Section: Sport:Golf

Four of Europe’s Ryder Cup heroes will be in action at this week’s Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland, headed by defending champion and three-time winner Tyrrell Hatton.

And you can bet your life they will get a much better reception from the fans than they did from the loud-mouthed yobs who hurled abuse at them at Bethpage Black.

Luke Donald’s team were certainly heroes as far as this column is concerned.

Tommy Fleetwood, another of the players teeing it up this week, was a 12-1 winner in the top points scorer market, and the 15-13 scoreline was also tipped here at 12-1

Justin Rose going out first in the singles, having been highlighted at 18-1, was the icing on the cake. Cameron Young also finished joint top in the USA points list with Xander Schauffele, having been advised at 25-1.

So the big question now is where do we “reinvest” the winnings, to try to keep the mood of celebration going?

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Alfred Dunhill Links Championship 2025 betting tips

Hatton seems an obvious starting point, given his incredible record in this event. 

In his last seven starts here, he has posted a couple of runner-ups as well as his three victories. And his worst finish was a share of 15th. So 7-1 looks reasonable.

Hatton is second favourite behind world No 7 Fleetwood, who has finished second here twice, and was third 12 months ago.

He is a general 6-1, with European team-mates Matt Fitzpatrick and Robert MacIntyre next on the list at around 10-1 and 12-1 respectively.

But the Ryder Cup was such a draining experience that I am reluctant to side with any of that quartet at short prices. They have earned a bit of down time, and may not be quite as focused on this event as usual.

Marco Penge, who was a bit unlucky not to get a wild card for Bethpage after winning twice this year, looks attractively priced at 20-1.

Penge missed the cut here last year – but that was largely due to a calamitous opening round of 75 at Carnoustie, where he had a NINE and a seven on the back nine.

That can happen at the toughest course on the planet. And the big-hitting Englishman bounced back well with rounds of 69 and 70 at Kingsbarns and St Andrews.

He is a much more accomplished player now, and is second only to Rory McIlroy on the current DP World Tour money list. He could easily go one better than his runner-up finish at the hotly-contested Scottish Open three months ago.

I also like the chances of another monster hitter, Rasmus Neergard-Petersen, who is a best priced 25-1. He seemed to thrive on the links when finishing joint fourth last year.

Previous form in this event is invaluable, so 40-1 shot Haotong Li also comes into the reckoning. His share of seventh last year was his second top ten here, and a tie for fourth at this year’s Open confirmed his love of links golf.

Among the longshots, the 80-1 about Laurie Canter and Peter Uhlein deserves a second look, while improving Frenchman Tom Vaillant looks over-priced at 150-1. The same thing applies to 200-1 shot Brandon Robinson-Thompson.

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Sanderson Farms Championship betting tips

The only Ryder Cup golfer playing in the PGA Tour’s Sanderson Farms Championship in Jackson, Mississippi is another European, Rasmus Hojgaard.

He had a tough debut at Bethpage, losing both his matches. So despite a couple of runner-up finishes in his last four starts, I’m not tempted by the 33-1 on offer.

But I am keen on the 33-1 available for Mackenzie Hughes. The Canadian won here in 2022, finished top ten last year, and arrives on the back of a share of seventh in the Procore, where ten of the US Ryder Cup team were in action. 

Emilian Grillo did even better at the Procore, finishing tied fourth. He also also played well in Jackson in the past. So he is another 33-1 shot on the shortlist.

Michael Thorbjornsen is starting to justify the hype after a stellar college career, and 25-1 looks fair. Do not get him confused with Thorbjorn Olesen – but 50-1 for the former Ryder Cup man means he might be worth backing too!

Beau Hossler is another 50-1 chance worth considering, and I haven’t lost faith completely in USPGA runner-up Davis Riley despite a bunch of missed cuts. 

At 150-1 he could be worth a small interest. David Lipsky was a big disappointment at the Procore, but two third places in his previous five starts suggests he is another 150-1 shot to think about.

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SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER admitted his torrid Ryder Cup was “one of the lowest moments of my career”.

The dominant world No1 arrived at Bethpage expected to lead the USA team by example.

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But in harrowingly similar fashion to his 9&7 defeat with Brooks Koepka to Ludvig Aberg and Viktor Hovland, he started Friday morning with a crushing 5&3 foursomes loss alongside Russell Henley to Aberg and Matt Fitzpatrick.

And Scheffler, 29, became the first American to go 0-4 in the first four sessions in Ryder Cup history.

The reigning PGA Championship and Open champion, though, did beat Rory McIlroy in the singles to ensure he did not leave New York pointless.

Scheffler said: “I think it’s hard to put into words how much it hurt to lose all four matches. This week did not go how I anticipated it going for myself and I’m a little bit bummed.

“To have the trust of my captains and team-mates to go out there and play all four matches and lose all four, it’s really hard to put into words how much that stings and hurts.

“It was probably one of the lowest moments of my career, but it turned out to be one of the most special, just because I’ve got great friends in this room and I was really proud to be battling with these guys for three days.”

