Do not partner me with Phil Mickelson at Ryder Cup, pleads US Open winner Dustin Johnson September 22, 2016 US Open winner Dustin Johnson has urged United States captain Davis Love III not to partner him with team-mate Phil Mickelson during the Ryder Cup at Hazeltine, which starts next week. Johnson partnered five-time Major winner Mickelson for the first two games of his Ryder Cup debut at Celtic Manor in 2010, against Lee [...]
Danny Willett demonstrates Ryder Cup form at Italian Open as showdown with United States looms September 19, 2016 Most of Europe’s players enjoyed their last taste of competitive action at the weekend before we all pack our bags and head for Hazeltine and the Ryder Cup in a few days’ time. There is no input from Europe captain Darren Clarke in the players’ scheduling decisions; it is entirely up to them how they [...]
Why Rickie Fowler’s FedEx Cup failure might have sealed his Ryder Cup place September 12, 2016 It might sound strange but I think that Rickie Fowler’s failure to reach the final event of the FedEx Cup playoffs may just have clinched his place as one of USA captain Davis Love III’s Ryder Cup wild cards. There were few shocks in Love’s decision to name Matt Kuchar and JB Holmes as captain’s [...]
Dustin Johnson surges to top of FedEx Cup standings with three-shot victory at BMW Championship September 12, 2016 America's Dustin Johnson stormed to top of the FedEx Cup standings after cruising to a three-shot victory over England’s Paul Casey at the BMW Championship in Indiana. Johnson continued his scintillating form this year, which includes a maiden Major success at the US Open at Oakmont in June, by carding a final round 67 to [...]
Rory McIlroy back to his very best in time for Ryder Cup after stunning victory at Deutsche Bank Championship September 5, 2016 It was simply exquisite golf by Rory McIlroy to win the Deutsche Bank Championship last night. He carded 67, 66 and 65 in his last three rounds and is back to his best. He has only been with his new putting coach, Phil Kenyon, for a short time but it’s obviously working. The truth is he’s been [...]
How Europe’s Ryder Cup team was finalised on a WhatsApp group and why Darren Clarke thinks Thomas Pieters is a future world No1 August 30, 2016 I know just how difficult it has been for Darren Clarke to finally settle on Thomas Pieters, Martin Kaymer and Lee Westwood as his three captain’s picks for next month’s Ryder Cup, which he named on Tuesday. It is hard to leave out players like Russell Knox, Luke Donald and Graeme McDowell, while Darren also [...]
Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer and Luke Donald tipped to be handed Europe’s Ryder Cup wild cards August 29, 2016 England's Luke Donald has emerged as a surprise contender for one of Darren Clarke’s three wild-card picks as the European captain prepares to name his final Ryder Cup team on Tuesday. Clarke is expected to select an experienced trio to join a rookie-heavy line-up of nine automatic qualifiers, with stalwarts Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer [...]
Matt Fitzpatrick clinches Ryder Cup place in style as decision time looms for captains August 22, 2016 It was fantastic to see young Yorkshireman Matt Fitzpatrick secure his place in Europe’s Ryder Cup team for the first time in style at the Czech Masters at the weekend. The 21-year-old had been in line for a debut at Hazeltine next month ever since winning the British Masters last year and clinched one of [...]
Justin Rose’s duel with Henrik Stenson was the perfect result for Olympic golf chiefs August 15, 2016 Newly-crowned Olympic champion Justin Rose wouldn’t have been the only person delighted with how golf’s return to the Games after more than a century’s absence unfolded over the last few days. After a difficult build-up to the event featuring a spate of withdrawals, organisers could not have hoped for a better outcome than a Major [...]
World-class Russell Knox couldn’t be doing any more to earn a Ryder Cup wildcard pick August 8, 2016 But for a technicality, Russell Knox would already be assured of a place at the Ryder Cup, and the up-and-coming Scot could hardly be doing any more to remedy that situation. Knox, 31, earned a fantastic win at the Travelers Championship on Sunday to put him right in contention for a European debut against his [...]