News
Round 1 highlights from the 2018 Ryder Cup (live updates from around social media)
In case you didn’t get up at 2 a.m. — or stay up until 2 a.m. — to watch the beginning of the 2018 Ryder Cup at Le Golf National in France, don’t worry. We have you covered.
In this story, we’ll run down the early highlights and will be making live updates from the first round of fourballs.
A reminder, here are the matchups:
Let’s get started.
The scene at the first tee
WHAT. A. SCENE. #RyderCuppic.twitter.com/vKxvWZE1Bi
— Golf Central (@GolfCentral) September 28, 2018
The Thunderclap
The Thunderclap! ????
This place is rocking! pic.twitter.com/3TJpuzgH62
— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) September 28, 2018
The first tee shot
And we’re off!
The first shot of the 2018 #RyderCup pic.twitter.com/gcu6EVrsXK
— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) September 28, 2018
First tee club twirls from Tiger Woods
Tiger starts the #RyderCup right where he wants to. ????#GoUSA pic.twitter.com/0Hr0XhTXsH
— PGA of America (@PGA) September 28, 2018
????A Tiger twirl on the first tee of the first day at the Ryder Cup pic.twitter.com/QIe7Q8BZOJ
— Ryder Cup USA (@RyderCupUSA) September 28, 2018
Spieth nearly holes out his first approach shot of the day
???? JORDAN SPIETH. ????
What a start to his #RyderCup #LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/g1po1jvxJJ
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) September 28, 2018
Woods goes at the par 5 fourth in two. Helicopter finish. Golf Twitter is collectively saying his surgeon is cringing (if he’s awake at this hour)
That @TigerWoods finish ????#RyderCup pic.twitter.com/GVFJvDb5A5
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) September 28, 2018
Tiger gets up and down
Tiger sets up his birdie with the impressive chip. ????#RyderCup #GoUSA pic.twitter.com/uzD2OuE5DG
— PGA of America (@PGA) September 28, 2018
Finau holes one out, that should settle the rookie nerves
The shot of the #RyderCup so far! pic.twitter.com/OFeLbM2SOE
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) September 28, 2018
People are NOT happy about the coverage. It’s not good.
No more commercials please! #rydercup
— Colt Knost (@ColtKnost) September 28, 2018
How many shots are NOT being shown !!!!!
#RyderCup … Poor coverage so far— Mark Mouland (@moulieontour) September 28, 2018
Things I’m not in charge of: commercials, shot tracer, team uniforms. So, you can direct your outrage accordingly.
— Scott Van Pelt (@notthefakeSVP) September 28, 2018
In case anyone was wondering, from 3:05 to 3:45 @GolfChannel ran 28 ads and 1-2 minutes of flyovers/promos/not live golf.
In that time, they showed 33 golf shots, 13 of which were putts.
World number 1 Dustin Johnson was not shown once.@NoLayingUp @gfordgolf @tdemers7
— Robbie Vogel (@RobbieVogel14) September 28, 2018
The common excuse with golf coverage is that there’s so much action going on at many different points on the course. Hard to use that one when there’s four matches played at a time. So disappointing for viewers.
— No Laying Up (@NoLayingUp) September 28, 2018
Spieth’s putter is warming up
Mama, there goes that man!#RyderCup pic.twitter.com/SsQfGKnASJ
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) September 28, 2018
Here comes Tommy
Tommy Fleetwood went right at it ????
Fleetwood’s ???? gives Europe the lead in the fourth match #RyderCuppic.twitter.com/3dfIBxdjkP
— Golf Central (@GolfCentral) September 28, 2018
Checking in on Rory (not good)
View this post on Instagram
Live look at Rory at the Ryder Cup #golf #rydercup #notgood #pickitup #rorymcilroy
Here’s how the matches stand currently
#RyderCup @RyderCupEurope pic.twitter.com/a0tTf65Vv8
— TOP AIM STOCKS (@smallcappick) September 28, 2018
Rahm is feeding off the energy. He’s not the guy the U.S. wants to get hot.
