Svensson leads Canadians at Sanderson Farms... live leaderboard

 PGA Tour : Sanderson Farms Leaderboard

Going bogey free is always good, Adam Svensson did just that on the opening round of this Fall Series on the PGA Tour's Sanderson Farms Championship on the Country Club of Jackson down in Mississippi.

Three birdies, and eagle good for T11 -5 67 as he warms up to tee off this morning at 8.55am. off #10. The lead is held by American Chesson Hadley -8 64..

Defending champion Mac Hughes, who won in a playoff last year is T67 -2 70 with 3 birdies and the one bogey is in the late wave today at 1.50pm off the 1st.

Michael Gligic is hoping to avoid losing his card is T114 E 72 with 4 bogey's an eagle and 2 birdies is also off the 10th at 2.45pm.

Bryan Angus

Jam packed leaderboard at Alfred Dunhill Links Championship....full leaderboard

DP World Tour : Alfred Dunhill Links Championship  Leaderboard

The beat goes on on the DP World Tour, all flights into Glasgow, Edinburgh and even Heathrow ending up in St Andrews, Scotland for another edition of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, at the Old Course, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns, where the hotels, B&B'S, Rental homes are all full yet again in the aftermath of one of Europe's greatest Ryder Cups..

Sebastian Söderberg made a lightning start and Adri Arnaus produced a fast finish as the duo joined Peter Uihlein at the top of a congested leaderboard after day one of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

Swede Söderberg birdied eight of his first ten holes over the Old Course at St Andrews to set the pace, signing for a 64 that would be matched by American Uihlein over the same layout.

Spaniard Arnaus was four shots off the lead with five to play at Carnoustie Golf Links but eagled the 14th before finishing birdie-birdie to join them at eight under with a 64 of his own and make it a three-way tie.

Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts, fresh off his heroics as a vice captain in last week's European Ryder Cup victory, was then part of a six-way tie for second at seven under alongside local favourite Grant Forrest, Dane Marcus Helligkilde, American Billy Horschel and South African duo Zander Lombard and Wilco Nienaber.

On a cold and wet day on Scotland's east coast, Söderberg turned in 29 and Ross Fisher's St Andrews course record was looking under threat when he made another birdie on the tenth.

Six consecutive pars ended those hopes, however, and the 33-year-old bogeyed the 17th before a closing birdie ensured he would finish the day on top.

"It was quite easy the first ten holes or so," he said. "Then you kind of turn around going into the wind and it rained a little bit more.

"I thought I played pretty good the last eight holes as well. I just didn't get close enough, didn't really hole the putts but it felt good to finish with a birdie.

"I've had one or two or three really good rounds for a while, I feel like. There's just always been one or two bad rounds every week. So the weekends, they haven't been what I wanted in the last two months or so.

"I feel like there's a lot of good golf in me so I just have to try to clean up the bad golf a little more and try to get around a little better."

Uihlein was the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year in 2013, the year he lost out in a play-off at this event, while he also achieved a top ten last season.

"I've had good success here." he said after his bogey-free effort. "I just love it, the golf is pure over here and I like when it gets windy and challenging, it's just a lot of fun, really. You get to be creative and it's just something that I enjoy doing.

"I was close here in 2013 when David Howell beat me in a play-off. Looking back on it, it would have been a really special one to win around here.

Horschel turned in 29 at Carnoustie en route to his 65, while Colsaerts, Helligkilde, Lombard and Nienaber all played at St Andrews, and Forrest went round Kingsbarns.

There was then a group of 13 players at six under including defending champion Ryan Fox.

edit *** Canada's Aaron Cockerill is T108 after an opening E 72 at Kingsbarns. He'll play the Old Course today.

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit) 

 

Cockerill returns at Alfred Dunhill Links Championship....TEE TIMES

 DP World Tour : Alfred Dunhill Links Championship Tee Times

If you are going to play somewhere after the let down of the Ryder Cup, St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns are the places to do it at the pro celebrity Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

Ryan Fox from New Zealand is the defending champion, Robert MacIntyre, Tommy Fleetwood, Thomas Bjorn, Matt Fitzpatrick and Nicolas Colsaerts from the triumphant European team will be taking their bows here upon their return..

Aaron Cockerill who played on a sponsors exemption in some of the worst weather, wind and torrential rain, has earned his way in this time around and he begins on the 10th at Kingsbarns, 9.44 with young English star Daniel Brown. 

Everyone plays each course and the cut is made after play on Saturday.

