of competitors at his lengthy overdue Ryder Cup debut Whistling Straits in 2021, particularly when profitable his foursomes match when paired with Tyrrell Hatton, however he acquired mauled 4&2 by Patrick Cantlay within the singles and will likely be fired as much as make amends in Rome.

SEPP STRAKA
Age: 36 World Rating: 23 Appearances: Rookie
The burly Straka is simply the second Austrian to win a Ryder Cup after following within the footsteps of fellow countryman Bernd Wiesberger, who didn’t fare too nicely at Whistling Straits in 2021. Straka seems to be a much better participant although, with two wins on the PGA Tour (’22 Honda Traditional,’23 John Deere Traditional) and a tied second on this 12 months’s Open Championship marking him out a critical competitor. He additionally completed sixth on the Tour Championship so arrives in glorious type.

JUSTIN ROSE
Age: 43 World Rating: 34 Appearances: 5 (‘08, ‘12, ‘14, ‘16, ‘18) File: P23 W13 L8 H2
A senior statesman in Ryder Cup phrases, Rose will add some much-needed expertise to the group in Rome in what will likely be his sixth look within the matches. He ended a four-year winless streak in February when claiming the Pebble Seashore Professional-am to spice up his Ryder Cup hopes and has since carried out nicely sufficient to earn a captain’s decide, regardless of lacking the reduce within the US Open and the Open. After lacking out in 2010 and 2018, he has a great win ratio.

NICOLAI HOJGAARD
Age: 22 World Rating: 78  Appearances: Rookie
The youthful of the gifted Danish twins has loved an excellent begin to his skilled profession, having received thrice on the DP World since 2019, together with victory at Marco Simone within the Italian Open in 2020. An enormous driver of the ball, and with an ice cool temperament, he has additionally acquittd himself nicely on the PGA Tour, ending 14th within the current Wydham Championshp and runner up within the Corales Puntacana Championship. A captain’s decide, he comes into the matches in good type, having completed third on the Czech Open and fifth at this month’s Omega European Masters.

ROBERT MCINTYRE
Age: 27 World Rating: 55 Appearances: Rookie
McIntyre turns into the primary Scot to play within the Ryder Cup since Stephen Gallacher’s look at Gleneagles in 2014 after ending ? within the factors checklist following a supremely constant season that has seen him safe six top-10 finishes, together with an heart-breaking second behind Rory McIlroy within the Scottish Open. The gifted left-hander has proven he has a liking for the Ryder Cup course having received the Italian Open there simply 12 months in the past when he beat Matt Fitzpatrick in a play-off, and he’s nicely price his place, though it is a appreciable soar at school.

LUDVIG ÅBERG
Age: 23 World Rating: 80 Appearances: Rookie
Åberg is simply the second participant after Sergio Garcia to bag a Ryder Cup spot in the identical 12 months that he turned skilled. The 23-year-old Texas College graduate solely left the beginner ranks in June, however has already received his first DP World Tour occasion, timing his run properly with victory on the European Masters simply the day earlier than Luke Donald introduced his captain’s picks. After reaching no.1 within the beginner ranks, the big-hitting Swede has all of the attibutes to make it to the very high of the sport, and in accordance with these in know, has a peaceful head on younger shoulders. It’s asking alot to step up so shortly, however he already has loads of Tour expertise and is clearly a category act.

TEAM USA

Captain: ZACH JOHNSON
Vice-Captains: Stewart Cink, Fred {Couples}, Jim Furyk, Davis Love III, Steve Stricker

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER
Age: 27 World Rating: 1 Ryder Cup appearances: 1 (’21) Ryder Cup file: P3 W3 L0 T0
Scheffler has been the most constant performer within the high occasions over the past two years, along with his ’22 Masters win approaching the again of three wins within the six-week interval earlier than that. Wins on the Phoenix Open and The Gamers at first of this 12 months confirmed his standing as world no.1 and continued a rare run of outcomes that noticed him end no worse than twelfth in 20 consecutive occasions from November 2022 to his tied third on the Scottish Open in July. A rookie at Whistling Straits in 2021, he might do not more than win all three of his matches, together with a 4&2 beating of Jon Rahm within the singles.

BRIAN HARMAN
Age: 29 World Rating: 9 Ryder Cup appearances: rookie
Hovering across the high 50 for the previous two years, Harman moved up a gear with two runner’s up finishes at first of the PGA Tour’s season in November final 12 months. After a good efficiency within the wind on the Scottish Open, he arrived on the Open Championship as a 250-1 outsider, nevertheless, he quickly made from these odds look very beneficiant when destroying the sector by 5 pictures. Though Marco Simone received’t be something like the identical check as Hoylake, if he has his placing boots on once more the world no.9 will likely be a greater than helpful rookie to have within the facet.

PATRICK CANTLAY
Age: 31 World Rating: 5 Ryder Cup appearances: 1 (’21) Ryder Cup file: P W L T
The ultra-consistent Cantlay is certainly one of host of US gamers who’re knocking on the door of main success. Wins on the BMW Championship in 2021 and 2022 boosted his world rating factors, as has eight different top-10 finishes over the past 12 months. His placing makes him a serious asset in all codecs of the Ryder Cup, the place he made a powerful debut in 2021, profitable 3.5 factors from his 4 matches – together with a 4&2 defeat of Shane Lowry within the singles – and forming an unbeaten partnership with Xander Schauffele, which might anticipate to be renewed in Rome. His deliberate tempo of play received’t excite the followers, however that received’t trouble him.