.@JonRahmpga brings the crowds to their feet ????#RyderCup #TeamEurope pic.twitter.com/LdUmgGaMgG
— PGA of America (@PGA) September 28, 2018
@JonRahmpga taking Europe 2up in his match ????????????????#GolfHype#RyderCup pic.twitter.com/noPBLZARit
— Golf Hype (@golf_hype) September 28, 2018
People are still not happy about the coverage
Hey @GolfChannel how about you show some freaking golf! This is the Ryder Cup! Maybe string together more than 3 shots at a time. I am going to bed! What a joke
— Jones (@white_jones33) September 28, 2018
Europe is taking charge
Good start to the #RyderCup #TeamEurope pic.twitter.com/wDFFnFZ0uz
— Sam Leavens (@Sam_Leavens) September 28, 2018
But Spieth, though?
???? @JordanSpieth is UNSTOPPABLE. ????#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/Pa6rXk6hqK
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) September 28, 2018
It’s early but I can’t remember a player as good as Spieth in Ryder Cup. -5 thru 7, 3-up on his own over a team not playing poorly
— Peter Robinson (@ByPeterRobinson) September 28, 2018
No idea what this Tweet says but here are the current matches
En el ecuador de la primera jornada de #Fourballs de la #RyderCup está todo muy igualado. pic.twitter.com/vmOhCWxrT4
— 72 hoyos y más (@72hoyosymas) September 28, 2018
Rory isn’t playing well
Europe could really do with Rory McIlroy finding some form on the back nine.
He’s the only player without a birdie so far.#RyderCup
— Chris Devine (@chrsdvn) September 28, 2018
The Rose/Rahm pairing is an issue
The best shot.
The loudest roar.
The biggest reaction. @JustinRose99 and @JonRahmPGA go 2 UP.#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/9rKd8Wdq4r— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) September 28, 2018
But then again, Spieth/JT are dialed in
It’s safe to say @JustinThomas34 loves the #RyderCup
???????? #LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/ca5os3zAo6
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) September 28, 2018
Captain America chips in
Chip-ins from everywhere.
This time from @PReedGolf.
The momentum is on the U.S. Team. #LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/m5PyIIuOsV
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) September 28, 2018
Here comes the world No. 1
Don’t let DJ get hot! pic.twitter.com/8p8gMtcc98
— GolfWRX (@GolfWRX) September 28, 2018
Good question…
I wonder who would win in a fight between Jon Rahm and and the whole US Ryder Cup team
— Get Schwifty (@riley652799) September 28, 2018
Getting the feeling the Europeans don’t like the USA chants
Americans have no idea about chanting. Never has that been more evident while watching the Ryder Cup.
— William Livesey (@WilliamLivesey) September 28, 2018
USA football chants are the cringiest thing in the known universe closely followed by USA Ryder cup chants
— ?? (@charlie_wiles) September 28, 2018
Can someone invent a new disease that exclusively infects the vocal chords of Americans at the Ryder Cup
— Webjoose (@EojSewob) September 28, 2018
Anyway, Molinari has woken up
The Champion Golfer of the Year isn’t going quietly! #TeamEurope #RyderCup pic.twitter.com/HSKTZ98jaU
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) September 28, 2018
Ouch
???? pic.twitter.com/T1fYsAi6b1
— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) September 28, 2018
Roll Rickie, Roll
Rickie from DEEP ????#RyderCup #GoUSA pic.twitter.com/LERhdeLLWn
— PGA of America (@PGA) September 28, 2018
Tides turning back in Europe’s favor as Woods/Reed and JT/Spieth matches pull to All-Square
A flurry of birdies from Casey and Hatton means they’re now on level terms in their match with Spieth and Thomas #RyderCup https://t.co/i0uY4to3KW pic.twitter.com/B8L54HzyPp
— Telegraph Sport (@TelegraphSport) September 28, 2018
Finau with maybe the luckiest shot in Ryder Cup history right here. Bank shot off the railroad ties to 4 feet
Even @tonyfinaugolf enjoys a little luck every now and then! ????#RyderCup #GoUSA pic.twitter.com/SRP9y2aI9q
— PGA of America (@PGA) September 28, 2018
And the European crowd boos Finau before his putt. Wow.