Weather:

There is 80% chance of rain in the forecast with 15kph SE wind on Saturday and showers (80%) on Sunday with the S wind picking up to 25kph. 

Bryan Angus

My reflections on this European week in the Ryder Cup sunshine of Rome..

Today reminds me of all my years covering the Canadian Open after all the excitement and drama on Sunday afternoon, when we were allowed in the media to play the course on Monday morning.

Mentally drained, I'd go out on the course once filled with 35,000 people, now empty. grounds crew out early again cleaning up the garbage blowing everywhere, crews dismantling the scaffolding and broadcast equipment, the tented village in disarray, always a great big let down.. 

But still, there is the glow, the warm memory of what has just transpired, like Tiger's shot from the fairway bunker to win it in 2000 and so many more.

I'm one of millions around the world who today are so proud, so happy for Captain Luke Donald and the entire team, who finally really let loose in the team bus with the normally shy lad from Oban, Bob MacIntyre leading the rousing version of the Scottish band, the Proclaimers smash hit "I'm Gonna be" (I would walk 500 miles...).

From the first 4-0 session on Friday morning they never trailed, simply returning the favor after their 19-9 thrashing at Whistling Straits in 2021.

Justin Rose, who deservedly was the recipient of the Nicklaus-Jacklin award (see my earlier post) said it best in the post match interview and I paraphrase...

" People ask me what we have as European teams that the USA may not have. We here are all playing for those who went before us, we are the current guardians of our tradition and values passed down by all our peers, we are bound together to uphold all that entails"

I might add that much of what that entails were the annual drubbings that the original GB&NIre teams with the likes of Brian Hugget, Neil Coles and Peter Alyss would take when Jack and Arnie and Lee would come over. 

Everything was bigger and better in the USA. Some remember how we were fighting for our lives in for 2 years in WWII while America was busy getting on with their lives oblivious, until the Japs bombed Pearl Harbour Dec.7, 1942 and they finally arrived in England to help turn the tide.

The David vs Goliath mantra emerged for all of this and more, we had no chance until Jack got involved in the late 70's with the R&A to change the format to include Europe, and of course Seve arrived.  

In 1985 may I remind you, Sam Torrance sealed the first win in 28 long years for the Tony Jacklin led European team at the Belfry. 16.5 -11.5 

This weekend many players on the European team live and play in the US, but it becomes the same theme when they get together. It is and always will be no matter how wealthy they have become, them vs the big bad Yanks.

And the Americans just don't have that advantage, don't have all that history in their DNA.

Bryan Angus

Europe united after a resounding 16.5 - 11.5 thumping in Rome

 Ryder Cup : Wrap up.

Europe have defeated the United States 16½-11½ to regain the Ryder Cup and ensure their unbeaten run on home soil will continue to 34 years.

Tommy Fleetwood was the man to secure the vital point on a dramatic afternoon at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club where, despite Europe entering the singles with a commanding lead and never trailing, the U.S. threatened to complete a remarkable comeback.

The home side led 10½-5½ on Sunday morning, meaning the U.S. Team needed the biggest Ryder Cup comeback in history to win despite a rousing 3-1 session victory in Saturday afternoon's foursomes.

Early European success got the home side to 14-7 but Matt Fitzpatrick missed an 18-footer on the last for the trophy as the Americans cut the gap to 14-11.

Fleetwood and Shane Lowry then both guaranteed at least half a point each before Fleetwood won the 17th against Rickie Fowler to secure a 3&1 victory and put the Ryder Cup back in European hands.

European Captain Luke Donald - who was undefeated as a player in four Ryder Cups - was in tears after seeing Fleetwood and Lowry make sure of the half-points.

"I'm so emotional," he said. "It's been a long process, an amazing journey - I enjoyed this one.

"It was stressful, the U.S. put up a fight but I'm so proud of my 12 guys. We formed a strong bond from day one and they gave me everything. They trusted me and they delivered for me.

"Our guys got off to a great start, the early guys which is what we needed. Wanted some blue on the board early and then a few matches changed to red and you just kept looking at the board, kept looking at the board.

"This is the best (moment of my career). This is why the Ryder Cup is so special to me and to these guys because of these moments. We play for each other and we get to share in that success together and we get to spend this week together and we'll share those memories forever.

"Not many people gave us a chance after Whistling Straits. We were big underdogs. We started to show some form in the last six months and I couldn't be happier with the team I got.

"I think these guys will be around for a long time and we're going to put up a great fight in two years' time."