MAX HOMA
Age: 32 World Rating: 7 Ryder Cup appearances: rookie
The 32-year-old Californian has been one of many hottest gamers on the PGA Tour over the past two years, profitable 5 instances since February 2021, along with his newest win coming on the Farmers Insurance coverage Open again in January. Since then he has loved an admirably constant season, bagging seven top-10 finishes and ending fifth within the Ryder Cup factors checklist to earn one of many six computerized spots on provide. He ranks fifth in strokes gained with the putter on the PGA Tour this season – which is a useful match play asset.

WYNDHAM CLARK
Age: 29 World Rating: 11 Ryder Cup appearances: rookie
Nearly unknown exterior of his family circle earlier than his victory on the Wells Fargo Championship in Might, Clark made certain the world knew who he was when profitable the US Open at LA Nation Membership in June, the place he beat Rory McIlroy by one shot to say a serious title at what was solely his eighth try. Seemingly unflappable, his cool head will stand him in good stead within the white warmth of the Ryder Cup, however he’s but to play exterior of US, barring two unmemorable Open appearances, so will probably be fascinating to see how his recreation transitions to Italy and a partisan crowd.

XANDER SCHAUFFELE
Age: 29 World Rating: 6 Ryder Cup appearances: 1 (’21) Ryder Cup file: P4 W3 L1 T0
The Tokyo Olympic gold medallist appears to have been round for eons, and by no means appears to be removed from the highest of the leaderboard most weeks. With six PGA Tour wins to his title, he’s one other that might have hoped to have a Main within the bag by now, however that tied second on the 2019 Masters is starting to really feel like some time in the past. Eight top-10s this 12 months, and a runner-up spot within the Tour Championship, level to man in good type, and his spectacular debut at Whistling Straits two years in the past recommend that he’s cool head to have in pressurised conditions. He additionally ranks top-5 in strokes gained with the putter.

BROOKS KOEPKA
Age: 35 World Rank: 14 Ryder Cup appearances: 3 (’16, ’18, ‘21) Ryder Cup file: P12 W6 L5 T1
After shedding out to Jon Rahm on the Masters, Koepka went one higher on the PGA Championship to place himself proper within the combine for computerized qualification for the Ryder Cup group season, though finally he needed to depend on a captain’s decide after lacking out on of the six spots by one place after outcomes went in opposition to him within the BMW Championship. The winner of two LIV Golf occasions, most lately in Orlando in April, he arrives in respectable type and has a 50% win file from his 12 Ryder Cup matches.

JORDAN SPIETH
Age: 30 World Rating: 12 Ryder Cup appearances: 4 (‘14, ‘16, ‘18, ‘21) Ryder Cup file: P18 W8 L7 T1
One of many six captain’s picks, Spieth will likely be taking part in in his fifth consecutive Ryder Cup, the longest present streak among the many American contingent. The twin main winner has had a considerably up-and-down 12 months, with seven top-6 finishes countered by six missed cuts. He misplaced a play-off to Matt Fitzpatrick on the RBC Heritage in April, a event he received in 2022. His profession Ryder Cup makes for respectable studying, and he has solely misplaced twice in seven outings in fourballs.

COLLIN MORIKAWA
Age: 26 World Rating: 20 Ryder Cup Appearances: 1 Ryder Cup file: P4 W3 L1 T0
One other to achieve his place with a captain’s decide, Morikawa burst onto the scene in 2020 when profitable the PGA Championship when nearly recent out of school. He adopted that up in 2021 by profitable the Open at St George’s to announce himself as a uncommon expertise certainly. He confirmed that he’s no slouch in group golf too when profitable all three of his matches when paired with Dustin Johnson and tying his singles with Viktor Hovland in his Ryder Cup debut in 2021. With no win for the reason that DP World Tour Championship that very same 12 months, he arrives in Rome in good type, having completed 4^th within the Tour Championship.

RICKIE FOWLER
Age: 34 World Rating: 25 Ryder Cup appearances: 5 Ryder Cup file: P15 W3 L7 H5
After that includes strongly on the US Open after which bagging his first PGA Tour in 4 years eventually month’s Rocket Mortgage Traditional, fan favorite Fowler was all the time a probable captain’s decide. A mainstay of American group occasions within the 2010s, Fowler was lacking from the final two Presidents Cups and the Individuals’ 2021 Ryder Cup. Whereas his RC taking part in file leaves one thing to be desired – simply 3 wins from 15 matches – his expertise and rejuvenated type needs to be property for the US group.

SAM BURNS
Age: 27 World Rating: 21 Ryder Cup appearances: Rookie
Burns received the lone match-play occasion on the PGA TOUR calendar when beating Cameron Younger on the WGC-Dell Applied sciences Match Play in March. It’s been a considerably inconsistent season from there, although. Burns’ T6 on the Charles Schwab Problem and his T9 on the TOUR Championship had been his solely top-10 finishes since his win in Austin. This can mark Burns’ first Ryder Cup look, and he went 0-3-2 on the Presidents Cup final 12 months.

JUSTIN THOMAS
Age: 27 World Rank: 26 Ryder Cup appearances: 2 Ryder Cup file: P9 W6 L2 H1
After ending fifteenth within the Ryder Cup factors checklist, Thomas has performed nicely to get himself a captain’s decide and acquired via on his recognition along with his teammates and his previous group performances relatively than his present type, which has been uncharacteristically poor throughout a season which culminated in him lacking the FedEx Cup play-offs. He has misplaced simply two of his 9 Ryder Cup matches thus far.