The Drama Unfolds
As is Ryder Cup tradition, there is simply no place like home. But this year, home felt a bit more like a family gathering with that one quirky uncle and an overabundance of snacks. The 44th Ryder Cup, held at the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club outside Rome, Italy, delivered more drama than a daytime soap opera marathon.
Drama Overload
The biggest question on Sunday morning was whether the drama of Saturday night would carry over. If you listen to the reports on NBC, however, the vitriol has simmered. Steve Sands reported that on Saturday night Joe LaCava was in touch with Rory McIlroy and his camp via text to try to work things out. According to Sands, LaCava asked to meet with McIlroy face-to-face on Sunday morning, and after that meeting, the powderkeg had been defused. The problem? McIlroy after winning his match with Sam Burns, 3 and 1, told NBC’s staffer that he DID NOT meet with LaCava in the morning. I guess they will agree to disagree?
Tommy Fleetwood’s Birdie Heroics
Enter Tommy Fleetwood, the hero of the hour. Fleetwood’s birdie on the 16th hole Sunday secured at least a tie against Rickie Fowler and effectively toppled the Americans, who could never recover from a disastrous start to this event. Fleetwood’s birdie locked up at least a half point in his match, allowing the Europeans to clinch the 44th Ryder Cup and hand the Americans a seventh straight loss on foreign soil.
Fowler’s Watery Misadventure
The United States provided a late scare in Sunday’s singles competition, but had no margin for error when Fowler put his tee shot in the water on the par-4 16th. That opened a window for Fleetwood, who missed his 20-footer for eagle and faced a 2½-foot birdie putt before Fowler conceded the hole. Fleetwood went on to win the match, 3 and 1, and Europe finished with a 16½-11½ advantage. A jubilant and partisan European crowd erupted when Fowler conceded the 16th hole, their chants and songs echoing across the Roman countryside as the final singles matches concluded. Some cried, some screamed, some leapt into the ponds along the course.
Close Call for the U.S.
The United States couldn’t quite pull out a Sunday miracle but at least managed to avoid a massacre at the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club outside Rome. The final U.S. tally in singles: 5 wins, 5 losses, and 2 draws, a second straight day in which the teams tied after Europe stormed out to a massive Day 1 advantage.
Europe’s Dominance
The host team has now won five straight Ryder Cups, as the United States’s futility on European courses continues. The Americans haven’t won in Europe since 1993. They’ll try again in 2027 when Ireland hosts the event. So, there you have it, folks – the Ryder Cup 2023, where drama met birdies, and the European home-field advantage struck again like a pesky gopher on the 18th hole. Until next time, keep your clubs in check and your sense of humor on par!