It’s all over in Rome.
The 44th Ryder Cup came to an end Sunday when Rickie Fowler conceded a putt to Tommy Fleetwod, handing Team Europe its 15th point, The Euros needed 14 ½ to reclaim the Cup they lost two years in the U.S.
The Europeans held a 5-point advantage, leading 10½-5½, heading into the Sunday singles matches.
The host course, Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Rome, is a public-access layout with tee times available on the course’s website starting at 190 Euros for international players. The course played to a par 71 with the scorecard showing 7,181 yards.
The Americans, captained by Zach Johnson, tried to win on foreign soil for the first time since 1993 but that streak will continue. Team Europe rode an influx of young talent for captain Luke Donald.
Europe’s celebration for winning @rydercup has officially begun 🎉 🍾 @golfweek pic.twitter.com/fJ9MEnVHJy
— Adam Schupak (@AdamSchupak) October 1, 2023
For more info on players, scoring, schedule and course data, check out our Ryder Cup hub.
Tommy Fleetwood comes up clutch, secures at least half point to win Ryder Cup
Rickie Fowler was 1 down to Tommy Fleetwood on the 16th hole but found the water, giving Fleetwood the chance to two-putt for birdie to win the hole and guarantee a half point that would deliver the Cup to Europe.
The Englishman won the hole and officially brought the Cup back to Europe with two holes still to be played. — Adam Woodard
When in Rome 🏆#TeamEurope | #RyderCup pic.twitter.com/xkRJQD5QTw
— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) October 1, 2023
Americans fight back with backs against the wall
With seven matches decided the Europeans were within just a ½ point of winning the Cup, but the U.S. fought back and earned clutch points from Patrick Cantlay, Brooks Koepka and Max Homa to keep their hopes alive.
The final five matches featured two American leads, two European leads and a tie, with no lead larger than 2 up. So you’re saying there’s a chance. — Adam Woodard
A more 'complete' player
Viktor Hovland gave Europe the first point of the day in Sunday singles, defeating Collin Morikawa, 4 and 3. It was a rematch from two years ago at Whistling Straits in which the two players halved.
Hovland took control of the match in Rome on the third hole and never relented, building a 4-up lead through 12 holes.
“I felt like I was definitely a good enough ball-striker two years ago, but around the greens and even on the greens I just wasn’t quite there,” said Hovland. “This year I just feel like I’ve been way more complete. Some of the pars I made this week, a couple of hole-outs, ti was just so much more fun to play, especially match play.”
Hovland, one of two players on the European team who played in all five matches, secured 3 ½ points for Luke Donald’s squad. –Beth Ann Nichols
Game within the game: Captain's picks
The Europeans have largely dominated this Ryder Cup thanks to stellar play, top to bottom, including from Luke Donald’s captain’s picks.
The six selections for Team Europe are 7-5-2 this week. On the American side, the story is a bit different as Zach Johnson’s six players are just 2-9-3 this week. — Adam Woodard
Walking it in @seppstraka!#TeamEurope | #RyderCup pic.twitter.com/fE1gzDs66v
— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) October 1, 2023
Pat Cantlay acknowledges the barbs with a smile
Patrick Cantlay arrived at the first tee at Marco Simone on Sunday to a chorus of boos.
It’s a road game for Team USA so that’s not surprising but the intensity of the distaste directed his way perhaps was. Cantlay has become America’s villain of sorts after reported emerged that he was going hatless this week as a protest to not being paid to play in the Ryder Cup. (Competitors do receive a $200,000 donation to the charity of their choice.)
Fans waved their hat at Cantlay as they had done late in Saturday’s round when he responded with a hat trick of big birdie putts to flip his fourballs match against the Euro team of Rory McIlroy and Matt Fitzpatrick.
Cantlay went off in Match 3 against England’s Justin Rose and smiled and gave thumbs up at fans who directed barbs at him such as, “Cantlay, do you need my hat?” “Is that your money shot?” and the best of them: “You want to work at my factory? We pay by the hour.”
Cantlay brushed it all off, making a birdie at the second to jump out to a lead and go 2 up through 7 holes. — Adam Schupak
Europe takes early advantage
With the first six matches out on the course, the scoreboard is a sky of blue with a spritz of red clouds.
The Europeans led in four of the opening six matches, the U.S. held the advantage in one and the other was tied.
