Europe Win Ryder Cup At Marco Simone In 16.5 - 11.5 Victory

What a day we have in store! Join us all day for live Ryder Cup singles scores and all the latest updates.

Welcome to our coverage of the singles matches

We will be with you until the last putt drops - or maybe is conceded, perhaps in a remarkable act of sportsmanship a la Jack Nicklaus to Tony Jacklin all those year ago. Not only is there a Ryder Cup to be won and lost, there are lots of intriguing match ups and storylines. The next few hours will change some people's golfing lives and reputations.

The dreaded envelope

In the first four sessions, only eight players on each team are needed, so if someone is under the weather or injured it need not matter. But in the singles all 12 players play. So what happens if someone is unable to take to the tee? This seem particularly pertinent when some USA players have been reported as being under the weather due to a bug going round the team.

Each captain, when he hands in his singles order also hands in a sealed envelope. In it is the name of the player who will also drop out if one of the opposition side are unable to field all 12 players. If an ill or injured player in unable to take part, he is then paired with the player in the envelope and half a point is awarded to each side.

USA captain in 2002 Curtis Strange described making this pick as “the most uncomfortable thing I ever had to do.” If the envelopes are not needed, then they are destroyed so no-one can know who was named. Captains do not let on whose name they put in the envelope; many seem not to have even discussed it with their vice captains.

Strange says: “You don’t ever want that name to get out. You don’t ever want to destroy someone’s confidence. These guys become family, and it’s like you’re telling one of them you don’t love them as much.”

The envelope has been used three times. In 1981 when Steve Pate was unable to take his place in the singles, due to injury from a road accident, the European envelope was opened and David Gilford was stood down.

In 1993 Sam Torrance was unable to play, so USA had to withdraw someone. Lanny Wadkins had volunteered to captain Tom Watson be the name in the envelope: “I told Tom, since I was a captain’s pick, to stick my name in there. Other people deserve to play.”

Wadkins was due to play Seve Ballesteros, so Torrance’s intended opponent, Jim Gallagher took his place and beat the European talisman 3&2 in a 15-13 win at The Belfry.

The first time the envelope was brought in was 1979. But US captain Billy Casper had got confused as to the purpose of the envelope, and thought he had put the name of the player he most did not want to be stood down in it. So he put Lee Trevino’s name in it.

When it became clear the envelope would be used, as Mark James’ rib injury would prevent him playing, Casper explained his envelope confusion and asked if Europe would accept Gil Morgan instead of Trevino as the one who the US could stand down instead. Europe agreed to his request.

How Team USA can get those 8½ points  

8 wins, 1 tie, 3 losses;
7 wins, 3 ties, 2 losses;
6 wins, 5 ties, 1 loss.

Prediction time

Our colleague Elliot Heath has predicted how he sees each match finishing. If he gets it broadly right, the office will quietly ignore it, if he gets it wrong, it may get an airing in our regular start-of-the-week meeting. Anyway, we predict every match result in the 2023 Ryder Cup singles. Actually that ‘we’ means if Elliot gets it right, ‘we’ all can claim credit. It he doesn’t, well he never asked for my opinion did he? What’s the old saying, success has many fathers failure is an orphan?

Which players have contributed most points so far?

Europe:
Rory McIlroy 3pts (from 4 matches)
Tyrrell Hatton 2.5pts (3)
Jon Rahm 2.5pts (3)
Viktor Hovland 2.5pts (4)

USA:
Max Homa 2.5pts (4)
Wyndham Clark 1.5pts (2)

Pointless Players

All Europe’s player have contributed at least half a point. Rickie Fowler, who has only played one match so far, and Xander Schauffele, who has been out three times, have yet to get off the mark.

Under half an hour until the first match tees off

That is the mouthwatering clash of the players ranked first and third in the world - Scottie Scheffler up against Jon Rahm. This is box office.

Nicolas Colsaerts is conducting the crowd

He is one of Europe vice captains and he is out on the first tee leading the crowd in the thunder clapping.

How to watch a Ryder Cup live stream

Here are the details how to watch a Ryder Cup day 3 live stream from wherever you are in the world. Ten minutes to the first singles match tees off.

