DP World Tour: Alfred Dunhill Links Championship...inside the ropes.

 After the drama of the Ryder Cup, the DP World Tour resumes its Race to Dubai with a celebration of links golf at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship 

• Entry List

 

Record-setter Hatton defends

Just two days on from helping Team Europe to victory in the Ryder Cup at Bethpage, going unbeaten across four matches, Tyrrell Hatton is in Scotland for the defence of his Alfred Dunhill Links Championship title. 

A year ago, the Englishman became the first three-time winner of the tournament. A birdie on the final hole on the Old Course at St Andrews saw him pip Belgium’s Nicolas Colsaerts to victory, adding to his back-to-back successes in 2016 and 2017. Pivotal to automatically qualifying for Luke Donald’s team, Hatton went on to win the Hero Dubai Desert Classic in January and arrives chasing a ninth DP World Tour title. 

“I don’t think you ever go into events thinking you could actually win four times, but there is definitely something that suits me about the Dunhill,” said Hatton. “Last year was even more special because it was the first time I've actually won the tournament with my dad there, so it meant a lot.”

Ryder Cuppers in action

Hatton is one of four members of the 2025 European Ryder Cup team who have made the trip back across the Atlantic Ocean from New York, to compete in an event that has formed part of the DP World Tour schedule since 2001. 

Joining him are countrymen Tommy Fleetwood and Matt Fitzpatrick, the latter a fellow past champion, along with Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre. Fleetwood, a two-time runner-up in 2014 and 2018, holds the course record at Carnoustie with a 63 from the 2017 championship and arrives on the back of finishing as the top European points scorer in New York. 

Fitzpatrick won the Dunhill Links individual professional title, as well as the Team Championship with his mother Susan in 2023, and this year he will be playing with his dad Russell hoping to match that achievement. 

MacIntyre leads the home challenge, hoping to become the first Scot since Colin Montgomerie in 2005 to win the title.

A world-class field

The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship is played over St Andrews’ Old Course, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns, three world-renowned links courses, culminating in the final day on the Old Course. 

With a prize fund of US$5 million, the championship incorporates two separate competitions - an individual professional tournament for the world's leading golfers and a team championship in which the professionals are paired with amateur golfers which creates a unique atmosphere.

Fitzpatrick is among the Major Champions from six countries teeing it up this week as a strong international field assembles. 

The 2022 U.S. Open winner is joined by fellow Englishman Danny Willett, Ireland’s Pádraig Harrington, who is trying to equal Hatton’s record as a three-time winner. 

edit>>> Also invited from LIV, Germany’s Martin Kaymer, Australia’s Cameron Smith, South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen and American quartet Patrick Reed, Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson and Bubba Watson as players to have won Majors. 

PGA TOUR winners Tony Finau, Aldrich Potgieter and Harry Hall are also among those in action, while a host of winners on this season’s Race to Dubai are targeting more silverware, including Norway’s Kristoffer Reitan and France’s Adrien Saddier.

Colsaerts and Warren join DP World Tour’s 500 Club

After announcing this would be his final season on the DP World Tour at the FedEx Open de France, Colsaerts will make his 500th start on Golf's Global Tour. The 2012 Ryder Cup winner had planned to call time on his professional career last season but his runner-up finish at The Home of Golf convinced him to continue as he regained his card for another year. 

Joining him in reaching the milestone this week is Scotland’s Marc Warren, who made his DP World Tour debut in 2001 and has since won four times. Between the pair, they have seven DP World Tour titles and will become the 48th and 49th players to rack up a half century of appearances. 

While Colsaerts is shortly bidding farewell to the game as a player, Warren continues to combine playing opportunities across both the DP World Tour and HotelPlanner Tour having lost his full playing rights on the former in 2023.

Sports, music and entertainment stars hit the links

Part of the charm of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship is seeing a wealth of stars from a variety of industries share the stage with the leading professionals. Just like the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am on the PGA TOUR, the Dunhill Links serves up a celebrity field in a pro-am format. 

Among those taking on three of the greatest links courses in the world are US rock legends Huey Lewis and Bon Jovi's Tico Torres, with Keane's Tom Chaplin and Linkin Park's Dave Farrell also taking part from the world of music. 

Joining them are Hollywood legend Michael Douglas, along with fellow actors Matthew Goode, who appeared in Downton Abbey, and Hollywood star Kathryn Newton. 

