Portugal Masters win shows why Ryder Cup captaincy can wait for Padraig Harrington October 24, 2016 It’s never a bad year when you’ve managed to win a tournament. There are plenty of years when you don’t win and you start to wonder if you will do again, and if you go more than a year then it can really start to play on your mind. Padraig Harrington may be a prolific [...]
Alex Noren’s acceptance of imperfection is the key to Swede’s red-hot run October 17, 2016 There was something that Alex Noren said in the moments after winning the British Masters at The Grove on Sunday – the Swede’s third win from his last eight events – that I particularly liked. He spoke about not trying to achieve perfection but just playing golf, and I think that is a good attitude [...]
Lee Westwood sets his sights on Ryder Cup captaincy in 2020 October 12, 2016 Ryder Cup veteran Lee Westwood has confirmed that he still harbours ambitions of becoming European captain but insists he is not ready to be Darren Clarke’s immediate successor. The Englishman, part of Clarke’s beaten team at Hazeltine earlier this month, hopes to qualify as a player for a record-equalling 11th time when the competition is held [...]
European Tour will suffer from Tiger’s latest setback, says Ryder Cup star Chris Wood October 11, 2016 Former world No1 Tiger Woods’s aborted comeback also represents a blow to the European Tour, says England’s Chris Wood. Fourteen-time Major winner Woods announced on Monday night that he was scrapping plans to play his first tournament in more than a year this week at the Safeway Open in California. The 40-year-old, who has been [...]
Phenomenal breakthrough win could open the floodgates for Tyrrell Hatton October 10, 2016 There is winning your first European Tour title, and there is winning your first European Tour title at St Andrews having equalled the course record and finished with a score of 23 under par, as young Englishman Tyrrell Hatton did at the weekend. It really does matter how you win that first one. Some people [...]
Sam Torrance’s inside view: Unity of European team was best I have seen in 12 Ryder Cups October 4, 2016 I have been fortunate enough to be part of 12 Ryder Cup campaigns now and what I witnessed at Hazeltine over the last few days was without doubt the most united European team that I have ever seen. They may have come up short this time in terms of the result, losing 17-11, but the [...]
Rory McIlroy tips Europe’s new generation to reclaim Ryder Cup in Paris in 2018 October 3, 2016 European Ryder Cup star Rory McIlroy has tipped the youthful team that lost its grip on the trophy at Hazeltine to blossom when the competition resumes in France in 2018. A side featuring six rookies lost 17-11 to the United States on Sunday, with three of those – Danny Willett, Matt Fitzpatrick and Andy Sullivan [...]
United States earn their Ryder Cup stripes in defeat of Europe October 2, 2016 Europe captain Darren Clarke defended his tactics and insisted there was nothing he would do differently despite seeing his side surrender the Ryder Cup after slumping to a 17-11 defeat to the United States at Hazeltine. There was to be no repeat of the Miracle at Medinah. Starting the day with a three-point deficit, Europe [...]
Darren Clarke opts for experience as he announces Europe’s pairings for Friday’s opening foursomes matches September 29, 2016 Europe captain Darren Clarke has opted for experience as he announced the pairings for this morning’s opening foursomes matches which will kickstart his side’s bid for an unprecedented fourth straight Ryder Cup victory. All six players with Ryder Cup experience will feature, although Clarke’s final pairing provided the biggest surprise as Belgium’s Thomas Pieters will partner [...]
Betting: Stars can shine to finally earn USA their Ryder Cup stripes September 29, 2016 Europe have dominated the Ryder Cup over the past three decades. Since 1985 the boys in blue have won 11 tournaments, compared with just four for America. They’ve landed six of the last seven and last time out saw a comfortable 16½-11½ point win at Gleneagles under captain Paul McGinley. Darren Clarke is at the helm [...]