Tee times today

Times listed are PT/ET/BST/AEST.

2.35am/5.35am/10.35am/7.35pm Scottie Scheffler vs Jon Rahm
2.47am/5.47am/10.47am/7.47pm Collin Morikawa vs Viktor Hovland
2.59am/5.59am/10.59am/7.59pm Patrick Cantlay vs Justin Rose
3.11am/6.11am/11.11am/8.11am Sam Burns vs Rory McIlroy
3.23am/6.23am/11.23am/8.23am Max Homa vs Matt Fitzpatrick
3.35am/6.35am/11.35am/8.35am Brian Harman vs Tyrrell Hatton
3.47am/6.47am/11.47am/8.47am Brooks Koepka vs Ludvig Aberg
3.59am/6.59am/11.59am/8.59am Justin Thomas vs Sepp Straka
4.11am/7.11am/12.11am/9.11pm Xander Schauffele vs Nicolai Hojgaard
4.23am/7.23am/12.23am/9.23pm Jordan Spieth vs Shane Lowry
4.35am/7.35am/12.35am/9.35pm Rickie Fowler vs Tommy Fleetwood
4.47am/7.47am/12.47am/9.47pm Wyndham Clark vs Robert MacIntyre

First tee shots of day 3 have been played

Scheffler goes first. He finds the middle of the fairway. So does Rahm. Two perfect drives. 

The first colour to go on the scoreboard is...

...blue. Scheffler putts first and misses. Rahm then rolls his birdie putt in. Scheffler has played 45 holes so far this Ryder Cup and has won 4 of them 

Bare-headed Cantlay on the tee

All the USA players are teeing off the 1st tee capless as a sign of support for Cantlay. What a load of twaddle this "I just wasn't given a hat which fits" talk is. If I were the official supplier of hats to Team USA I would not be too keen on it being said that I can't make a baseball cap – a baseball cap for goodness sake – that can fit someone whose head measurements they can have weeks ahead of time.

Why can't Cantlay just say he prefers not to wear a cap? Just like some players on the first two days wore jumpers early on, some chose not to. No jumper drama there. Team USA are fanning the flames of a story which need not to have lingered long on the newswires.

Team USA are wearing red caps today. So it is not just one cap which does not fit Cantlay but each one for each day. Apparently. As I said: twaddle.

Rory on the tee

This is an unfamiliar singles slot for McIlroy. Since 2014 he had been put out first in the Ryder Cup singles. He is up against Sam Burns who rediscovered his form in fine style yesterday afternoon. 

Perhaps Burns did not get the memo – he is wearing his cap when he tees off. Scab! Burns misses the fairway on the right and goes over the flank of spectators lining the hole. Rory is on the fairway, to huge cheers. This is McIlroy's 68th hole, the most by a European player.

History is against trailing away team USA

Since the Ryder Cup moved to five sessions in 1963, USA have only won once in Europe when they were behind entering the singles. That was in 1993, when Tom Watson’s side trailed by a just single point.

Neat play on words

It's a sea of blue at the moment

Five games out in the course, Europe are up in four, down in one. Cantlay, who is playing Rose, has put the sole bit of red on the scoreboard. 

Crowd around 1st tee thinning out

Half the games are now out on the course and a lot of spectators have now left the huge grandstand area on the 1st tee and are fanning out around the course. There is still plenty of action to come on the 1st tee, although I suppose the really big names have now teed off.

Captain’s picks

Six of the players on each team qualified; six were captain’s picks. Admittedly the European players collectively have been doing better than America’s, but Donald’s captain’s picks have markedly outperformed Johnson’s over the first two days. Donald’s picks have gone 7-5-2, while Johnson’s have a cumulative record of 2-9-3 so far.

NICOLAS COLSAERTS' act as the warm-up man

Match 9 has gone through the 1st

It's Xander Schauffele vs Nicolai Højgaard. Points in this game will be eagerly accepted for extra reasons beyond the obvious.