From the world of sport, Andy Murray, who swapped his racket for his golf clubs after retiring from tennis in August 2024 after the Paris Olympics, will make his debut in the Team Championship, in which each amateur partners one of the professionals, as is Canada’s Wayne Gretzky, widely regarded as the greatest ice hockey player of all time having won four Stanley Cups with the Edmonton Oilers and set over 60 NHL records. 

Each team will play St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns over the first three days, with teams and individuals that make the cut playing the Old Course on Sunday.

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)

Dominant Europe survive unexpectedly dramatic Sunday, retain Ryder Cup 15-13

 Europe won the Ryder Cup away from home for the first time in 13 years after they survived a remarkable United States comeback on a dramatic Sunday in New York.

The visitors had started the day with an 11½-4½ lead at Bethpage but were made to battle on a nerve-shredding afternoon before Shane Lowry retained the trophy and Tyrrell Hatton sealed a 15-13 victory.

Needing ten points for the biggest comeback in Ryder Cup history, the U.S. won five of the top seven matches and with the contests down the order on a knife edge, so was the destination of the cup.

But Ludvig Åberg beat Patrick Cantlay 2&1 and Matt Fitzpatrick tied with Bryson DeChambeau to leave the stage clear for Lowry.

The Irishman had been two down with four to play against Russell Henley but a stunning approach to the 15th saw him go down the last knowing a win would retain the cup.

Henley found sand off the tee but hit a beautiful recovery to ten feet only to see Lowry get inside him on the same line.

The American left his effort short and Lowry holed from six feet before setting off dancing across the green before bursting into tears.

Hatton then hit a wonderful approach of his own into the last to tie with Collin Morikawa and seal a fifth European win on U.S. spoil since 1979.

Robert MacIntyre and Sam Burns shared a half in the anchor match but the rest of the matches all went the way of the United States.

The victory makes Luke Donald just the second European Captain after Tony Jacklin to win a Ryder Cup both home and away and makes it back-to-back wins after the 2023 victory at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club.

“It's been the most stressful 12 hours in my life,” said Donald. “Shout-out to the Americans, Keegan, his captaincy. I knew it would be tough. I didn't think they would be this tough on Sunday, they fought so hard, and all the respect to them.

“But this means a lot obviously to me and the team. We came here knowing that the task was very difficult. I couldn't be more proud of these guys and what they have gone through, how they have come together, how they are playing for history, how they are playing for the people that came before them, and now there will be talk for generations to come as someone going down in history. Couldn't be more proud.”

Scheffler finally got a win as he closed out a 1 UP win over McIlroy and the top four matches had all gone up the last in one of the most dramatic Ryder Cup Sundays in memory.

Bradley’s frontloading had seen his big guns play their part and while the U.S. dream was still alive, there was much work to do after Lowry hit that stunner into the 15th to cut Henley’s lead to one.

MacIntyre birdied the 13th to get back to tied and as Spaun closed out his win on the 17th, after starting the day looking at a potential record victory, Europe were now fighting for the half that would see them take the cup back across the Atlantic.

That looked less likely when Højgaard made a mess of the 15th to send Griffin 1 UP and Hatton missed a good chance win the same hole.

But the tension was finally released on a nerve-shredding afternoon as Lowry’s magic moment sealed the retention but the matches were not over.

MacIntyre three-putted the 15th to send Burns 1 UP and Griffin closed out Højgaard on the last before Hatton secured victory and MacIntyre won the last.

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)

Monday wrap : Europe continues Ryder Cup domination, Blue Jays win American League East pennant.

  Ryder Cup  Sunday singles match results :  Europe 15 USA 13  Leaderboard  

 Edit >>>>> "Despite a spirited fight back by the Americans who narrowly won 6 and halved 5, the dominance by Europe winning all 4 team sessions was too much to overcome as Luke Donald and one of the great European teams of all time defended their title and won against all odds once again, this time in New York, for their 5th away win, and in the "Europe" era since 1985, 14 times to 6 by USA." This was my post last night...

Sunday was simply a glorious day here in Toronto, not a cloud in the sky, brilliant warm sunshine, and as I sat soaking it up in the garden with a cold beer, I thought the only way this day could get better would be for Europe to finish off USA in front of some of the most vulgar New York fans the Ryder Cup has ever endured (see "F--k you Rory chants) and if our beloved Blue Jays could emerge victorious over the pesky Tampa Rays so win the American East pennant. 