A 4-0 foursomes session victory for Europe on the first morning on Friday set the tone for the week and the home side led 9½-2½ after three sessions.

The U.S. fightback began as they took the Saturday four-balls and, while they managed a 6-6 tie across the singles, the mountain was too big to climb.

"If I have any reflection right now it's that you take your hat off and tip your cap to Team Europe and to Luke - they played great, they earned it and I was very impressed with them," said U.S. Captain Zach Johnson.

"We got outplayed but we showed grit, we showed heart and it got interesting there.

"We had some momentum coming into the day and even some momentum during the day so I'm proud of my guys.

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)

Justin Rose deserving winner of the Nicklaus-Jacklin Award

 Today, Justin Rose of Team Europe was announced as the recipient of the Nicklaus-Jacklin Award presented by Aon following the conclusion of the 44th Ryder Cup in Rome, Italy.  

Throughout the competition, Justin displayed exemplary character and poise in the face of one of sports’ most compelling atmospheres, all while maintaining sound decision making and representing the true spirit of the event. He has been a stalwart in the Team Europe dressing room, sharing his experience with a young team and leading by example by contributing key momentum building points when it mattered. On day one, Justin holed the decisive putt on the 18th to secure a tie, and his immediate reaction was to turn and acknowledge his teammates who stood beside the green – showcasing his belief that the team should always come first. 

Justin was paired with Ryder Cup rookie Robert MacIntyre on day one and used his vast Ryder Cup experience to help guide the young Scotsman during his first Ryder Cup match, in what proved to be a tough battle against Max Homa and Wyndham Clark. On day two, Justin continued his partnership with MacIntyre and they secured a decisive 3&2 victory against Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth, with Justin’s red-hot putter proving crucial. MacIntyre would go on to have an exceptional debut, collecting 2 ½ points. 

Just as the efforts of Jack Nicklaus and Tony Jacklin did in 1969, Rose exemplified the true values of this great game, cementing his place in Ryder Cup history at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club. Justin has become the third player to receive this honour, following Dustin Johnson from the U.S. Team and Sergio Garcia from the European Team, who won the Award at Whistling Straits two years ago.

Inspired by the historic 1969 Concession when Jack Nicklaus conceded a 2-foot putt to Tony Jacklin for a halved match resulting in the first tie in Ryder Cup history, the Award honours two icons in the game and is given to the player who best embodies the true spirit of the Ryder Cup – the individual who sees the bigger picture and makes better decisions on and off the course. 

Justin Rose said: “Winning this Award is a huge compliment. This event really pushes you to the limit because it has so much passion. You have to find that line and get close to it, but always stay on the right side and be respectful towards your opponent.

Novak Djokovic gave the team some advice earlier this week and really emphasized how you need to embrace a pressurized situation and use it as inspiration. The putt on the 18th on day one was a good example of where I tried to embrace the moment – I didn’t want to blemish such a great start by the team, and my immediate reaction was to embrace my teammates who had all performed so well as a group. 

“The Ryder Cup is all about teamwork and I managed to put together a strong partnership with Bob. I made some putts at the right time on the first two days that made me look heroic, but he chipped away constantly and made a big contribution just when we needed to keep the momentum going. A big thank you to Aon - winning this Award will make today’s victory even sweeter for me.”  

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)

Just 4 for the win... Europe 10.5 USA 5.5

 Ryder Cup : Sunday single matches.

The matches and tee times for Sunday's singles matches at the 44th edition of the Ryder Cup.

Team Europe take a commanding 10½ - 5½ lead into the final session on the third day at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Rome.

Here are the 12 singles matches and tee times as Captain Luke Donald's side seek to extend Europe's 30-year unbeaten run on home soil in the biennial match play contest.

(All times below are local)

11:35 | Jon Rahm vs Scottie Scheffler

11:47 | Viktor Hovland vs Collin Morikawa

11:59 | Justin Rose vs Patrick Cantlay

12:11 | Rory McIlroy vs Sam Burns

12:23 | Matt Fitzpatrick vs Max Homa

12:35 | Tyrrell Hatton vs Brian Harman

12:47 | Ludvig Åberg vs Brooks Koepka

12:59 | Sepp Straka vs Justin Thomas

13:11 | Nicolai Højgaard vs Xander Schauffele

13:23 | Shane Lowry vs Jordan Spieth

13:35 | Tommy Fleetwood vs Rickie Fowler

13:47 | Robert MacIntyre vs Wyndham Clark

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)