Adriam Meronk was in many eyes, including mine, unlucky to miss out on on Ryder Cup selection. It is easy, however, to say someone should play, less easy to say at whose expense. Well the most obvious person he would have got in instead of is Nicolai Højgaard. Meronk has an even better record round Marco Simone than Højgaard (both have won the Italian Open there, Meronk winning this year’s one and he was also runner up there to Højgaard in 2021). Meronk also is higher in the world ranking – Meronk 51st, Højgaard 82nd. Donald will be hoping Højgaard does well in his singles match for a variety of reasons. Højgaard is currently 0-1-1 in this Ryder Cup.

Xander Schauffele has played three, lost three this Ryder Cup. He who said it would take "nothing special" for the USA to win the Ryder Cup. 

Højgaard has won the 1st hole with a birdie.

Nine matches out and it's still mainly a blue scoreboard

Europe are up in 6 matches, down in 2 with one tied.

Top match has reached the turn all square

The opening match is a repeat of the 3rd singles match last time: Scheffler versus Rahm. The American took that one 4&3 to take the match scoreline to 12-6.

Who are playing all five matches?

Especially after last week’s Solheim Cup, when USA captain Stacy Lewis decided that five rounds in three days was too much to ask someone to play on such a hilly course as Finca Cortesin, there has been talk of whether either Ryder Cup captain would pick someone for all five sessions around the hilly Marco Simone.

Well the answer is yes, both captains have. Viktor Hovland and Rory McIlroy are doing so for Europe and Max Homa will do so for the USA.

Some others could have had they not been stood down form the fourth session: Tyrrell Hatton; Viktor Hovland; Scottie Schefller, Jon Rahm. Of the three ever-presents who did play that fourth session, two lost and only Homa won.

Today McIlroy is 3 up, Hovland 2 up and Homa 1 down.

Rahm recovery on 10

All matches are now on the course 

Those envelopes can now be burnt.

Scheffler goes 1 up

Rahm has a nightmare as he goes a wandering again on 11 and then ends up at the bottom of a swale - twice, as his first chip up to the green did not make it and came back to him. The swales do add a lot to this course. I am all in favour of them. 

A win for McIlroy would be his fourth this Cup

He has not had more than three victories in a Ryder Cup. He is 2 up on Sam Burns at the turn, having won four holes to Burns' two.

Cantlay 2 up on Rose at the turn 

Seven of the front-nine holes were halved. Cantlay won the 2nd and 7th.

Europe up in 6, down in 4; two matches are all square

The top games are going better for Europe than the bottom ones at present.

Cries of Rambo ring out

Jon Rahm has now won back-to-back holes on 12 and 13 and goes 1up. 

Spieth quickly out of the blocks

He is 3 up on Shane Lowry after five holes.

Hovland 4 up with six to play 

He has made seven birdies so far. He is playing a capless and hapless Collin Morikawa. 

Green fees at Marco Simone

Wondering what they are? Well here are the details. I like the idea of a “Ryder Cup season”. But hey, marketing is everything. I played the K Club several years by then after the Ryder Cup had been there, but boy did they make sure you knew they had hosted the Ryder Cup almost wherever you looked in the clubhouse.

Top match: top notch entertainment

There has never been more than a hole in it in the duel between the world number one and world number three. It is all square with four holes to go. Scheffler is still looking for his first win this Ryder Cup.

Match is getting tighter

Projected score is now 15½ to 12½. Remember: 14-14 will keep the Cup in the United States.

First point of the afternoon goes to Europe

Viktor Hovland has beaten Collin Morikawa 4&3. They played one another in the last Ryder Cup, too. That match ended all square.

Top match to go down 18

Rahm has a birdie putt on 17 which just shaves the hole. Scheff then putts and his ball does likewise. Halved hole. Scheffler 1 up going to 18. He is 5 under for the round.

One of the stars of the show...

… has been the golf course. Marco Simone has been an excellent layout for this Ryder Cup. It offers beauty, drama and variety and has some really fun holes. I am enjoying the swales around the green. Drivable par 4s are in vogue at the moment and they certainly add drama. The course has also been built so as to provide some mounded spectator viewing areas.

Favourites tag means nothing

The USA side started the week as the favourite, but in the last 12 Ryder Cups the favourite has lost as often as it has won. 