By now we all know how well that all turned out, but it wasn't easy.

Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk reacts while rounding the bases after the first of his two home runs during the team's division-clinching victory over the Tampa Bay Rays in Toronto on Sunday. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press)

The Jays went down early 1-0 and our ace, Gausman worryingly did not have his A game. However with the game of his career, Alejandro Kirke hit the Grand Salami, the clinched it after a Rays fight back, to add another shortly after, sending fans across Canada home full of joy after a 13-4 trouncing, and thoughts of the Yanks or Red Sox to come in a week or so.

Meanwhile with one hand on the Cup after trouncing USA on Friday and Saturday, thus putting 11.5 points in their pocket, the Americans finally gave their fans something to cheer about, narrowly (1up) winning match after match until Match 8 when Shane Lowry made the putt on the 18th green to halve his match with Russell Henley, to secure the win. 

The seeds first sewn by Jack Nicklaus in 1979 with the Cup falling into a non entity with the USA dominance, to include Europe with the arrival of a startling young Spaniard simply called "Seve", then captain Tony Jacklin in 1983 when he changed the culture of the old GB&I teams demanding a first class all the way scenario for his players, have come into full bloom.

The amazing count since 1985, Europe 14 USA 6.

What a great, memorable weekend, and with the stunning weather forecast and the World Series to come, there is more to follow !

Bryan Angus 

Ryder Cup : Sunday singles match results.. Europe wins 2025 Ryder Cup !!!

   Ryder Cup  Sunday singles matches: Leaderboard

Sunday weather : 7am  19*c cloudy with sunny breaks, wind 3-14km/h NE  P.O.P 30%

                            12pm 25*c mainly sunny, wind 12-18 km/h SW  P.O.P 10%

                              5pm 28*c sunny, wind 14-21km/h SW  P.O.P 0%

Note : while there were a few showers, the predicted amount of rain did not arrive overnight leaving Bethpage Black in much the same condition as Saturday with soft greens and fairways, ideal for scoring. 

It has been a historic 2 days of European domination on a soft Bethpage Black GC. They have won all 4 sessions.

Friday Foursomes 3-1, Friday Fourballs 2.5- 1.5 Saturday Foursomes 3-1, Saturday Fourballs 3-1.

As a result they begin todays singles ahead 11.5 - 4.5 needing 14 points to win the 2025 Ryder Cup, that is 2.5 points out of the 12 singles matches listed below. 

Sunday singles results  Europe 15  USA 13

Match 1 12.02  Justin Rose vs Cameron Young 1up

Match 2 12.13  Tommy Fleetwood vs Justin Thomas 1up

Match 3 12.24  Matt Fitzpatrick  halved vs Bryson DeChambeau

Match 4 12.35  Rory McIlroy vs Scott Scheffler 1up

Match 5 12.46  Ludvig Aberg  2&1 vs Patrick Cantlay

Match 6 12.57  Jon Rahm vs Xander Schauffele 4&3

Match 7  1.08   Sepp Straka vs JJ Spaun 2&1

Match 8  1.19  Shane Lowry halved vs Russell Henley

Match 9  1.30  Rasmus Hojgaard vs  Ben Griffin 1up

Match10 1.41  Tyrrell Hatton halved vs Colin Morikawa

Match11 1.52  Bob MacIntyre halved vs Sam Burns

Match12 2.03  Viktor Hovland halved vs Harris English  (did not play neck injury Hovland) 

Edit >>>>> Despite a spirited fight back by the Americans who narrowly won 6 and halved 5, the dominance by Europe winning all 4 team sessions was too much to overcome as Luke Donald and one of the great European teams of all time defended their title and won against all odds once again, this time in New York, for their 5th away win, and in the "Europe" era since 1985, 14 times to 6 by USA.

Opinion

Nobody saw this coming, and hindsight is 20/20.

The vaunted Bethpage Black was rendered soft and gettable by a combination of a Mother Nature soaking all day and some overnight on Thursday, and the USA desire to have what would have been vicious deep rough cut down to suit their tee balls.

World #1 Scottie Scheffler would lose all four sessions and with a match on the line, hit a cold shank approach into the bunkered area  from 115 yards on the 18th on Friday.

