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5 takeaways from Saturday’s Ryder Cup four-ball play

Published

8 years ago

Sep 29, 2018

Gianni Magliocco

Here are 5 quick takeaways from the Saturday morning four-ball action from Le Golf National.

1) Europe surge clear

Europe took three of the four matches in the four-ball action this morning, increasing their lead to 8-4 over the U.S. side. The European team dominated on Saturday morning, taking the session 3-1 over their U.S. counterparts, whose one crumb of comfort was provided by the pairing of Spieth/Thomas. The result of the four-ball session means that Europe is guaranteed at the very least to have a share of the lead going into Sunday’s singles, and with the foursomes to come this afternoon, they will have designs on building a mammoth lead heading into the final day.

2) Garcia/Mcilroy’s excellence

VAMOS!#TeamEurope pic.twitter.com/tYWmwP5cnf

— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) September 29, 2018

This dynamic duo stole the show on Saturday morning in Paris. Pouring in birdies and lighting up Le Golf National with their energy and enthusiasm, Garcia and Mcilroy combined to make five birdies through eight holes to build a 4up advantage. Their opponents, Brooks Koepka and Tony Finau, looked like they were about to stage a monumental comeback, clawing themselves back to just one down with two holes to play, until Garcia delivered the dagger on the 17th green. With Koepka inside of him on the penultimate green and looking likely to have an opportunity to tie the match up, the Spaniard rolled a lengthy birdie attempt down the hill and into the back of the cup to spark joyous celebrations from the Europeans. Koepka couldn’t convert his birdie attempt, and the first point of the day was on the board for Team Europe.

3) Reed/Woods provide no energy

While Garcia and Mcilroy bounced around Le Golf National with gusto, Reed and Woods were the total opposite. The low energy provided by this pairing was startling, even after they won a hole, which wasn’t very often. Woods may not have been at his best, but he might as well have been out there on his own, as his partner Patrick Reed toiled around Le Golf National. Reed failed to find a fairway until the ninth hole, finding the water twice with tee balls and knocking another out of bounds. The duo were defeated 4&3 for the second day running by the European pairing of Fleetwood/Molinari.

4) Le Golf National is getting the better of Team USA

The host course this week has offered up superb drama already, and the stern challenge that Le Golf National provides has no doubt suited the European side more. Unlike many courses on the PGA Tour where often finding the rough is usually not a big issue, Le Golf National demands thought and accuracy. Team USA struggled mightily in Saturday’s morning session, with their inability to keep the ball in-play proving to be very expensive. Butch Harmon, speaking on Sky Sports, stated that it’s necessary to begin building and maintaining courses in the U.S. that offer the same challenges that Le Golf National provides in order for the U.S. players to get accustomed to Ryder Cup conditions in Europe. It’s hard to disagree.

5) Spieth/Thomas keep the U.S. alive

JT with the walk-off birdie to defeat Team Europe! ????????#RyderCup #GoUSA pic.twitter.com/kK2gPXycxv

— PGA of America (@PGA) September 29, 2018

While many of the U.S. players involved in the third session of the event struggled mightily, Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas were the exceptions. Spieth made five birdies early on in his round, and he was the driving force behind the U.S. side getting in front against the European pairing of Poulter/Rahm. When Spieth began to struggle towards the end, his good friend and teammate, Thomas, stepped up. Thomas first holed his birdie putt on 16 for a half and then drained another on 17 to clinch victory (2&1) and with it the USA’s only point of the session. Captain Furyk will be hoping the duo can repeat their exploits in this afternoons foursomes.

Here’s a full recap of all the Saturday morning matches

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Photos from the 2026 U.S. Women’s Open

Published

5 hours ago

Jun 3, 2026

GolfWRX Staff

GolfWRX Tour Photographer made the trip from the Memorial Tournament across the country to the U.S. Women’s Open at Riviera. Check out links to all the photos below!

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Photos from the 2026 Memorial Tournament

Published

2 days ago

Jun 1, 2026

GolfWRX Staff

GolfWRX is on site this week at the Memorial Tournament, with both Alistair Cameron and Tour Photographer Greg Moore on the ground in Dublin, Ohio, where a strong field is assembled to pay homage to the Golden Bear.

In addition to WITB galleries, we’ve already been treated to an in-hand look at Tommy Fleetwood’s new TaylorMade Spider putters.

Check out links to all our photos below.

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News

Tour Tech Rundown: Heroic Henley

Published

3 days ago

Jun 1, 2026

Ronald Montesano

Around the world, the golf wheel spun this final week in May of 2026. From New Jersey to Austria, with stops in Korea, Texas, and North Carolina (don’t let me route your next trip) the world’s finest put their golf games on display. There were three playoffs, some known commodities and some new talent. It was the sort of week that we hope to have at this point in the seasons. June and July afford double-digit major events, and perhaps, one of this week’s champions will use this success as a springboard to new heights. Time to run it all down, tech style, in this week’s Tour Tech Rundown.

Thanks to WITBHub, Today’s Golfer, GolfWRX, and Inside Tour Golf for initial research into equipment.

PGA Tour @ Charles Schwab Challenge: Heroic Henley denies Cole

Eric Cole did nearly everything that a fellow can do, to secure a first PGA Tour title. He stayed one shot clear of Ryder Cup player Ben Griffin. He kept US Open champion Gary Woodland and wunderkind Michael Brennan two shots distant. He posted 70 on day four to reach twelve under par. And then, Russell Henley revealed his Dr. Strange cloak. Henley made 47 feet of birdie putts on holes 16, 17, and 18, to jump from minus-nine to twelve-deep, and secured a spot in a playoff with Cole. The duo returned to the final tee, and put on a stripe show.