Scheffler vs Rahm finishes all square

Rahm had a putt across most of the green to win. It ended only a few inches from the hole. Scheff had earlier chipped from light rough and seen his ball roll across and off the green on to the downslope by the lake. Scheff had to chip in to tie the hole. He didn't manage it. Cracking match.

Sandy eagle for Fleetwood on 9

He chipped in from a greenside bunker on the far side of the green from the pin. He goes 1 up.

Chanting for the European side

Seem to have more chants of “Europe” this year than before. Must say, I prefer the Ole! Ole! Ole! chant as it is more tuneful. More fun, too. Ole! always sounds like a celebration. “USA!” chants sound rather aggressive, as though it is a challenge. Europe – well the very structure and sound of the word makes it tricky to form a satisfying chant from it. Hmm, how about a pun of “Europe you’re up?” Maybe not.

Aberg 3 down with 4 to play against Brooks Koepka

His Ryder Cup definitely peaked with that 9&7 victory!

Redemption

There is talk of European players seeking redemption for their record beating last time out at Whistling Straits. But who from that European team is playing here? Well the majority of them are playing in Rome:

Matt Fitzpatrick, Tommy Fleetwood, Tyrrell Hatton, Viktor Hovland, Shane Lowry, Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm.

Those who have not are all players who who have left for LIV – Paul Casey, Sergio García, Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood and Bernd Wiesberger.

Cantlay beats Rose 2&1

This was another cracking match, albeit that Rose never managed to get ahead at any stage.

McIlroy wins 3&1 

He wins four matches in a Ryder Cup for the first time.

CRUCIAL MOMENTS

Matt Fitzpatrick and Max Homa both make a mess of the par 4 16th, with both halving in bogey. The American, Homa, sits 1-up in that match with just two holes remaining. 

Elsewhere, Brian Harman has just won the 15th to put USA 2-down in that game with three remaining, whilst Rickie Fowler has just nicked one off Tommy Fleetwood to put USA 1-down with seven remaining.

RORY PUTS POINT 13 ON THE BOARD FOR EUROPE

TYRRELL HATTON WINS 3&2

Brian Harman puts pressure on Englishman, Tyrrell Hatton, but the European almost drains his shot from the bunker! He taps in for birdie and, what's more, Harman can't convert his birdie putt. Hatton takes the match 3&2 and puts Europe to 14-7, just half-a-point away from winning the Ryder Cup!

MISS FROM CLARK

Europe are up in the final two games and, at the par 4 11th, Wyndham Clark misses a putt to tie the hole with European, Robert MacIntyre. Europe are 2-up in both the final matches, but down in the other five...

CAN FITZPATRICK CLAIM THE WINNING POINT?

Matt Fitzpatrick is 1-down going down the last, but if he wins then that will get the crucial half-point for Europe to win the Ryder Cup. Both he and Homa are in great position off the tee, but American, Homa, blasts his shot right into the crowd. Stepping up, Fitzpatrick also blasts his approach well right, the opposite side to the water, with both now having a pitch off to decide this match...

BROOKS KOEPKA WINS 3&2

Brooks Koepka wins his singles match against Ludvig Aberg 3&2. The American was up in that match throughout and never really looked like giving up the win.

HOMA TAKES AN UNPLAYABLE

That's huge! Fitzpatrick plays a very solid pitch shot on to the green and will have a good look at birdie. Homa, meanwhile, is forced to take an unplayable from a disgusting lie. After much deliberation, his pitch is well played and slides by. He will have that for a five and, if Fitzpatrick misses, then Homa will win that match.

HOMA WINS DESPITE SCRAPPY FINISH

Homa should have wrapped this game up on the 16th but, in the end, he is made to work for his victory over Matt Fitzpatrick! To be fair to the American, it was an incredible up-and-down given the circumstances, with Homa forced to take an unplayable for his third.

Fitzpatrick had a chance to win the Ryder Cup, but his putt raced by on the right side and it now means Europe lead 14 - 8 with five games still out on the course.

HOW THINGS STAND

Currently, five games remain on the course with Europe up in two, USA up in two and one game is tied. In those matches, USA are 2-up in both, whilst Europe are both 1-up in theirs. This is going down to the wire!