Every European player was very good to brilliant, as Xander Schauffele said after a rare win "they are just all playing very good golf". 

When asked what he was most impressed with Luke Donald said " their resilience, every time the USA makes a shot, they have matched or beat it"

The USA biased raucous New York crowds who sold it out well in advance expecting a beat down were silenced time and time again while the European fans have been treated once again, and brilliant in their songs, especially the "Patrick has his hat on" parody of the nursery rhyme "The sun has got his hat on"!!

However the "F--- you Rory" and worse from some of the crowd requires a public apology from the PGA of America

Today the now legendary captain Luke Donald and his staff have given their brilliant elder statesman Justin Rose the honour of leading off, they all will have their game faces on until what seems a foregone conclusion of 14 points is achieved.

With Sunday afternoon football dominating the ratings the NBC was hoping for anything but what they have, with what will eventually be a lot of exhibition matches when the Europeans clinch a historic victory. It may be the lowest Sunday Ryder Cup ratings.

Wait until we hear the aftermath in the US media about this one !

Bryan Angus

Ryder Cup : Saturday afternoon fourball match Results.. Europe 11.5 USA 4.5 Live scoreboard

   Ryder Cup  Saturday afternoon fourball matches: Leaderboard

With another resounding 3-1 result in the morning foursomes, the European Ryder Cup team will have a quick lunch and head out full of confidence for the afternoon fourballs leading the Ryder Cup 8.5 -3.5

Saturday Fourball match results  Europe 11.5  USA 4.5

Match 1 12.25  Rory McIlroy /Shane Lowry 2up  vs Cameron Young / Justin Thomas

Match 2  12.41 Tommy Fleetwood / Justin Rose  3&2 vs  Scott Scheffler / Bryson DeChambeau

Match 3  12.57 Jon Rahm/ Sepp Straka  vs JJ Spaun / Xander Schauffele 1up

Match 4  1.13  Viktor Hovland/ Matt Fitzpatrick 1up  vs  Sam Burns/ Patrick Cantlay

Team Europe need 14 points to retain the Cup, with 4 points at stake this afternoon and 12 singles on Sunday.

Bryan Angus

Ryder Cup : Saturday morning foursome match results Europe 8.5 USA 3.5

  Ryder Cup  Saturday morning foursome matches: Leaderboard

Weather  7am  Mainly sunny 17* wind 3-12 km/h N  P.O.P 10%

            12.00   Mainly sunny 25* wind 8-12 km/h E  P.O.P 20%

             6.00   Mainly cloudy 23* wind 12-17 km/h  P.O.P 30%

Note : There is a lot of rain (60-90%) beginning at 11pm, continuing all night until 40% at 7am, soaking Bethpage Black prior to Sunday singles which begin at 12pm.

edit >>>>>Saturday foursome match results

Europe 8.5  USA 3.5

7.10 EDT  Matt Fitzpatrick/ Ludvig Aberg  vs Cameron Young / Bryson DeChambeau 4.5-2.5

7.26 EDT  Rory McIlroy / Tommy Fleetwood  3&2 vs  Harris English/ Collin Morikawa

7.42 EDT  Jon Rahm / Tyrrell Hatton  3&2 vs  Xander Schauffele/ Patrick Cantlay

7.58 EDT  Bob MacIntyre / Viktor Hovland 1up  vs Russell Henley / Scott Scheffler

Opinion 

With a fairly calm sunny Saturday ahead the weather will not be a factor. However the greens will have had 12 hours to dry out, therefore firm up. They were like dart boards on Friday, and with the cut down rough, the fierce Black course was being picked apart.

On paper the USA team have put out as strong a field as they have in these foursomes to try and even the score. On paper....

However the vaunted Scott Scheffler once again has lost both his matches, Justin Thomas was poor in his morning session, better in the afternoon. He will sit this morning with JJ Spaun, Sam Burns and Ben Griffin.

Cameron Young is a former champion on Bethpage, a local who teamed with Thomas in their one bright spot beating the young guns Aberg and Hojgaard 6&5. 

Match 4 with MacIntyre/ Hovland last to play against Scheffler and Henley is seen by the Americans as a sure fire win, you'd have to think it is the world's #1 chance to redeem himself after being a non factor on Friday.

