Favourite Ryder Cup Courses, Memories, Matches, Players

If you're a European golf fan, it's fair to say that the Ryder Cup holds a significant place in your heart as this event has been a defining spectacle for generations.

We've all got our favourite memories, the moments that have resonated with us, and Golfshake Ambassador Matt Holbrook is no exception.

Matt his shared his Ryder Cup favourites - some of which might also be yours.

Favourite Ryder Cup Venue

I recently wrote an article, where using my own foolproof ranking system, I tried to work out what was the best Ryder Cup venue, and you can read that here. But Gleneagles is the standout venue for me. The courses, the hotel, the scenery, and the facilities. Everything is to such a standard that is fitting of the world's best players doing battle. 

Favourite Ryder Cup Course

Having visited Le Golf National back in 2019, I just remember it being such a fun golf course. I have fond memories of the Ryder Cup being held there too (along with many French Opens on the DP World Tour). 

I think the layout - with numerous holes having water in play and crucially for match play over the last few holes - does make for great theatre. Remember Phil Mickleson hitting it into the water on the par 3 16th hole and immediately conceding his match?

Favourite Ryder Cup Memory

Surprisingly, whilst I have many, many fond memories of Ryder Cups over the years, there is one that stands out above and beyond. 

There is always a lot of hullabaloo, whooping and chest bumping, crowds going wild, high fives and C’MON’s. But there was one moment, during a day of utter madness at Medinah in 2012. 

During a tense battle between two greats, Phil Mickleson and Justin Rose, the Englishman holes a monster putt to win the hole on the par 3 towards the end of the match - Phil having just missed a chip shot but must have been thinking the half was secured. In the moment, while the European contingent of the crowd were going bananas, Justin just held his arms out slightly with a steely look of determination and clenched fists, Phil, being the great sportsman he is, gave Justin the thumbs up before heading off to the next tee. 

That moment has it all, drama, tension, jubilation, sportsmanship and neither player was hollering or banging chests. One I’ll never forget. 

Favourite Ryder Cup Match

Quite easy this, for all the close matches, back and forth, and tension down the stretch over the years, nothing gave me more pleasure than watching Viktor Hovland and rookie Ludvig Aberg dismantle Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka 9&7 during the Saturday foursomes at Marco Simone. Ludvig was maybe unknown to some heading into this Ryder Cup - and it was a bold pick by captain Luke Donald who went with the Swede before he had even teed it up in one of the four major championships. 

He looked unnerved, cool, calm and definitely not out of place as he and Hovland went on to claim the biggest winning margin in any Ryder Cup match in history - reducing the world number one Scheffler to tears in the process. 

Favourite Ryder Cup Player

It would be an easy decision to pick Ian Poulter, Sergio Garcia or Rory McIlroy for example. But there is one man who always seems to turn up - even when maybe not at his best. 

At the age of 45, Justin Rose is about to make his seventh Ryder Cup appearance over a 17 year span and there is so much to admire about the steely grit and determination he has shown throughout his career and the level of consistency that is almost unrivalled over such a long period of time. Not only is he still one of the best in the business, but what a great example he is setting for those youngsters that will watch around the world too. 

Favourite Ryder Cup Partnership

Easy. Moliwood. 

I think it's safe to say everyone fell in love with the Tommy Fleetwood and Francesco Molinari partnership in 2018. 

Not only did they have an excellent on course partnership, you could tell the bond the two had developed off the fairways. Various social media posts had people in hysterics, but beyond this there was a genuine strong friendship that had developed so much that Tommy even called his son Frankie after the Italian. A lovely touch for a partnership that was as strong off the course as it was on. 

Let us know what your favourite Ryder Cup moments and memories are!

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