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Irish Examiner
a day ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Rory McIlroy two shots off early clubhouse leader at Travelers Championship
Rory McIlroy made an impressive start to the Travelers Championship to sit two shots off the early clubhouse lead. The Masters champion had finished tied for 19th at the US Open over a punishing Oakmont course – but ended the weekend on a positive following a three-under-par final round, which was the joint best of the day. The Northern Irishman – who saw his driver ruled as 'non-conforming' ahead of last month's PGA Championship before then missing the cut at the Canadian Open – had been looking to build some momentum at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell as focus turns towards the Open at Royal Portrush. Rory McIlroy made an impressive start in Cromwell (Jessica Hill/AP) World number two McIlroy landed a birdie at the second and then sank two more ahead of the turn at the final PGA Tour Signature Event of 2025. After picking up another couple, a further birdie at the 17th saw him finish six-under with 64, to sit in a tie for second, two shots behind early clubhouse leader Austin Eckroat. American Eckroat hit a fine eight-under round, which included an eagle at the par-three 15th and a sixth birdie at the 18th. McIlroy's playing partner Keegan Bradley is also at six-under, having dropped a shot at the 12th, alongside Wyndham Clark, the 2023 US Open champion. England's Tommy Fleetwood carded a first round of 66 to sit in a group tied for sixth. Scotland's Robert MacIntyre, runner-up at Oakmont on Sunday, finished one over following a double-bogey six on the 17th. World number one Scottie Scheffler, defending his Travelers Championship title, has been paired with newly-crowned US Open champion JJ Spaun in the later starters. Read More Rory McIlroy first to qualify for Team Europe Ryder Cup team
Reuters
2 days ago
- Sport
- Reuters
100 days from Ryder Cup, Keegan Bradley savoring journey
June 18 - U.S. captain Keegan Bradley said Wednesday that the only time he isn't thinking about September's Ryder Cup is when he is "inside the ropes Thursday through Sunday." With the start of the Ryder Cup now just 100 days away, Bradley fielded questions about the experience as he got ready to tee off in the Travelers Championship starting Thursday in Cromwell, Conn. "For the most part, I'm thinking only about the Ryder Cup," the first-time captain said. "I'm looking at the points list. I'm looking at potential pairings. I'm talking to the scouts. I'm talking to the vice captains. We're talking about strategy, bus ride schedules, media schedules." The 45th Ryder Cup competition against the defending champions from Team Europe runs from Sept. 26-28 at Bethpage Black on Long Island, N.Y. Bradley, 39, was serenaded with chants of "USA" from the fans on Sunday when he made his final putt of the U.S. Open, where he finished T33 at Oakmont Country Club. "Everywhere I go, I'm getting USA chants, people are cheering me on," he said. "... It's been something that I hadn't really expected, to be honest. It's taken me by surprise, and it's just a treat to go out there and play every day as the Ryder Cup captain." Bradley is still finalizing the roster, but it sure sounded like J.J. Spaun locked up a spot with his first major win on Sunday. "I think going to a course like Bethpage Black, the people are really going to be behind a guy like J.J. Spaun. His story is incredible. He's a hard working guy that's just building and building and building his whole career. To win the U.S. Open at Oakmont, in my eyes, is the pinnacle of major golf. It's as tough as you can get," Bradley said. "I think he's a guy that people at Bethpage will really resonate with and a guy that on our team is the heartbeat. He's now the U.S. Open champion. That's a heavy burden to bear, but he's also -- that's also a great thing to have on your team. "I'm really proud to have him on this team because it's really difficult to make your first team. To go out there the way he did this year and play in these big events this well is a testament to what a player he is." Bradley, who won the Travelers in 2023 and finished T39 last year, said the burden of his Ryder Cup responsibilities will temporarily disappear as he tackles the TPC River Highlands course this week for the PGA Tour season's final signature event. "I really have enjoyed every second of this," he said. "There's been no ... it hasn't affected me personally on the golf course, I don't think, but I really have enjoyed this so much." --Field Level Media
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
100 days from Ryder Cup, Keegan Bradley savoring journey