However I will remind you this European pair gave Schauffele/Cantlay (who was USA best player all day)  an all square match until the par 3 17th when Bob hit his tee shot into the bunker and they failed to get up and down going 1 down. Also Viktor then hit his worst drive of the day 40 yards off line on the 18th, removing any chance to even the score.

My opinion is that if USA can't improve their score with the Europeans with this line up, they may never catch up as has been the case in 13 of the last 19 matches since 1985, 40 years ago.

I will post the afternoon four ball matches when the captains announce them later this morning.

Bryan Angus

Ryder Cup : Friday fourball match results

 Ryder Cup  Friday fourball matches: Leaderboard

After a resounding 3 -1 Europe result in the morning foursomes, the afternoon fourball matches have been announced as follows:

Friday Foursomes    Europe 2.5 / USA 1.5

12.25 1st  John Rahm /Sepp Straka 3&2  vs  JJ Spaun/ Scott Scheffler

12.41 1st  Justin Rose/ Tommy Fleetwood  1up  vs  Ben Griffin/ Bryson DeChambeau

12.57 1st  Ludvig Aberg / Rasmus Hojgaard  vs Cameron Young/ Justin Thomas 6&5

1.13   1st  Rory McIlroy/ Shane Lowry  A/S  vs  Sam Burns / Patrick Cantlay

Heading into Saturday's Morning foursomes Europe 5.5  USA 2.5

Bryan Angus

Ryder Cup Pairings : Friday morning Foursome results Europe 3 USA 1

 Ryder Cup : Thursday foursome matches. Leaderboard

Thursday weather : 7am  Mix of sun and clouds. 19*c P.O.P 2%  wind 2km/h W gusting 22km/h W

11am Mainly sunny 24*c P.O.P 20%  wind 6-26km/h NW

 4pm  Mainly sunny 26*c  P.O.P 10%  wind 11-22 km/h W

Bethpage Black has been soaked by heavy rain for most of Thursday, however the grounds crew were working over night and play is set to begin at 7.10 as scheduled. 

Rory McIlroy celebrates after winning a hole at the 2023 Ryder Cup.

Opinion:

I expect the greens will be soft and holding, and whatever rough is left after the American team requested it to be mowed down, will be wet. There is not much wind as you can see early, so conditions are good for scoring. 

Live coverage at 6am show crowds already packed in around the 1st tee, some drinking already I might add.

TEE TIMES (ET)   Europe 3 USA 1

Foursomes:

7.10 1st  John Rahm/ Tyrrell Hatton 4&3  vs  Justin Thomas/ Bryson DeChambeau

7.26 1st  Matt Fitzpatrick/ Ludvig Aberg 5&3  vs  Russell Henley/ Scott Scheffler

7.42 1st  Rory McIlroy/ Tommy Fleetwood  5&4 vs  Collin Morikawa / Harris English

7.58 1st  Robert MacIntyre / Viktor Hovland  vs 2up  Xander Schauffele / Patrick Cantlay

Click Leaderboard to follow live scoring..

Bryan Angus

Ryder Cup: Soaking rain for Thursday at Bethpage Black could delay start times

 Ryder Cup 2025 : Weather Forecast  

• Current 

Click on the link above for a complete 72 hour forecast for Farmingdale NY, 2025 Ryder Cup

Now that all the preamble including a stunning Opening Ceremony for this years Ryder Cup is over

there will be a lull for the players / fans today as Mother Nature takes center stage. This was supposed to

be the day for the ceremony, but it was moved due to the weather.

It is raining, today all day, and again all night until 4am Friday morning, when fog is in the forecast, 

Along with the rain there will be Thunderstorms and lightning possible.

With foursomes all set to start at 7am Friday, if the forecast is accurate you can see there will likely

be a serious delay before the course will be playable.

It also will be interesting to see how the teams change gears here today until tomorrow if 

practice is not possible.

I will have the pairings for you as soon as they are out.

Bryan Angus

2025 Ryder Cup : European Team 10 storylines

Here are 10 storylines for this year's defending European Ryder Cup Team.

1. Unchanged Team

In the history of Team Europe at the Ryder Cup, there has never been a side so unchanged as the one teeing up at Bethpage Black for the 2025 biennial contest. With 11 of the 12 members returning to the squad, only Nicolai Højgaard is missing – having been replaced by twin brother Rasmus, who automatically qualified for the team this year. 