Both golfers found the fairway off the tee, and Henley improved on his regulation play with an approach to four feet. Cole did himself proud, tucking an iron to a dozen feet, but he was unable to convert the putt for three. Henley is one of the best putters on tour, and he proved it once more by draining a putt for a fourth consecutive birdie, and a sixth PGA Tour title. For Eric Cole, that first victory should come, and soon. He has done everything necessary to earn the chalice lift.

Henley’s Suitcase

Driver: Titleist TSi3 at 10 degrees. Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 70g 6.5 TX
Metal: Titleist TS3 at 16.5 degrees. Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 80 TX
Hybrid: Titleist TSi2 at 21 degrees. Shaft: Mitsubishi MMT hybrid 100 TX
Iron: Titleist T250 4-iron. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Golf AMT Tour White X100
Irons: Titleist T100 5-6 irons. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Golf AMT Tour White X100
Irons: Titleist T100 7-9 irons. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 at 48 and 50 degrees. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Golf Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 at 54 and 60 degrees. Shaft: rue Temper Dynamic Golf Tour Issue S400
Putter: Titleist Scotty Cameron T5 Tour Prototype

LPGA @ Shoprite LPGA: Welcome back, Celine!

Soo Bin Joo had her eyes on a maiden LPGA title. She held the lead after two rounds, then hit a red light at the intersection of can-I and how-To. Joo posted plus-two on day three in New Jersey, and dropped to a T4 finish, which was still a career-best for the young Korean golfer. Instead of a new face, a familiar face returned to the top of the podium.

Celine Boutier was the It Girl in 2023. She collected four victories, including a major title at Evian. Boutier reached world number one status, then simply faded into the background. No wins came her way over the next 30 months. On Sunday, she collected LPGA victory number seven, at the same trace as LPGA victory number two.

Day three saw Boutier manage the windswept Seaview Bay course with six birdies and a bogey. She was challenged in the end by Thailand’s Arpichaya Yubol, who signed for a 66 of her own. Yubol came up one shot shy of the top ladder rung. Finishing in third place at -7, two back of the winner, was Ireland’s Lauren Walsh.

Celine’s Suitcase

Driver: PXG 0311 Black Ops Tour-1 at 9 degrees. Shaft: Graphite Design AD IZ-5
Hybrid: PXG 0311 Black Ops at 19 and 22 degrees. Shaft: KBS Hybrid Prototype
Hybrid: PXG 0311 Gen5.
Iron: PXG 0311 P Gen 4 5-9 irons
Wedge: PXG 0311 T Gen 4 PW
Wedges: PXG 0311 Sugar Daddy II at 50, 54, 58 degrees
Putter: Bettinardi Studio Stock 3 DASS

DP World Tour @ Austrian Alpine: KK? KK!

Kota Kaneko has a rhythmic name. It has strong vowels and a run of voiceless stops in its crunchy K sounds. On Sunday in Austria, Kaneko put a stop to a challenge from Portugal’s Ricardo Gouveia and everyone else, and claimed a first-ever title on the DP World Tour. Gouveia did well to reach 16-under par over four days, but Kaneko held firm, two shots in the clear.

Davis Bryant of the USA also forged a strong challenge for the win. He ended in a tie with Gouveia for second place. Kaneko began and finished his final round in a bit of a malaise, but he caught fire midway through. Birdies at 10, 12, and 13 provided the necessary cushion to cruise to the finish line without breaking a serious sweat.

Kaneko’s Suitcase

Driver: Ping Max G440
Metals: TaylorMade Qi4D at 15, 16.5, 21, and 24 degrees
Irons: TaylorMade P760 5 and 6 irons
Irons: TaylorMade P7TW 7-9 irons
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design at 46, 52, 56, and 60 degrees
Putter: Odyssey Ai-One Cruiser Arm Lock #7

Korn Ferry Tour @ UNC Health Championship: Improbably Alvaro

Alvaro Ortiz may have had a bit of scare on the outward nine on Sunday, but he came through in clutch fashion in the end. Ortiz began the day bogey-double, and added another double bogey at the 11th hole. He was mired in a downward trend, spiraling away from the top of the leader’s board. Ortiz found hope at the 14th, where his first birdie of the day tumbled home. Inspired, he closed with birdies and 17 and 18 to catch Ross Steelman at 10-under par, and the duo returned to the 18th deck for overtime.

The extra session concluded in brief time. Ortiz, buoyed by his newly-retrieved confidence, hit the fairway with driver, then approached to six feet and drained the putt. Gobsmacked, Steelman could do little more than smile and applaud, as his run at the top came to a close. The victory was the first for Ortiz on the KFT, and will implant him squarely in the chase for a PGA Tour promotion.

Alvaro’s Suitcase

Driver: Ping G430 MAX driver at 9 degrees loft
Metal: Ping G430 MAX 3W
Iron: Ping iDi Driving Iron
Irons: Ping Blueprint S irons
Wedges
Putter: Scottsdale TR Piper C

A party on the green!

Alvaro’s time comes in Raleigh with his first win @UNCHealthChamp ? pic.twitter.com/2dmtZdbSzk

— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) May 31, 2026

LIV @ Korea: Me llamo Joaquin

Chile’s Joaquin Niemann had been away from the LIV winner’s circle throughout all of 2026. This week in Korea, he reminded us that he is still a force to consider. Niemann chased down Taylor Gooch over the closing holes at Asiad Country Club, then claimed victory with a hole-one birdie in extra time. Bryson DeChambeau claimed solo third, one shot in arrears at minus-eleven. Dustin Johnson finished on fourth, one putt farther back.

Niemann’s Suitcase