U.S. captain Keegan Bradley said Wednesday that the only time he isn't thinking about September's Ryder Cup is when he is "inside the ropes Thursday through Sunday." With the start of the Ryder Cup now just 100 days away, Bradley fielded questions about the experience as he got ready to tee off in the Travelers Championship starting Thursday in Cromwell, Conn. "For the most part, I'm thinking only about the Ryder Cup," the first-time captain said. "I'm looking at the points list. I'm looking at potential pairings. I'm talking to the scouts. I'm talking to the vice captains. We're talking about strategy, bus ride schedules, media schedules." The 45th Ryder Cup competition against the defending champions from Team Europe runs from Sept. 26-28 at Bethpage Black on Long Island, N.Y. Bradley, 39, was serenaded with chants of "USA" from the fans on Sunday when he made his final putt of the U.S. Open, where he finished T33 at Oakmont Country Club. "Everywhere I go, I'm getting USA chants, people are cheering me on," he said. "... It's been something that I hadn't really expected, to be honest. It's taken me by surprise, and it's just a treat to go out there and play every day as the Ryder Cup captain." Bradley is still finalizing the roster, but it sure sounded like J.J. Spaun locked up a spot with his first major win on Sunday. "I think going to a course like Bethpage Black, the people are really going to be behind a guy like J.J. Spaun. His story is incredible. He's a hard working guy that's just building and building and building his whole career. To win the U.S. Open at Oakmont, in my eyes, is the pinnacle of major golf. It's as tough as you can get," Bradley said. "I think he's a guy that people at Bethpage will really resonate with and a guy that on our team is the heartbeat. He's now the U.S. Open champion. That's a heavy burden to bear, but he's also that's also a great thing to have on your team. "I'm really proud to have him on this team because it's really difficult to make your first team. To go out there the way he did this year and play in these big events this well is a testament to what a player he is." Bradley, who won the Travelers in 2023 and finished T39 last year, said the burden of his Ryder Cup responsibilities will temporarily disappear as he tackles the TPC River Highlands course this week for the PGA Tour season's final signature event. "I really have enjoyed every second of this," he said. "There's been no ... it hasn't affected me personally on the golf course, I don't think, but I really have enjoyed this so much." Field Level Media
Newsweek
3 days ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
Justin Rose Drops 'Strong' Reaction to Ryder Cup Landing First Euro Player
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. There's still a lot of golf to be played between now and September, including the highly anticipated Open Championship. However, no fan has stopped keeping an eye on the upcoming Ryder Cup, especially now that the teams are starting to take shape. The American team recently announced that Scottie Scheffler is the first player confirmed for Bethpage Black. It didn't take long for the Europeans to confirm Rory McIlroy as their first lock. Another Ryder Cup veteran and fan favorite, Justin Rose, shared his excitement on his X account, which is followed by more than 913,000 users. "Strong first player in team," he posted. After finishing in the top 20 in the U.S. Open, McIlroy reached 3,040.95 points in the internal European Ryder Cup team ranking, securing his spot on the roster as the first of the six direct qualifiers. His three PGA Tour victories this season, including the Masters Tournament, naturally played a significant role in this result. The Northern Irishman also reacted on X to his official inclusion in the team: McIlroy has played in seven Ryder Cups, winning five. He has contributed 18 career points, and his best performance was in 2023 when he earned four points in five matches. At the beginning of the current season, the five-time major winner stated that winning the Ryder Cup again on American soil is among his goals for the remainder of his professional career: "Winning The Masters, winning an Olympic medal and another away Ryder Cup, they are my three goals for the rest of my career," he said last January. Only one of their five victories has come in the Americas. It was the famous 2012 edition, known as the "Miracle at Medinah," in which the Europeans trailed by four points (10-6) heading into the singles matches, but won 8.5 points on the final day to turn the score around and take the title. Justin Rose of Team Europe celebrates winning his match 3&2 during the Saturday afternoon fourball matches of