The previous lowest number of changes since the first European side teed up in 1979 has been three, which most recently happened in 1989. The team that triumphed in 1987 saw Bernard Gallacher, Brian Waites and Gordon Brand Jnr replaced by José Rivero, Howard Clark and Manuel Piñero, who went on to help Europe retain the Cup.

2. Returning Captain

It’s not only Luke and 11 members of the playing team that have stayed the same either. He has four returning Vice Captains in José María Olazábal, Thomas Bjørn, Edoardo Molinari and Francesco Molinari, with one addition: Alex Noren, who ended a seven year wait for victory with two wins in his last three starts on the DP World Tour at both the Betfred British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo and BMW PGA Championship.

3. The first away practice trip

 While there are elements of continuity in Donald’s pre-event strategy, he has already confirmed he isn’t keeping everything rigid. What he is focused on, is giving his team the best chance possible for an away victory.

"Even though we have a lot of continuity, this is a different animal, to play away in America,” he said. “We understand how difficult that is. I've looked at it from very different angles to try and get us prepared for this amazing challenge ahead.

"As I said, it's a different animal. It's a different challenge. Obviously having the chance to do it again doesn't mean we're going to do the same things we did in Rome. That's about implementing new techniques. I've really tried to look hard at exactly what this will require.

"I'm very aware that we have lost three of the last four away Ryder Cups by significant margins, and it's a tough challenge. It's a tough environment. But I've tried everything I can to give our team the best opportunity.

"Just because we have a very similar team doesn't mean we are going to roll out the same pairings or the same line-up in foursomes and fourballs. I think over a two-year period, these players do change. Their profiles change, and we'll adapt to that.

4. Medinah Memories

Winning a Ryder Cup away has always been a difficult task, and the current streak has now stretched to 13 years since Europe managed the famous Miracle at Medinah. Donald was a member of that winning team, and has a number of other players and Vice Captains that shared that dressing room with him.

At the forefront of that is 2012 Captain Olazábal, 2012 Vice Captain and 2018 Captain Bjørn, as well as fellow 2012 team-mates Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose – both playing this year – and Francesco Molinari, who memorably earned a singles point against Tiger Woods at Medinah and returns for a second consecutive year as a Vice Captain. 

With a group both largely unchanged and several members that can draw on memories of that emphatic win, Donald will likely be using those memories as motivation for his team this week.

5. Fleetwood’s unbeaten foursomes record

Tommy Fleetwood has become a pivotal member of Team Europe, which began with a headline-stealing debut as he and Francesco Molinari became the first European pairing in history to win all four of their matches in a Ryder Cup. 

That year he lost to Tony Finau in singles, but still cemented himself in the record books with the most points ever won by a European rookie, tying with Thomas Pieters, who went 4-1-0 in 2016.

Whistling Straits was evidently tougher for Europe and that was true too for Fleetwood, who partnered with Viktor Hovland for one draw and one loss in fourballs, and tied with Jordan Spieth in the singles. He didn’t play either foursomes session in 2021.

But at Marco Simone, Fleetwood once again proved his ability for success in alternate shot, partnering with McIlroy in both foursomes sessions with great success, earning two points with 2&1 victories over Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay on Friday, and Justin Thomas and Spieth on Saturday. 

He and Nicolai Højgaard lost their fourballs match on Saturday afternoon, but Fleetwood rallied for his first full singles point in a Ryder Cup with a 3&1 victory over Rickie Fowler, the point which guaranteed victory for his side.

From three Ryder Cup appearances, Fleetwood has a foursomes record of 4-0-0.

6. Europe’s only Rookie: Rasmus Højgaard

Rasmus Højgaard will make his Ryder Cup debut as part of Donald’s European Team, replacing twin brother Nicolai as the only change in this year’s side. 

A five-time winner on the DP World Tour, Højgaard narrowly missed out on selection in 2023 but guaranteed his place this time around by finishing fifth in the European Team Rankings to secure automatic qualification. 

And while he wasn’t part of the team playing two years ago, Rasmus got a front-row seat to the action as a buggy driver at Marco Simone for Bjørn.

Not a stranger to team competition, Rasmus played in the European Junior Ryder Cup side in 2018, and was part of the Team Cup earlier this year. He and Nicolai also won the Eisenhower Trophy together as amateurs in 2016.

