It’s finally here; we can be done with all the anticipation and prepare ourselves for a great three day stretch of golf. The Ryder Cup comes at a perfect time of year.
The main season is done, but we all want more. This year’s Ryder Cup lineup is strong, and the US is looking to end Europe’s 30-year Ryder Cup victory streak on their home soil.
Now, let’s recap today’s events!
Teams for the Ryder Cup have been announced for weeks. We all remember the controversial Justin Thomas pick (nobody remembers it quite like Keegan). Thomas has some pressure on him for the Ryder Cup to prove that, despite a slow season, he can hang in there with these guys.
Ryder Cup Pairings for Friday Announced
Thursday at the Ryder Cup is all about the opening ceremonies. However, the real news we wanted from today is the pairings and who will play against whom. Here’s what you can expect on Friday.
- 7:35am: Jon Rahm/Tyrrell Hatton vs. Scottie Scheffler/Sam Burns
- 7:50am: Viktor Hovland/Ludvic Aberg vs. Max Homa/Brian Harman
- 8:05: Shane Lowry/Sepp Straka vs. Rickie Fowler/Collin Morikawa
- 8:20: Rory McIlroy/Tommy Fleetwood vs. Xander Schauffele/Patrick Cantlay
It doesn’t matter which team you are rooting for; it’s hard not to see Victor Hovland as a player to watch. During a practice round, he casually aced a par 4.
Of course, some would say he should save the shots for the cup, but the fact that he has those shots is what has us ready to tune in!
The Collin Morikawa/Rickie Fowler pairing could bring many birdies to the table, but Straka and Lowry will be more than ready for it. Straka is a Ryder Cup rookie, but he will catch on quickly. With Morikawa’s undefeated record in foursomes, this match will be competitive.
A video was released recently of Rory picking his daughter up and meeting Tommy Fleetwood on the range. Poppy referred to Fleetwood as “Uncle Tommy,” so this team is pretty tight-knit.
Ryder Cup Foursomes Format
If you need a quick recap on how Friday at the Ryder Cup is going to play out, here are the basics of the Foursomes format. You may have played this in an event before and referred to it as an alternate shot.
- The players compete as two man teams
- Only one ball is played between the two players
- One player hits, and the other player hits the next shot, the alternating continues until the ball is in the hole
- Players take turns teeing off on each hole
When Do Afternoon Fourballs Come Out?
Just before the foursomes tournament ends, the pairings for the afternoon fourball event will come out. We don’t have access to those just yet but as soon as we do we will let you know. The fourball is more like a best ball event with the lowest score of the partners being the team score for this hole.
Stay tuned for all breaking news and updates from the Ryder Cup 2023!
