Ryder Cup 2023 - Italy

[rksquire]

Fitzpatrick was absolutely on fire on Friday afternoon though - essentially had them 5up after 6 holes all on his own, match done and dusted. Didn't do much on Saturday, but then on Sunday he's unlucky enough to be drawn against the guy who was USA's best player by far - and very nearly got the half. Seems weird to be talking about him like he was a weak player for us??

It's not that he was a weak player necessarily, those first 6 holes on Friday afternoon were sensational meaning that match was never really in doubt, although McIlroy assisted from then on to close it out at the only point USA gained a little momentum, but ultimately Fitzpatrick won than match in 6 holes.

However, Eduardo's stats will show a much poorer return from hole 7 onwards from Friday, through Saturday (individual contribution on 2 or 3 holes only to half those holes) and a deterioration of shot execution on Sunday when the scoreboard showed more red than was comfortable... his 3rd at 16 and his 2nd & 3rd at 18. It is nitpicking for sure, he won that point on Friday and so broke his duck; whilst Homa was USAs best player, he did present an opportunity for a 1/2 on Sunday as his shots were loose as well, albeit he holed a good putt on 18 to seal it. 1 point from a possible 8 isn't great for a player of his caliber but, as mentioned, it doesn't tell the whole story (Westwood!).

At 31 come New York, and 33 at Adare, I suspect he'd need to be transitioning into a leadership position and I don't think he's there yet.

 

[Orikoru]

It's not that he was a weak player necessarily, those first 6 holes on Friday afternoon were sensational meaning that match was never really in doubt, although McIlroy assisted from then on to close it out at the only point USA gained a little momentum, but ultimately Fitzpatrick won than match in 6 holes.

However, Eduardo's stats will show a much poorer return from hole 7 onwards from Friday, through Saturday (individual contribution on 2 or 3 holes only to half those holes) and a deterioration of shot execution on Sunday when the scoreboard showed more red than was comfortable... his 3rd at 16 and his 2nd & 3rd at 18. It is nitpicking for sure, he won that point on Friday and so broke his duck; whilst Homa was USAs best player, he did present an opportunity for a 1/2 on Sunday as his shots were loose as well, albeit he holed a good putt on 18 to seal it. 1 point from a possible 8 isn't great for a player of his caliber but, as mentioned, it doesn't tell the whole story (Westwood!).

At 31 come New York, and 33 at Adare, I suspect he'd need to be transitioning into a leadership position and I don't think he's there yet.

To be honest I never rated him that much until a year or two ago when he added more distance and ultimately won the US Open - so after the previous Ryder Cup. I think he went up a level in that time, he just hasn't quite maintained that this year. The Friday morning showed what he's capable of though.

 

[Deleted member 1147]

To be honest I never rated him that much until a year or two ago when he added more distance and ultimately won the US Open - so after the previous Ryder Cup. I think he went up a level in that time, he just hasn't quite maintained that this year. The Friday morning showed what he's capable of though.

Injury held him back this year. So he only managed one PGA tour victory.

 

[Golfnut1957]

There's always a lot of background noise and an inquest required for the losing team, but I'm not sure how deep it has to be given that being at 'home' brings a huge advantage to the teams. There was a 20 to 30 minute period yesterday where there was a very real possibility USA could get to the 14 points; Lowry was in trouble, Fleetwood and MacIntyre were having a wobble with a potential momentum swing but after Fowler's mistake everything closed out very quickly. Some random thoughts:

• Hovland is a rock star.

Good post, I agree with all of that, however Billy Idol and Ossie Osbourne might be looking for you.

 

[Depreston]

Good post, I agree with all of that, however Billy Idol and Ossie Osbourne might be looking for you.

Pop music them compared to the stuff he listens to

 

[BrianM]

I think Bob Mac might do a Fitzpatrick.

Hopefully I’m wrong, but he doesn’t do anything to convince me he won’t get soundly beaten.

This aged well
Couldn’t of envisaged how well he’d do in fairness but Justin Rose’s experience helped him immensely

 

[Imurg]

This aged well
Couldn’t of envisaged how well he’d do in fairness but Justin Rose’s experience helped him immensely

He was also playing Wyndham (I'm better than Rory but clearly I'm not) Clark.....

 

[Bratty]

He was also playing Wyndham (I'm better than Rory but clearly I'm not) Clark.....

In fairness, on the Saturday fourballs, Rory missed a green to the left and went all the way down a slope.
Clarke got on the tee. And followed him to almost the same spot!
So at least he could argue for one hole he was a good as Rory!