And the last time Europe had just one rookie on their team? 2012.

7. Scandinavian Record Setters

The Scandinavian duo of Hovland and Ludvig Åberg created a record-breaking partnership in 2023, with a dominating 9&7 victory over the American duo of Brooks Koepka and Scottie Scheffler in Saturday morning foursomes at Marco Simone. 

It marked the largest margin of victory for an 18-hole match, foursomes or otherwise, in the history of the Ryder Cup.

The victory came after they earnt their first foursomes point against Brian Harman and Max Homa 4&3 on Friday morning, going 2-0-0 in foursomes with one of the most memorable victories in recent history. 

The duo did lose their Saturday afternoon fourball match 4&3 against Collin Morikawa and Sam Burns, recording an overall partnership record of 2-1-0.

8. Success in 2023

The team that lifted the Ryder Cup in 2023 will have plenty of good memories to lean on, and a near identical team to do it with. 

They achieved European Ryder Cup history with a clean-sweep of the first foursomes session, going on to lead the first day by a European record margin of 6½ -1½, the same scoreline achieved in 2004.

For the more senior members, it was an incredibly successful outing – with an undefeated Jon Rahm and winning records for McIlroy, Fleetwood, Tyrrell Hatton and Hovland. Robert MacIntyre was the most successful rookie of that Ryder Cup, with a 2-0-1 record.

9. Rory’s career year

McIlroy has said that an away victory at this year’s Ryder Cup could help define the 2025 season as one, if not the best, of his career. 

The Northern Irishman joined the incredibly exclusive Grand Slam club earlier this year with a first Major victory in almost 11 years at the Masters Tournament in April, becoming just the sixth player in history to achieve the feat.

 Add in further wins this year at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, PLAYERS Championship and Amgen Irish Open in front of home fans, it’s been his most successful year in terms of titles in the span of his career.

“The one thing for me this year to reassess my goals, an away Ryder Cup, after everything that's happened this year, would be... if I did have a better year in the game, I'd love to see it,” he said.

If we were to win an away Ryder Cup with everything else that I've been through this year, 2025 would be the best year of my career.”

He will now relish the role of being Europe’s talisman, having missed just one session at the Ryder Cup since he made his debut 15 years ago. With a career record of 16-9-4 from seven appearances, McIlroy has been on five winning Ryder Cup sides, including Europe’s last away victory at Medinah.

10. Bethpage Black Experience

In 2019, Bethpage Black was the stage for the US PGA Championship. It was an event defined by both tough scoring, with notable mentions about how difficult a New York crowd might be for a European Team when the Ryder Cup arrives this year. But what Team Europe does have in its favour, is experience of this venue.

More than half of the team were present for that Major Championship six years ago. McIlroy, Shane Lowry, Hatton, Rose, Matt Fitzpatrick and Rahm were all part of the field, with six making the cut and both McIlroy and Lowry posting top tens. Also in the field were Donald’s Vice Captains Francesco Molinari (T48) and Noren (T54).

Ryder Cup Europe

Bryan Angus (edit)

Weir slips to finish 75 T9 at Pebble Beach.. Final Results

   PGA Tour Champions : Pure Insurance Championship Leaderboard  Results

After leading after 36 holes both Mike Weir and his co-leader Steve Alker slipped to 75 T9 -7 and 72 T3 -10 respectively on Sunday at Pebble Beach at this version of the Pure Insurance Championship. 

Looking as trim and fit at 55 as ever, the lefty, left his A game somewhere between his 66 68 start with 5 bogey's and 2 pars as opposed to his 7 birdies and 1 bogey on Thursday.

Veteran Doug Barron 71 67 66 -12 won it with Vijay Singh 67 69 69 -11 a shot back in 2nd and Steve Alker 67 67 72 -10 along with the Goose, Retief Goosen 70 71 65 -10 both T3.

Pebble Beach on an overcast day was as stunning as expected, even the deer roaming the rough were as serenely tame as ever.

It was Mike's 98th Senior Tour event, he still has that 1 win at the Insperity in 2020, his 22nd top 10, boosting his Champions Tour prize money to $4,247,042. In his career since turning pro in 1992 he has won $28,043,420 which is 20th on the all time money list. 

Stephen Ames T20 70 71 72 -3 and David Moreland MDF 71 77.

Bryan Angus