Euro fans booing Finau before a short birdie putt. Can’t recall seeing that one before. pic.twitter.com/4HcURgOYLD
— No Laying Up (@NoLayingUp) September 28, 2018
Troll take:
between this and the guy screaming in Tiger’s backswing on the 18th tee at The Open, you have to wonder if we should even have professional golf events in Europe anymore. https://t.co/6qVg4ttgtf
— Brendan Porath (@BrendanPorath) September 28, 2018
DJ/Rickie win 4&3 to get USA on the board first. Rory made zero birdies in 16 holes; will Europe sit Rory in the afternoon? Seems drastic
DJ sticks it close. ????#RyderCup #GoUSA pic.twitter.com/Gv1SsVVrMz
— PGA of America (@PGA) September 28, 2018
Can’t believe I’m saying it but you gotta sit Rory this afternoon, right?
— Shane Bacon (@shanebacon) September 28, 2018
Rose/Rahm vs. Brooks/Finau go to 18… and Justin Rose shushes his own crowd after piping one down the middle? Interesting move, but great theater
that you PReed? pic.twitter.com/Jr8pWDSh5S
— Jonathan Wall (@jonathanrwall) September 28, 2018
…and Rose puts it in the water on his approach shot going for the tough pin location. Rose/Rahm could lose this after controlling the match all round
Rose goes too long and finds the water and #TeamEurope are in trouble at the last! ????
Follow live updates from the opening day of the 42nd #RyderCup at Le Golf National live on Sky Sports Ryder Cup channel here: https://t.co/cZoEaoP5vw #BelieveInBlue pic.twitter.com/wHPMyG3U6v
— Sky Sports Golf (@SkySportsGolf) September 28, 2018
Team USA goes up 2-0
From 2 DOWN to 1 UP. ????????
Koepka/Finau never led until 18.
U.S. Team now leads Team Europe 2-0. #LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/05xi0meYj7
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) September 28, 2018
This just may well have been the dagger in the match against Woods/Reed
.@TommyFleetwood1 with ANOTHER huge putt to move them to 2 up. ????#RyderCup #TeamEurope pic.twitter.com/hp5msVXaeN
— PGA of America (@PGA) September 28, 2018
Spieth and JT close out Casey and Hatton on 18. USA leads 3-0 for the moment
Good morning, America. ????????
3-0 start for the U.S. Team at the #RyderCup pic.twitter.com/H1nTGjdCSx
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) September 28, 2018
The final scorecards, from the Official Ryder Cup website: USA leads 3-1 with Woods/Reed recording the only loss for the U.S. team
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News
Tour Rundown: Rose blooms, Rory rolls
This week last year, I found myself praying to the weather goddesses and gods that Rochester would be spared their wrath over the next seven days. The 2023 Oak Hill PGA Championship (that was slated for August when the contract was signed) was on the horizon, and I wanted my region to show well. Things turned out fine, with all four seasons making an appearance, a PGA Professional (Blockie!) stealing hearts, and a proven champion in Koepka (although I was pulling for Viktor.)
This year, no concerns. Louisville will shine this week at Valhalla, but we’ve matters to consider before we look to four days of coverage this week. Nelly did not win on the LPGA this week, so who did? The PGA Tour held two events in the Carolinas, and Tour Champions celebrated a major event in Alabama. Four noteworthy events to run down, so let’s head to RunDownTown and take care of business.
LPGA @ Founders Cup: Rose blooms
There was a sense that Rose Zhang might have a role in the 2020s version of the LPGA. After winning everything there was in amateur golf, she came out and won her first tournament as a professional. That was last May and, let’s be honest, who among us thought it would take 12 months for Zhang to win again? Rhymes with hero, I know.
