September going into October is an exciting time for professional golf, so we look at each week and event and give you the low-down on what’s hot and what you can drop if it’s not!
Wyndham Clark clinched his first major title of the year with a career-defining win back in June at the US Open in Los Angeles, kicking Rory McIlroy on the carpet, putting Clark ahead in the rankings as we go towards the Ryder Cup at the end of September.
The team competition looking good is the Solheim Cup at Finca Cortesin, Spain, while the PGA has The Ryder Cup at the Marco Simone golf course in Rome.
Solheim Cup: Who will win?
The Solheim Cup is the hors-d’œuvre or aperitivo to the Ryder Cup. As such, it’s a mouth waterer, a palate stimulator, and one to watch to get the best women golfers battling it out, Europe vs. USA. Special relationship or not, Britain’s Georgina Hall will make her chili dips felt.
The Finca Cortesin is a renowned golf destination in Europe, with a world-class 18-hole championship course that has received high praise from Golf Digest magazine. The course, designed by Cabell B. Robinson and with landscaping by Gerald Huggan, takes advantage of the natural Mediterranean landscape, resulting in a beautiful but challenging golf experience.
Excellent weather all year round adds to the perfect setting, but what can we expect from The Solheim Cup 2023? Europe has won only seven matches out of a possible ten since 1990, putting Suzann Pettersen’s team on the back foot. Saying that the blue star flag has won the last two Ryder Cups.
So, while Europe is the underdog, the rule is that the opposition is never more dangerous than riding a wave of recent wins. The smart money likes Suzann Pettersen’s team, but we are unsure.
The 44th Ryder Cup
As we enter the 44th Ryder Cup with anticipation, what can we expect? The cup will be held at the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club northeast of Rome in Guidonia Montecelio, twinned with Cape Canaveral in the United States. Guidonia Montecelio’s Mayor Mauro Lombardo hosts the tournament.
The biennial event was initially scheduled for 2022 before the 43rd matches were postponed in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The United States holds the Ryder Cup after its 19–9 victory over Europe in 2021 at Whistling Straits.
So what now for the 44th Ryder Cup? The Yank’s victory in 20121 at Whistling Straits, winning 19-9 to secure the widest margin in any Ryder Cup since 1967, sets the scene for what is to be an exciting tournament.
The USA is superb on home soil but hasn’t won in Europe since 1993. Steve Stickland’s side has a lot to do, especially when the Ryder has been overshadowed (some say) by LIV golf. Europe’s Rory Mcllroy will head to Italy and, with Jon Rahm’s help, will aim to take back the trophy and restore Europe’s reputation after the whiplash experienced in Wisconsin.
The Ryder Cup awards 28 points; a team must secure 14.5 points to win. The event spans three days and features four disciplines: Foursomes, fourballs, and singles. There will be four foursomes and four fourball matches on Friday and Saturday, followed by 12 singles on Sunday.
In the event of a tie, teams will receive half points. In the case of a 14-14 draw, the team that won the previous edition will retain the trophy. While all players compete in the singles, not all play in pairs. The team captains will decide the pairs for each session.
Team Players: The Ryder Cup 2023
British golfer Luke Donald was announced as Captain in August and picked the team alongside vice-captains and brothers Francesco Molinari and Edoardo Molinari, Jose Maria Olazabal, Thomas Bjorn, and Nicolas Colsaerts. You will expect to see Viktor Hovland, Matt Fitzpatrick, Tommy Fleet, Shane Lowry, and Tyrell Hatton, with top billing for McIlroy and Rahm.
The Europeans meet Zach Johnson’s team, including Sam Burns, Rickie Fowler, Collin Morikawa, Brooks Koepka, Jordan Spieth, and Justin Thomas. The captain’s picks will join automatic qualifiers Scottie Scheffler, Patrick Cantlay, Wyndham Clark, Xander Schauffele, Brian Harman, and Max Homa.
The stars of the 44th Ryder Cup will be Tyrell Hatton (Britain) for Donald’s team, and Xander Schauffele will eclipse Clark in Johnson’s squad.
The 44th Ryder Cup Purse
The Ryder Cup purse is filled with nothing! You heard me, not a bean; the players do not win a cent, nothing, nada. You might ask, what’s the point in playing if you don’t get paid? Where’s the incentive?
Believe it or not, the teams play golf for their pride in the sport and their country as a form of respect for the game. Okay, this is the only tournament in the world where the players don’t get paid; it’s no wonder some big names have defected to LIV golf. While the player doesn’t get any cash, they receive gifts from their captain.
Gifts! What will the offerings look like? You can only hope it’s not a George Foreman grill and a year’s subscription to ‘How To Spend It.’
Ryder Cup Players Gifts
It is reported that historically, the PGA Tour gives their US team members $200K. Players give half their payment to charity programs selected by the PGA, while the other half is up to the players to decide what to do.
The same is true for European teams; it’s a tradition started by Tony Jacklin in 1983. Tony Jacklin is a retired British golfer who inspired The Nicklaus-Jacklin Award that will be presented at the 44th Ryder, celebrating the player who best embodies the true spirit of the Ryder Cup.
In 2021, philanthropic endeavors sponsored by the Nicklaus-Jacklin Award and associated charities committed $2.85 m to outreach programs and designated charities supporting youth golf development across the US.
The European team has a charity, The Ryder Cup European Development Trust, whose mission is to ‘support golf at the grassroots level throughout Europe.’ So, no George Foreman grill, but the opportunity to support players less able to help themselves has to be a good thing.
BTW – Zach Johnson’s team will win, and not before time.