CLARK GETS WITHIN ONE

American, Wyndham Clark, birdies the par 3 13th to get to within one of Robert MacIntyre! At the next though, he pulls his tee shot left and, although it's miles down there, it looks in the thick stuff.

SEPP STRAKA CHIPS IN

Sepp Straka chips in for eagle at the 16th! That is mega, especially as he now moves to 1-down against Justin Thomas with two holes remaining. Can he claim the crucial half-point for Europe?

JT GOES CLOSE ON 17

Gutsy shot from Justin Thomas on the par 3 17th! He puts his tee shot to around eight-feet and forces Straka to hole his long putt for birdie. Straka will need to hole it, especially as Europe are 1-down in that match with two remaining.

SPIETH 1-UP

This is top quality golf! After Shane Lowry plays an exceptional pitch shot to near gimme range at the 15th, American, Jordan Spieth drains a lengthy birdie putt to move 1-up in the match with three holes remaining. 

The final two games are looking pivotal here and, at the 15th, Fleetwood has struck an excellent approach in to put the pressure on Rickie Fowler, who found the fairway bunker with his tee shot.

JT AND STRAKA HEAD DOWN 18

Straka lags his birdie putt up to gimme range which means Justin Thomas can close the match out on the 17th. His birdie putt slides by though and, for the third time today, we are heading down the 18th. If Straka wins that hole then Europe claim the Ryder Cup.

In the match behind, Xander Schauffele dispatches European rookie, Nicolai Hojgaard 3&2.

CLARK AND MACINTYRE ARE TIED

MacIntyre misses a short putt to tie the hole at the 14th! Wow, he had been 3-up, but with that short putt missed it is now tied in that match...

LOWRY AND SPIETH MOVE BACK INTO A TIE

European, Lowry, plays an unbelievable bunker shot to gimme range. In for birdie, Spieth is faced with an impossible chip which he duffs in front of him. Taking the flag out, his next chip just misses the right side and that now means that game is tied with it definitely heading down the 18th. 

18TH UPDATE

Sepp Straka finds the fairway with his tee shot, whilst Justin Thomas finds the fairway bunker. It's European, Straka, to go first and he finds the green side bunker, with Thomas splashing down to the middle of the fairway. This could go either way!

FOWLER FINDS THE WATER OFF THE TEE

Rickie Fowler has found the lake on the short par 4 16th! If Fleetwood betters his opponent he will go 2-up and be dormie. That will be enough for Team Europe to win.

COMETH THE MAN, COMETH THE MOMENT

SHOT OF HIS LIFE FROM TOMMY FLEETWOOD! With Fowler in the water, Fleetwood sticks his tee shot on the 16th to around 20-feet. He will have that for eagle and will likely claim the crucial half point.

EUROPE HAVE WON THE RYDER CUP

It is indeed Fleetwood who has guaranteed the crucial half-point. Although the match isn't over, officially, it is victory for Europe who continue their dominant home form!

THOMAS WINS 2-UP

Fair play, Justin Thomas! Many questioned his selection but he has backed it up with a 2-up win over Sepp Straka.

SHANE LOWRY GOES 1-UP

What an up-and-down from Lowry, who moves 1-up on Jordan Spieth, with the European leading going down the last. It seems the party has started in Rome!

SCENES ON 18

Shane Lowry will want to claim his point for Europe but, on the last, it seems he's not too bothered as he is smiling and hugging his fellow European team mates. Superb scenes on the last here!

SOMEONE'S ENJOYING THE CELEBRATIONS

I have no idea, either...

FLEETWOOD DOES IT

It had to be Tommy! He claims the crucial point that hands the Ryder Cup to Europe!

REACTION FROM THE CAPTAIN

Luke Donald and his staff have been simply excellent throughout this Ryder Cup and, after it was confirmed, Donald was visibly emotional. Congratulations Team Europe!

ROBERT MACINTYRE STAYS UNDEFEATED 

What a Ryder Cup for Bobby Mac, who wins 2&1 against US Open champion, Wyndham Clark . He has claimed two victories and one tie, which is an unbelievable debut! 