This week in New Jersey, eyes were on Nelly Korda, as she made a run at a sixth consecutive win on the LPGA circuit. Korda ran out of gas on Saturday, and that was just fine. Madelene Sagstrom and Zhang had turned the soiree at Upper Montclair into a battle of birdies. Gabriela Ruffels came third at nine-under par. No one else reached double digits under par but Sagstrom and Zhang. They didn’t just reach -10…they more than doubled it.
Sagstrom had the look of a winner with five holes left to play. She was three shots clear of Zhang, at 23-under par. The Swede played her closing quintet in plus-one, finishing at 22-deep, 13 shots ahead of Ruffels. That performance we’d anticipated from Zhang? It happened on Sunday. She closed with four birdies in five holes to snatch victory number two, by two shots. Spring is a lovely time for a Rose in bloom.
Take a look back at hole No. 1… @rosezhang is living life on the edge ? pic.twitter.com/o6z6SK7TRA
— LPGA (@LPGA) May 12, 2024
PGA Tour @ Wells Fargo: Rory the Fourth is crowned in Charlotte
Xander Schauffele is a likable lad. He has an Olympic gold medal on his shelf, and a few PGA Tour titles to his credit. Even X knows that even par won’t get much done in a final round unless conditions are brutal. They weren’t brutal at Quail Hollow on Sunday. X posted even par on day four. It kept him ahead of third-place finisher Byeong Hun An but gave him zero chance of challenging for the title.
Paired with Xander in round four was the King of Quail, Rory McIlroy. The Northern Irishman had previously won thrice at the North Carolina track, and he was champing at the bit to gain some momentum on the road to Louisville. While Xander scored increasingly worse along the week (64-67-70-71) McIlroy saved his best round for the final round. Thanks to five birdies and two eagles, McIlroy ran away with the event, winning his fourth Wells Fargo by five over Schauffele.
HOLE-OUT EAGLE FOR RORY!!!
He now leads by SIX! pic.twitter.com/UE49lwfwNC
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 12, 2024
PGA Tour @ Myrtle Beach Classic: a little CG won the inaugural week
It always seemed odd that the PGA Tour had zero stops along the Grand Strand each season. This week’s event seemed odd in that the golfers played the same course each day, and there were zero handicaps involved. Most events at Myrtle Beach involve hundreds of amateurs at dozens of courses, with all sorts of handicaps.
The Dunes Club is a Robert Trent Jones Sr. course, down toward Pawley’s Island. It claims what used to be considered an unreachable, par-five hole, the watery 13th. Nothing is unreachable any longer, including a 22-under par total for a six-shot win. Chris Gotterup, a former Rutgers and Oklahoma golfer, played sizzling golf all week and won by a sextet of shots. Gotterup opened with 66, then improved to 64 on Friday. His Saturday 65 sounded a beacon of “come get me,” and his closing 67 ensured that second place was the only thing up for grabs.
Chasing the podium’s second level were a bunch of young Americans. In the end, Alastair Docherty and Davis Thompson reached 16-deep, thanks to rounds of 64 and 68 on Sunday. They held off six golfers at 15-under par. The victory was Gotterup’s first on tour and should be enough to get him a Wikipedia page, among other plaudits.
Leader by SIX!
@ChrisGotterup | @MyrtleBeachC pic.twitter.com/TVdA6ZPYc4— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 12, 2024
PGA Tour Champions @ Regions Traditions: Vindication for Dougie
Doug Barron, if I recall correctly, was suspended by the Powers That Be, way back in 2009, for testosterone. He was naturally low in the hormone, so he took supplements. This did not sit well with certain admins, so he was put on the shelf for 18 months. Not cool.
In 2019, Barron came out on the Tour Champions. He won in August. The next year, despite the craziness of Covid, he won again. Barron hit a dry spell for a few years. He kept his card, but accrued no additional victories. In late April, Barron showed serious signs of life, with a t2 at Mitsubishi. This week in Birmingham, he jumped out to a lead, lost it, then gained it back on Saturday. With major championship glory on the line, Barron brought the train into the station with 68 on Sunday.
