Team Europe is over the moon with victory in Italy

The final day of play in the 2023 Ryder Cup at the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Rome was a feast for every golfer around the world.  The Europeans, led by Captain Luke Donald, held a significant lead over the Americans with a 10½ to 5½ tally after the first two days of foursomes and fourballs.  Yet the Europeans held their nerve and secured the Ryder Cup trophy in the singles with an impressive final score of 16½ to 11½.  It was Englishman Tommy Fleetwood who secured the winning half point.

 

Both the Europeans and the Americans battled it out in Italy like there was no tomorrow.  The drama and tension during the Sunday singles of play was just magical.  The weather was also superb for the whole event which made the Ryder Cup absolute bliss for the golf spectators who lined the undulating fairways near Rome.  The American team would have to come out firing on all cylinders if they were to retain the coveted trophy.

 

Rahm versus Scheffler

 

First on the tee was the World Number One golfer, Scottie Scheffler who was up against the talented Spaniard, Jon Rahm.  The 28-year old World Number Three golfer was all set for a spectacular singles match.  Perhaps it was not surprising then that he notched-up a birdie at the first to go one-up on the American.

 

 

The Norwegian golfer Viktor Hovland, who was competing in his second Ryder Cup as the honourable first golfer from his country, played superbly too in the second match.  He made seven birdies in the first 15 holes to get ahead of two-time Major Champion Collin Morikawa and clinch the first match point for Europe on Sunday by 4&3.

 

Shortly after, Rahm soared his second shot onto the par-5 18th green giving himself an eagle chance for victory over Scheffler.  Alas, it ended up as a birdie for the Spaniard.  However, the American eventually made par which meant that the pair had to settle for a halved match.  So how is the score?  Well, so far, things are looking promising: Europe 12 – 6 America.

 

 

Englishman Tyrrell Hatton was playing against the Open Champion Brian Harman.  Hatton was three-up with five holes to play on the left-handed American.  Rory McIlroy rejoiced with his 3&1 victory over rookie Sam Burns.  Then Hatton came up trumps with Harman with a 3&2 win.

 

Victory for the Europeans was now very close: Europe 14 – 7 America.  All we needed to do was just squeeze one last point out of the Ryder Cup singles.  Indeed, even a half a point would do.  However, as fast as Europe was winning matches, the American scoreboard was bursting full of their own potential victories.  This was going to be a very intensive day.

 

All eyes were then focussed on Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick who was having a tremendous tussle with Max Homa.  The American decided to take a penalty drop from the edge of a sandbunker to give himself chance of getting on the green and holing the putt.  The result was tough for Fitzpatrick who lost the match one-down.  Score?  Europe 14 – 8 America.

 

Meanwhile in the tenth match, Ireland’s Shane Lowry was having a stupendous match with multi-Major winner Jordan Spieth.  Playing in his fifth Ryder Cup this year, Spieth was tied with Lowry with a handful of holes to go.

 

Xander Schauffele then scored a point for America.

 

Glory for Fleetwood

 

Glory on Sunday went to Englishman Tommy Fleetwood who was playing in match number 11 against Rickie Fowler.  And what a game this was.  Fleetwood halved the 15th hole with Fowler and then made a super birdie at the 16th which meant that Europe would at the very least halve the match.  Now this was an amazing result for Europe with cheers and delight all around the course.  A single half point was enough to win the Ryder Cup 2023 for Europe by at least 14½ points.  On the very next hole, Fleetwood won the match outright with a 3&1 victory.

 

Shane Lowry then won the 16th and 17th before losing the 18th hole to Spieth.  The result was a tie so half a point per team.

 

The thrill of victory for Europe soared around the fairways of the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club.   However, America was undeterred and managed to pick up a few more points for a final tally of Europe 16½ – 11½.

 

Team Europe, led by Luke Donald, was absolutely delighted with the victory in Italy. And the golf fans who had travelled from around the globe to witness the 44th staging of the Ryder Cup were in awe of the superb shots and lengthy putts and holed chips which they had seen produced the whole week.  I can assure you that the joyous celebrations went on long into the night.  And although tomorrow is another day, Team Europe will cherish this victory in Italy for many years to come.

 

Many, many congratulations Team Europe – you are the Ryder Cup winners of 2023!  We are overwhelmingly proud of you all!

 

Wendy Hoad

Editor

 

 

MAIN PHOTOGRAPH:  Irishman Shane Lowry secured an important half point against Jordan Spieth.   MINIS (l-r): Scottie Scheffler, Jon Rahm, Robert MacIntyre, Collin Morikawa.  Matt Fitzpatrick, Max Homa, Viktor Hofland and Tommy Fleetwood.  BELOW: A delighted and very proud Team Europe celebrate their 2023 Ryder Cup victory.