Jon Rahm held a 1-up lead over Scottie Scheffler while Viktor Hovland raced to a 3-up lead over Collin Morikawa. The man of the hour Patrick Cantlay led Justin Rose 1 up, while the European protagonist Rory McIlroy was 2 up over Sam Burns. Max Homa and Matt Fitzpatrick were tied, with Tyrrell Hatton 2 up over Brian Harman. — Adam Woodard
Joe LaCava, Rory McIlroy mend fences after kerfuffle on Saturday
Before Scottie Scheffler and Jon Rahm began the opening match of Sunday singles, Golf Channel followed up with a report that Rory McIlroy and Patrick Cantlay’s caddie, Joe LaCava, had mended fences after a dust-up on the 18th green Saturday evening (get caught up on what went down from every angle here).
Golf Channel’s Steve Sands reported that LaCava reached out to McIlroy’s camp on the car ride home from the course and texted the group, “I love you guys and respect all of you.” McIlroy’s team said they felt the same way, which led to LaCava asking for a face-to-face meeting with McIlroy on Sunday morning. According to Sands, that brief meeting happened, and “everything’s been diffused.” — Adam Woodard
Rory McIlroy can cap memorable week
If Europe dominates the early matches on Sunday as they have all week, it could be their leader who delivers the winning point.
Rory McIlroy is going out in the four-hole against Sam Burns and in prime position to earn, at the very least, a crucial point that would see the Cup return to Europe. The Northern Irishman is 3-1-0 this week and 3-2-1 all-time in Sunday singles. — Adam Woodard
He's in your head @McIlroyRory 🎶☘️#TeamEurope | #RyderCup pic.twitter.com/FgzQBi4Gvb
— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) October 1, 2023
First tee shows up early
There’s nothing like the first tee at an international team competition. Just listen (Team Right Side, for what it’s worth). — Adam Woodard
The first tee is ready! 🔊#RyderCup | #GoUSA pic.twitter.com/kgt94M1roX
— Ryder Cup USA (@RyderCupUSA) October 1, 2023
8½ points in singles is doable
So you’re staying there’s a chance.
While no Ryder Cup team has ever come back from a 10½ to 5½ deficit, Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee believes U.S. captain Zach Johnson should concentrate on another piece of history.
Team USA needs 8½ points on Sunday to retain the Cup. That number has been reached in singles a total of four times from both sides: 1979, 1999, 2006 and 2012.
Chamblee believes the depth of Team USA and the momentum that Cantlay and “hat gate” created on Saturday gives Johnson’s team a chance.
“The top six players for Europe, are almost exactly the top six players from the United States,” said Chamblee on Live From the Ryder Cup.
“The bottom six players from Europe and the bottom six from the United States, it’s not a fair fight.” — Beth Ann Nichols
Sunday singles matches
It all comes down to this. 12 matches to decide the cup.
Both captains front-loaded with their selections as Scottie Scheffler and Jon Rahm will start the party at 5:35 a.m. ET. Collin Morikawa and Viktor Hovland will take the next swings at the piñata (5:47 a.m. ET) followed by Patrick Cantlay vs. Justin Rose (5:59 a.m. ET), Sam Burns vs. Rory McIlroy (6:11 a.m. ET) and Max Homa vs. Matt Fitzpatrick (6:23 a.m. ET).
At the back end, the penultimate match features Rickie Fowler vs. Tommy Fleetwood (7:35 a.m. ET), leaving Wyndham Clark and Robert MacIntyre (7:47 a.m. ET) to pick up the candy that’s left on the ground.
Chances are this competition will be over long before the final few matches are completed, but after yesterday’s dust-up there’s sure to be some fireworks throughout the final session. — Adam Woodard
How to watch the action on Sunday
TV
Sunday singles: NBC, Peacock: 5:30 a.m.-1 p.m. ET
Live From the Ryder Cup: Golf Channel, Peacock, 1-4 p.m. ET,
Radio
Live From the Ryder Cup: Sirius/XM 5 a.m. ET to end of play.
Here's what players see walking to the first tee at Marco Simone
Golfweek reporter Adam Schupak and columnist Eamon Lynch have been on-site at Marco Simone all week, and Eamon was able to capture a walking tour of what the entrance to the first tee looks like for those who will make the trek. — Todd Kelly