FLEETWOOD REACTION

LET THE CELEBRATIONS BEGIN

Absolute scenes on the 18th!

SINGLES ROUND-UP

Well, although it was close, the singles actually finished 6-6 which, in hindsight, really didn't show how tight and tense the day got! In the end though, it was the experience at the back of the field which made the difference, with Rahm, McIlroy, Hatton, Hovland and Fleetwood all securing points having featured in last year's drubbing. A special mention goes to MacIntyre, who also claimed a win this afternoon. 

FORMER EUROPEAN PLAYERS REACT

USA CAPTAIN REACTION

"You've got to take your hat off and tip your cap to Team Europe. They played great and they earned it." Classy words from the US captain, Zach Johnson, who will be quizzed on his side's preparation coming into the tournament.

RESPECT BETWEEN THE TWO CAPTAINS

What a spectacle these two have given us, with USA captain, Zach Johnson, and European captain, Luke Donald showing great respect on the 18th tee following a gladiatorial battle in Rome!

ROSE WINS NICKLAUS-JACKLIN AWARD

A number of European players could have won the Nicklaus-Jacklin Award but it is Justin Rose who picks up the trophy. It's been an amazing week for Rose, who secured 1.5 points in the foursomes alongside Robert MacIntyre.

TWO MORE YEARS?

Luke Donald has got his hands on the trophy and, during the ceremony, his 12-man side were chanting 'two more years'. Could we see Donald captaining the squad at Bethpage Black in 2025? Quite possibly, given this week's quality!

EUROPE AT THE DOUBLE

Last week, Solheim Cup captain, Suzann Pettersen, captained her side to a 14-14 result to retain the Solheim Cup. With Europe securing the double on Sunday, Pettersen tweeted: "The double is a fact. congrats to @RyderCupEurope and Captain @LukeDonald for an incredible show in Rome!! ole ole ole."

US TEAM IN THE PRESS ROOM

BACK IN EUROPE'S HANDS

UNDEFEATED WEEK

Jon Rahm (2 wins, 2 ties) ,Tyrrell Hatton (3 wins, 1 tie) and Robert MacIntyre (2 wins, 1 tie) enjoy undefeated weeks in Rome, with Rory McIlroy the top scorer with 4 wins and 1 loss.

"I'M ON THE BACK NINE OF MY RYDER CUP CAREER"

Speaking at the winner's press conference, Rory McIlroy has claimed he is in "the back nine of his career", with the seven-time Ryder Cupper still only 34 years of age. He's surely got another four or five Ryder Cups in him?!

GOTTA LOVE VIKTOR!

JOHNSON REFLECTS

"I'm so grateful for that. This is a moment where you literally just have to accept that The European Team played really, really good golf, and that is really my freshest reflection right now is that Luke's team played great, and my boys rallied and fought.

"There are so many nuances, characteristics of what this tournament is all about that it would be a shame to change anything. I mean, I would love to start the week over, but that's not possible. 

"Furthermore, I would say, I don't know, I think when it comes to foursomes, four-ball, all that, I get where you're going. The fans and the people of the home team or whatever are a big part of this. It's the energy. It's kind of like the fuel to the engine, if you will. Four years from now, hopefully we'll implement a better process certainly than I did and we can show up in Ireland, obviously retain it, get it back in New York, but keep it once we go back to Ireland."

WAS FOWLER RIGHT TO GIVE WINNING GIMME TO FLEETWOOD?

There has been some reaction to Rickie Fowler giving this lengthy gimme to Tommy Fleetwood and, in typical fashion, social media has reacted to the incident. Check out the full story here.

FIGHTING TALK FROM RORY

"I've said this for the last probably six or seven years to anyone that will listen: I think one of the biggest accomplishments in golf right now is winning an away Ryder Cup. And that's what we're going to do at Bethpage."

CHAMPAGNE SHOWERS

WHAT A DAY OF PLAY

Well, congratulations Team Europe! Overall, they deserved to win and, after a thrilling day of action, they claimed a 16.5 - 11.5 victory. It's been an incredibly dramatic and thrilling week of play and we will be ready to do it all again at Bethpage Black in 2025. Thank you for tuning in today and this week and we will catch you all soon!