Ryder Cup 2023: Dishing Out Grades for Every Player's Performance in Rome
The 44th Ryder Cup was wrapped on Sunday shortly after breakfast on the East Coast, but the U.S. faced a tough task ever since it dug itself a 4–0 hole in the opening session.
Several U.S. players came out on Sunday morning hatless in support of teammate Patrick Cantlay, who was heckled by European fans on Saturday and ultimately led to strange scenes on both the 18th hole and in the parking lot, which will stand as this event's most heated moments. The U.S. gutted out some surprising singles victories and made Europe sweat for a bit on Sunday, but ultimately the early deficit was too steep to overcome.
So it goes. The Cup returns to Europe, and in four years in Ireland the U.S. will look to end a 34-year drought in road Ryder Cups. But before we get there, it’s time for player grades. Here's the good, bad and ugly.
European Ryder Cup Team Grades
Jon Rahm (2-0-2): Canned a bloodless eagle putt on 18 Friday afternoon to steal a half point. A swirl of fire, emotion and highlight-reel shots. Clutch. GRADE: A
Rory McIlroy (4-1): Cruised through three sessions before Cantlay flipped a match on him late Saturday afternoon. Brought intensity to the course, and to the parking lot. Had to be The Man this week for Europe and delivered. GRADE: A+
Matt Fitzpatrick (1-2): Ryder Cup points drought emphatically ended in four-balls but missed a Cup-clinching putt on 18 Sunday vs. Homa. GRADE: C
Viktor Hovland (3-1-1): Rolled Friday morning to set the tone. Canned 26-footer on 18 on Friday afternoon steal a half-point. Mopped up Morikawa in singles. Looks like the world’s best player. GRADE: A
Tommy Fleetwood (3-1): Nice moments alongside Rory, and scored the clinching point in singles vs. Fowler. His Ryder Cup legend grows. GRADE: A
Tyrrell Hatton (3-0-1): Holed bunch of putts alongside Rahm, then slammed Harman in singles. Bulldog. GRADE: A
Ludvig Aberg (2-2): Controversial rookie pick teamed with Hovland to disembowel Koepka and Scheffler. Lost in singles but flashed a big game all week. A star in the making, or is it already made? GRADE: A-
Justin Rose (1-1-1): At 43, said before this week he’d never had a “Ryder Cup moment,” then went out and had about five of them. Birdied 18 in the final match Friday to steal a half-point, and drilled another putt on Saturday that will be replayed for ages. GRADE: B+
Nicolai Hojgaard (0-2-1): Drained a long birdie putt on the first hole of his Ryder Cup career and scored a half-point with Rahm. Nice moments in other matches but beaten by hotter players. GRADE: D
Robert MacIntyre (2-0-1): Stats say he was a poor putter but canned a few big ones, including vs. Spieth/Thomas on Saturday. Held it together Sunday and pulled out a singles win. GRADE B+
Shane Lowry (1-1-1): Solid performance both as a golfer and as Rory’s parking-lot bouncer. Tied Spieth in singles when it was already decided. GRADE B
Sepp Straka (1-2): Nice first session but ran into Homa/Harman on Saturday. Took Thomas deep in singles but got tight late. Fortunately for Europe it didn’t matter. GRADE: C-
Captain Luke Donald: Flipping foursomes sessions to mornings was stroke of genius and gave team the fast start it needed. Pairing combinations were on point. Had to sweat it out for about an hour on Sunday afternoon, but his team had just enough left. Will be remembered. GRADE: A+
U. S. Ryder Cup Team Grades
Scottie Scheffler (0-2-2): Didn’t click with his buddy Burns. Reduced to tears after receiving a historic Saturday drubbing. Gamely battled Rahm in singles only to lose the 18th and a much-needed half point. Rough week, but he’ll be back. GRADE: F
Sam Burns (1-2): Struggled with Scheffler in alternate shot but unleashed in best-ball on Saturday. Gamely fought Rory in singles but not enough firepower. GRADE: C
Collin Morikawa (1-3): Carried by Burns to a point on Saturday but nothing else to show for it. Big disappointment. GRADE: F
Justin Thomas (1-2-1): Gave the U.S. its first lead in any match with a birdie on Friday afternoon. Carried Spieth for three sessions. Played hatless on Sunday and brought heat. Won’t be a controversial addition to a team event again anytime soon. GRADE B+
Jordan Spieth (0-2-2): On Saturday Paul Azinger characterized his game as “in disarray." Hard to argue, but new dad will find his on-course groove again soon enough. GRADE: F
Rickie Fowler (0-2): Probably wishes he just stayed at the gala. GRADE: F
Max Homa (3-1-1): Best player on the squad, and captain Zach rightfully made him the only American to go five matches. Cold-blooded up-and-down on 18 in singles gave U.S. a puncher’s chance in the closing matches. GRADE: A+
Brian Harman (2-2): Showed trademark grit in team event, and with Homa formed best American duo. Didn’t bring it against Hatton in singles. GRADE B-
Wyndham Clark (1-1-1): Formed a strong pair with Homa Friday afternoon but faded late in both team matches. Couldn’t beat a nervy MacIntyre in singles. GRADE: D-
Patrick Cantlay (2-2): Heckled for going hatless, made stunning birdie run Saturday afternoon to steal point against Rory and add much-needed fire to the event. Beat a red-hot Rose in singles. GRADE: A
Xander Schauffele (1-3): The other half of America’s best foursomes team entering the week but brought almost nothing in team matches. Pulled himself together and won a point Sunday. GRADE D
Brooks Koepka (1-1-1): Carped about Rahm. Trucked by Hovland and Aberg. Won his singles match but as Brooks himself might say, whatever. GRADE: D
Captain Zach Johnson: Team didn’t get off the bus Friday morning while most high-energy player (J. Thomas) sat on the bench. Smartly maxed out Homa, but memory of the Spieth tee-box chat, club-switch and ensuing water ball will linger. Had his team ready for singles but early deficit was too large to overcome. Six captain's picks went 4-12-4. Classy throughout, but U.S. still seeks answers in road games. GRADE: C-