It squeezes its heavyweights, against a rival that shrinks again as a visitor, and this Saturday it can leave the final victory well on track
29 sep 2023 . Updated at 7:39 p.m.
A field that during the year can go more unnoticed like the Marco Simone is filled with fans, illuminated by the talent of the best players in the world, with the rivalry and atmosphere of the Ryder, and seems majestic. The Roman course has looked like a first-class setting and has facilitated the spectacle and excitement of this type of competition. Two details, they have raked the bunkers with somewhat thick grooves to add difficulty to the game in the sand, and the greens have slowed down a little more in the afternoon.
EUROPA
Rahm, Hovland, Fitzpatrick, McIlroy and Fleetwood, great
Jon Rahm has once again shown that he is outstanding and, furthermore, an optimal player for the match play format and team competition. He continues a line of Spanish winners in the Ryder, that of the Seve Ballesteros, above all, and then Chema Olazábal and Sergio García. Viktor Hovland is another of Europe’s names: in the morning he supported a faded Ludvig Aberg, and in the afternoon he led the tandem with Tyrrell Hatton until making the decisive putt to tie at 18. In that afternoon session the golf by Matt Fitzpatrick looked like a cartoon. What a flawless first six holes he offered in the afternoon session! He saw the hole as if it were as big as a putting green. He benefited from playing with the peace of mind of having Rory McIlroy at his side, as had happened to Tommy Fleetwood in the morning.
Europe sweeps the United States with a historic 4-0 in the first session of the Ryder Cup
The rotations
The two captains already used their 12 players today. I think it is positive for a team that everyone participates before the singles on Sunday, but I would bet that today the couples will not vary so much and will repeat the heavyweights, leaving out, perhaps, two weaker Europeans such as MacIntyre and Hojgaard this time.
USA
The atmosphere has once again shrunk real stars
How is it possible for a team like the United States, full of stars, to suffer such a severe partial defeat? Because, as we have already mentioned, they shrink when they compete outside their country, in an adverse environment and in fields that they do not dominate as much.
Scheffler, Schauffele and Kopeka, exceptions
He only added half a point because in both games he faced Rahm, but I think Scheffler was one of the best in the United States, along with Schauffele and Koepka. The rest disappointed, especially Jordan Spieth, a usually safe value in match play, who was only sustained until his friend Justin Thomas scored a draw. Another disappointment was Clark, who even failed in the decisive moment in the afternoon, in the second shot in the 18th, when he could not put pressure on him.
Jon Rahm acts as leader in the Ryder Cup in Rome
Paulo Alonso
The situation today
If Europe maintains this five-point advantage at the end of today’s day, I think it will have the Ryder done, even if it could not be considered won.
Filed in: Golf Jon Rahm
2023-09-29 17:36:00
#start #Ryder #Cup #Europe