Stephen Alker, the man who could not lose just two years ago, gave serious chase with a closing 63. He moved up 11 slots, into solo 2nd on Sunday. He finished two shots back of the champion. Two shots ain’t much. Cough once and you drop a pair. Third place saw a three-way tie, including last year’s winner (Steve Stricker) and runner-up (Ernie Els.) Despite the intimidating presence of the game’s greats, however, Doug Barron had more than enough of everything this week, and he has a third Tour Champions title to show off.
At the @RegionsTrad, all champions receive a green bike.
Doug Barron decided to take a victory lap ? pic.twitter.com/bEzENMjZwv
— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) May 13, 2024
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Equipment
Did Rory McIlroy inspire Shane Lowry’s putter switch?
Editor’s note: This is an excerpt from a piece our Andrew Tursky originally wrote for PGATour.com’s Equipment Report. Head over there for the full article.
The timing of Lowry’s putter changeup was curious: Was he just using a Spider putter because he was paired with McIlroy, who’s been using a Spider Tour X head throughout 2024? Was Lowry just being festive because it’s the Zurich Classic, and he wanted to match his teammate? Did McIlroy let Lowry try his putter, and he liked it so much he actually switched into it?
Well, as it turns out, McIlroy’s only influence was inspiring Lowry to make more putts.
When asked if McIlroy had an influence on the putter switch, Lowry had this to say: “No, it’s actually a different putter than what he uses. Maybe there was more pressure there because I needed to hole some more putts if we wanted to win,” he said with a laugh.
To Lowry’s point, McIlroy plays the Tour X model, whereas Lowry switched into the Tour Z model, which has a sleeker shape in comparison, and the two sole weights of the club are more towards the face.
Lowry’s Spider Tour Z has a white True Path Alignment channel on the crown of his putter, which is reminiscent of Lowry’s former 2-ball designs, thus helping to provide a comfort factor despite the departure from his norm. Instead of a double-bend hosel, which Lowry used in his 2-ball putters, his new Spider Tour Z is designed with a short slant neck.
“I’ve been struggling on the greens, and I just needed something with a fresh look,” Lowry told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship. “It has a different neck on it, as well, so it moves a bit differently, but it’s similar. It has a white line on the back of it [like my 2-ball], and it’s a mallet style. So it’s not too drastic of a change.
“I just picked it up on the putting green and I liked the look of it, so I was like, ‘Let’s give it a go.’”
Read the rest of the piece over at PGATour.com.
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Equipment
Spotted: Tommy Fleetwood’s TaylorMade Spider Tour X Prototype putter
Tommy Fleetwood has been attached to his Odyssey White Hot Pro #3 putter for years now. However, this week at the Wells Fargo Championship, we did spot him testing a new putter that is very different, yet somewhat similar, to his current gamer.
This new putter is a TaylorMade Spider Tour X head but with a brand new neck we haven’t seen on a Spider before. A flow neck is attached to the Spider head and gives the putter about a 1/2 shaft offset. This style neck will usually increase the toe hang of the putter and we can guess it gets the putter close to his White Hot Pro #3.
Another interesting design is that lack of TaylorMade’s True Path alignment on the top of the putter. Instead of the large white center stripe, Tommy’s Spider just has a very short white site line milled into it. As with his Odyssey, Tommy seems to be a fan of soft inserts and this Spider prototype looks to have the TPU Pure Roll insert with 45° grooves for immediate topspin and less hopping and skidding.
The sole is interesting as well in that the rear weights don’t look to be interchangeable and are recessed deep into the ports. This setup could be used to push the CG forward in the putter for a more blade-like feel during the stroke, like TaylorMade did with the Spider X Proto Scottie Scheffler tested out.
Tommy’s putter is finished off with an older Super Stroke Mid Slim 2.0 grip in blue and white. The Mid Slim was designed to fit in between the Ultra Slim 1.0 and the Slim 3.0 that was a popular grip on tour.
- Check out the rest of our photos from the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
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