 

[Sports_Fanatic]

To be fair he was partnered with Westwood twice in the foursomes last time out, and he was rank. It's not necessarily his fault that Westwood can't putt.

I can't find the stat but i also saw that Fitz was the second lowest score in the singles but just had one of those opponents. Sure it was mentioned during the coverage this week so a loss isn't always due to poor play, in the same way a win isn't always a reflection of great play. Sometimes the draw is kind.

 

[TheDiablo]

Fitzpatrick was absolutely on fire on Friday afternoon though - essentially had them 5up after 6 holes all on his own, match done and dusted. Didn't do much on Saturday, but then on Sunday he's unlucky enough to be drawn against the guy who was USA's best player by far - and very nearly got the half. Seems weird to be talking about him like he was a weak player for us??

Statistically he was the worst of the 24 players on both Saturday and Sunday. He had a hot start Friday but very quickly faded after 7 or 8 holes.

He can’t be trusted in foresomes as his bad shots are so bad it’s loss of hole. They always have been.

Fantastic golfer, deserved major champion but his introversion in an event designed around extroversion will likely hold him back in this event

 

[Orikoru]

Statistically he was the worst of the 24 players on both Saturday and Sunday. He had a hot start Friday but very quickly faded after 7 or 8 holes.

He can’t be trusted in foresomes as his bad shots are so bad it’s loss of hole. They always have been.

Fantastic golfer, deserved major champion but his introversion in an event designed around extroversion will likely hold him back in this event

Interesting. I guess you never know with matchplay. MacIntyre has poor by all accounts in his first match, but Rose dragged him through it and he ended up unbeaten - without necessarily shooting the lights out at any point.

When you say statistically the worst, do you mean by gross score per hole essentially? Are these stats published anywhere, would be interesting to have a look?

 

[Deleted member 1147]

Interesting. I guess you never know with matchplay. MacIntyre has poor by all accounts in his first match, but Rose dragged him through it and he ended up unbeaten - without necessarily shooting the lights out at any point.

When you say statistically the worst, do you mean by gross score per hole essentially? Are these stats published anywhere, would be interesting to have a look?

If you get the RC app you can drill down into the scoring in each match

 

[Slab]

If you get the RC app you can drill down into the scoring in each match

Maybe you can answer for me:

If player A drives the green on 16th par 4 finishing 50ft from pin then Player B tees off but hits three balls into the water and instead of hitting his 7th shot he concedes the hole… is player A (having only played one shot) now awarded an ‘eagle’ for their score on that hole ?

 

[Deleted member 1147]

 

[Deleted member 1147]

Maybe you can answer for me:

If player A drives the green on 16th par 4 finishing 50ft from pin then Player B tees off but hits three balls into the water and instead of hitting his 7th shot he concedes the hole… is player A (having only played one shot) now awarded an ‘eagle’ for their score on that hole ?

If you’re referring to Clark and Bob Mac, it’s just down as a concession

 

[Backsticks]

Strokes Gained on data golf gives a still imperfect but probably better guide on how each individual played.

 

[Swango1980]

I'd have thought that, before or after the Ryder Cup, the official team shirts / jumpers the players wore could be bought online. That doesn't seem to be the case. There is a Ryder Cup store, but all the clothing is just generic Ryder Cup clothing, rather than replicas of what the players wore. Seems a missed opportunity to me.

 

[Mel Smooth]

I just can’t imagine the Ryder Cup heading to Bolton….

https://x.com/tommyfleetwood1/status/1709254077371023455?s=46&t=ohmLQATVbQEjZ3yd-oBmxA

 

[need_my_wedge]

I'd have thought that, before or after the Ryder Cup, the official team shirts / jumpers the players wore could be bought online. That doesn't seem to be the case. There is a Ryder Cup store, but all the clothing is just generic Ryder Cup clothing, rather than replicas of what the players wore. Seems a missed opportunity to me.

There’s a dodgy Ryder up shop that keeps popping up in my social media. Within a few hours of the win, the European Sunday shirt was available to purchase…..

 

[Bratty]

I'd have thought that, before or after the Ryder Cup, the official team shirts / jumpers the players wore could be bought online. That doesn't seem to be the case. There is a Ryder Cup store, but all the clothing is just generic Ryder Cup clothing, rather than replicas of what the players wore. Seems a missed opportunity to me.

Having seen how much sweat the European's shirts retained and how awful they looked in twotone blue, I'm glad they weren't available before!
I'd have been livid to have paid that much for a flannel!