Who’s who and what's in store at Le Golf National
It’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for – the 2018 Ryder Cup is about to begin. Yes, the Ryder Cup is in town! Well, Paris actually. For the first time since the inaugural Ryder Cup match was played in 1927, the bi-annual tussle between Europe and America tees-off in France on Friday, 28th September. And what a spectacular 42nd edition it looks set to be at Le Golf National, located twenty miles west of Paris.
The climax to the FedExCup in America last weekend with the spectacular showdown between American Tiger Woods and England’s Justin Rose has really whet the appetite for this week’s Ryder Cup battle. Golf fans around the globe are perched on the edge of their seats hungry for the action in golf’s greatest spectacle to begin: “Get in the hole!”
Opened in 1990, Le Golf National is a parkland course located in Guyancourt which lies about 5 miles from the Chateau of Versailles, once the home of Louis XIV. The par-71 Albatross Stadium Course is 7193 yards long and was designed by Hubert Chesneau and Von Hagge Design Associates.
Who’s Who in the Ryder Cup
Team Europe:
Paul Casey (England) – Captain’s pick
Tommy Fleetwood (England)
Sergio Garcia (Spain) – Captain’s pick
Tyrrell Hatton (England)
Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland)
Francesco Molinari (Italy)
Alex Noren (Sweden)
Thorbjørn Oleson (Denmark)
Ian Poulter (England) – Captain’s pick
Jon Rahm (Spain)
Justin Rose (England)
Henrik Stenson – Captain’s pick
Captain Team Europe: Thomas Bjørn (Denmark)
Vice Captains: Luke Donald (England), Padraig Harrington (Ireland), Robert Karlsson (Sweden), Graeme McDowell (Northern Ireland), Lee Westwood (England).
Team USA:
Bryson DeChambeau – Captain’s pick
Tony Finau – Captain’s pick
Rickie Fowler
Dustin Johnson
Brooks Koepka
Phil Mickelson – Captain’s pick
Patrick Reed
Webb Simpson
Jordan Spieth
Justin Thomas
Bubba Watson
Tiger Woods – Captain’s pick
Captain Team USA: Jim Furyk
Vice-Captains: David Duval, Zach Johnson, Matt Kuchar, Davis Love III, Steve Stricker.
On the eve of this year’s Ryder Cup, Tiger Woods proved in Atlanta that his wild card pick from US Captain, Jim Furyk was well-deserved. Fresh from his victory in the Tour Championship, Tiger is still pumping adrenalin. And that’s not surprising as he very nearly clinched a double victory at the weekend by winning the FedExCup too. Instead England’s Justin Rose had that honour which rather splendidly sets the scene for this week’s Ryder Cup in Paris. While Captain Furyk was saying at the press conference: “Tiger’s win is a boost to the Ryder Cup team”, Thomas Bjørn and the whole of golfing Europe were thinking: “Yes, and Justin Rose’s victory is a terrific boost to the European Ryder Cup team!” It seems that the first point has already been halved.
By the way, the American team leads in victories by 26-13. There have been just two halved matches over the years. So the European team has a big score to settle. Two years ago the 2016 Ryder Cup match at Hazeltine National Golf Club, Minnesota, USA, was won by the Americans (17-11).
Whether you’re one of the lucky few to have scored a ticket to be in Paris this week at Le Golf National, or you’re planning to soak-up the excitement of the action at home on the box, this year’s Ryder Cup promises to be another armchair thriller! Enjoy!
Wendy Hoad
The 2018 Ryder Cup
Friday, 28th to Sunday, 30th September 2018
Le Golf National, Guyancourt, France
All you need to know about the Ryder Cup HERE
Visit the official site: www.rydercup.com
MAIN PHOTOGRAPH: The victorious American team in the first ever Ryder Cup in 1927. MINIS: (l-r) The Ryder Cup; World Number One Justin Rose; Rory McIlroy in fighting Ryder Cup spirit; and finally, no European Ryder Cup Team would be complete without the passionate and patriotic Ian Poulter. He’s in Paris on a wild card.