Europe may be the bookmakers’ favourites to win back the Ryder Cup this weekend but they will need some of their big-name players to improve their record in the event.
The Europeans were on the end of a 19-9 hammering at Whistling Straits two years ago, a defeat Luke Donald’s men are keen to avenge in Rome.
Donald will be hoping his four rookies – Robert MacIntyre, Sepp Straka, Nicolai Hojgaard and Ludvig Aberg – hit the ground running while some of their most experienced team-mates find their Ryder Cup mojo.
History may be on Europe’s side, having not lost on home soil for 30 years, but more recent data suggests the United States should fancy their chances at the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club.
September nights in Rome 🇮🇹#TEAMEUROPE PIC.TWITTER.COM/TMQTDWKZVJ
— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) SEPTEMBER 27, 2023
Here, we examine some Opta facts that should cause Donald a few sleepless nights:
- Rory McIlroy has lost seven of his last 10 matches at the Ryder Cup (W3).
- This is Viktor Hovland’s second Ryder Cup appearance. In 2021, he was one of only two Europeans to feature in all five sessions, but he didn’t win a single match (W0 L3 H2).
- This is Tyrell Hatton’s third Ryder Cup appearance. The Englishman has so far won only two of his seven matches (L4 H1), both victories coming in the Saturday fourball sessions.
- Matt Fitzpatrick will be looking to score his first points for Europe. He has lost all five of his matches at the Ryder Cup. This will be his first appearance on European soil after losing the 2016 and 2021 editions in the US.
- Shane Lowry is making his second Ryder Cup appearance after 2021. His only point came in the Saturday fourballs alongside Tyrrell Hatton, beating the pair of Tony Finau and Harris English on 18 (1 up).
Donald’s counterpart, Zach Johnson, is likely to feel a lot more bullish heading into the weekend:
- This is Brooks Koepka’s fourth consecutive Ryder Cup appearance. He’s so far unbeaten in singles matches, winning two and halving one. In fact, only three US golfers have played more singles matches at the Ryder Cup without ever losing one: Tom Kite (7), Paul Azinger and Tony Lema (4).
- This is Scottie Scheffler’s second Ryder Cup appearance. In 2021, he remained unbeaten, picking up 2.5 points from a possible three.
- Justin Thomas has picked up 17.5 points out of a possible 24 since his team format debut for the USA at the 2017 Presidents Cup, that’s more than any other American player in that span. It’s 4.5 points more than the second on this list, Jordan Spieth (13 out of a possible 19).
- Since 2019, Patrick Cantlay has collected 9.5 points out of a possible 13 across his three team appearances for the USA (6 out of 9 at the Presidents Cup, 3.5 out of 4 at the Ryder Cup). Only Thomas has picked up more points in that span (10).
- As a pairing, Cantlay and Xander Schauffele have won six of their nine matches together at the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup, including all five foursomes’ sessions.
- Ryder Cup debutant Max Homa has a 100% record from his only previous appearance for the USA as a professional, winning all four of his matches at the 2022 Presidents Cup.