the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf Club on September 30, 2023 in Rome, Italy. Justin Rose of Team Europe celebrates winning his match 3&2 during the Saturday afternoon fourball matches of the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf Club on September 30, 2023 in Rome, for the European Ryder Cup team Justin Rose is one of the European players with a strong chance of competing at Bethpage Black in September. Currently ninth in the rankings, the Englishman is a strong candidate to be one of captain Luke Donald's six free picks. Below are the top 12 rankings as of June 17: 1 Rory McIlroy 2 Tyrrell Hatton 3 Shane Lowry 4 Robert MacIntyre 5 Sepp Straka 6 Rasmus Højgaard 7 Tommy Fleetwood 8 Ludvig Åberg 9 Justin Rose 10 Viktor Hovland 11 Thomas Detry 12 Matt Wallace More Golf: Sam Burns shrugs off controversial ruling during U.S. Open meltdown
Newsweek
3 days ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
Rory McIlroy Drops Ryder Cup Message after U.S. Open Flop
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Rory McIlroy has long been one of the most dependable names when it comes to Ryder Cup contention. And this week, he finally got what many believed he deserved. Despite a frustrating U.S. Open run where he had to face consequences for breaking the tee box at Oakmont, McIlroy's season has been anything but dull. He kicked off 2025 with a win at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, followed by a dramatic playoff victory at THE PLAYERS Championship, where he edged out none other than J.J. Spaun, who would go on to win the U.S. Open. OAKMONT, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 12: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland smiles on the 12th tee during the first round of the 125th U.S. OPEN at Oakmont Country Club on June 12, 2025 in Oakmont, Pennsylvania.... OAKMONT, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 12: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland smiles on the 12th tee during the first round of the 125th U.S. OPEN at Oakmont Country Club on June 12, 2025 in Oakmont, Pennsylvania. (Photo by) More Getty Images But the real breakthrough came at Augusta, where McIlroy ended an 11-year major drought and completed his long-awaited career Grand Slam by winning the Masters. That win, combined with his consistent form, catapulted him to the top of the European Ryder Cup standings. And on Monday, European captain Luke Donald made it official: Rory McIlroy became the first automatic qualifier for Team Europe at the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black. McIlroy acknowledged the news with a bold five-word message on Instagram: "I'll see you at Bethpage." June 16th, 2025: Rory McIlroy seals Ryder Cup spot with five-word message to Luke Donald: "Let's see you at Bethpage." (Image Credits: @rorymcilroy on Instagram) June 16th, 2025: Rory McIlroy seals Ryder Cup spot with five-word message to Luke Donald: "Let's see you at Bethpage." (Image Credits: @rorymcilroy on Instagram) Instagram For a player who's been under multiple microscopes lately, it was the kind of validation he needed. Since the PGA Championship, McIlroy has faced criticism for skipping media duties—something he repeated during the first two days at the U.S. Open. He also withdrew from the Memorial Tournament, a signature event hosted by Jack Nicklaus, who has mentored McIlroy over the years. Still, his Ryder Cup legacy remains untarnished. Since debuting in 2010, McIlroy has played in seven consecutive Ryder Cups, helping Europe to five wins. Now, as he prepares for his eighth straight appearance, McIlroy's message is clear: he's ready to lead again. "Winning a Ryder Cup away from home is one of the biggest challenges there is in golf," he said. "We know it's going to be tough in New York, but we're all looking forward to that challenge." Luke Donald reacts to Rory McIlroy's Ryder Cup achievement As soon as the news went viral, European team captain, Luke Donald cheered up Rory posting: "Let's go! 👏" Shane Lowry, who is one of the closest PGA Tour pros to Rory, couldn't stop himself and chimed in, commenting, "😍🇪🇺🇪🇺🇪🇺" Justin Rose also expressed his love and respect for McIlroy as he took to X posting: "Strong first player in team@RyderCupEurope!!! 💙💛" A few days ago, Scottie Scheffler was announced as the first lock for the US Ryder Cup team captained by Keegan Bradley. With Rory and Scottie sitting at OWGR No. 2 and No. 1, respectively, the Ryder Cup storyline is writing itself. These two have set the tone for the 2025 season, and now they'll carry the weight of national colors at Bethpage Black, arguably one of golf's most intense cauldrons. More Golf: JJ Spaun Takes Massive Leap Up World Rankings amid U.S. Open Win