McIlroy and Scheffler spoke to each other on the course about their mental, physical and emotional exhaustion as both men played in all five sessions.

McIlroy said he was “running on empty” and described their match as a “pillow fight”.

Scheffler added: “Things just did not work out the way I anticipated, it was a difficult week for me personally but I was proud to be able to get a point.

“It’s tough, playing all five matches is a grind. I’m pretty tired.”

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RYDER CUP 2025 LIVE: FOLLOW ALL THE LATEST FROM BETHPAGE BLACK

RORY MCILROY said he wished the police “let the dogs off the leash” during the “unacceptable” fan behaviour at the Battle of Bethpage.

But he admitted it was “very f***ing satisfying” to stick it back to the abusers by walking away with 3.5 points and, more importantly, the Ryder Cup trophy in Europe’s grasp.

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McIlroy was abused all week long in New York but it boiled over during his wins on Saturday.

He swore back at the crowd for the incessant vitriol – telling one yob to “shut the f*** up” in the morning before declaring “I’m really f***ing good” later during his fiery fourballs victory with Shane Lowry.

And things got so out of control that the police stepped in with troopers lining the ropes and dogs on hand to restore order.

But while some idiots were ejected for their conduct, McIlroy would have liked to see them have to deal with the K9s.

Speaking in a jubilant winning press conference after a nervy 15-13 European win, he said: “I wish they had let the dogs off the leashes.

“The police out there and the amount of security presence was insane.

“Look, nothing was going to happen. There wasn’t going to be physical altercation [but] there was a lot of language that was unacceptable and abusive behaviour.

“We should ever accept that in golf.

“It was a rough week for all of us. But at the same time, we shut them up by our performance and how we played.

“I chirped back a few times because it got to me a few times, but we tried to handle everything that came our way with class and poise, and for the most part, I felt like we did that.”

McIlroy had to deal with shocking heckles about his personal life throughout the weekend – all within earshot of wife Erica.

And he heaped praise on her for showing “class, poise and dignity” after she was verbally and physically assaulted by the horrific New York crowds, including having a beer thrown at her on Saturday.

An emotionally drained McIlroy, who lost his “pillow fight” of a singles match to world No1 Scottie Scheffler, continued: “It should be off-limits, but obviously it wasn’t this week.

“Erica is fine. She’s a very, very strong woman.

“She handled everything this week with class, poise and dignity like she always has.

“I love her and we’re going to have a good time celebrating tonight.”

As applause broke out among the European players, close pal Lowry then added: “I was out there for two days with Erica McIlroy, and the amount of abuse that she received was astonishing.

“The way she was out there supporting her husband and supporting her team was unbelievable, and kudos to her for that.”

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RORY MCILROY has been involved in even more Ryder Cup fan drama over squeaky rubber ducks.

The Northern Irish ace has been one of the stars of the tournament so far as Team Europe look to keep hold of the famous trophy.

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RYDER CUP 2025 LIVE: FOLLOW ALL THE LATEST FROM BETHPAGE BLACK

McIlroy, 36, has been involved in clashes with the US fans on each day of the Ryder Cup.

And during the singles, it was no different as fans continuously tried to put him off with squeaky rubber ducks.

NBC has reported that the toys were handed out for free to fans who had bought a Cherry fizz drink on Sunday.

This led to the Bethpage Black Golf Course being filled with many of them, which were used to disrupt the play.

McIlroy had had enough of it by the time he tried to take his tee shot on the 10th hole during his match with Scottie Scheffler.

He could be seen asking security to remove fans who made the ducks squeak while he attempted to take his shot.

After speaking to the officials, McIlroy finally took his shot, but it ended up in the rough.

It is believed that the disruptive fans were kicked out by the staff.

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Fans watching from the comfort of their home have had a mixed reaction to the rubber ducks on social media.

One posted: “Squeaky ducks! Now we’re talking. That is the Ryder Cup.”

A second wrote: “Rubber Duck-gate was not on my bingo card for the Ryder Cup but here we are.”

A third commented: “Wonder what toy the Europeans will give the fans in Ireland in 2027.”

A fourth said: “It is such a stupid idea.”

The moment came just a day after McIlrou told the crowd to “shut the f*** up”.

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The blast came as he was being jeered while lining up a shot.

McIlroy’s wife Erica has also been the target of abuse as she was hit by a drink thrown from the stands.

She was left in tears as she was walked off the course.

McIlroy also refused to play at one point due to the amount of abuse he was subjected to on Saturday evening.

McIlroy is not the only golfer to lose his cool as Shane Lowry shouted expletives at a heckler.

RASMUS HOJGAARD has the rather regrettable responsibility of replacing his twin brother at the 2025 Ryder Cup.

Here we get to know the Danish driver’s better half Julie Sander Danielsen, who’s a regular and supportive presence at her boyfriend’s tournaments.

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Who is Rasmus Hojgaard?

Rasmus Hojgaard was born on March 12, 2001, in Billund, Denmark.

He began playing golf aged four with his identical twin brother Nicolai.

Both brothers rose rapidly in the sport, reaching the pinnacle of the game — Nicolai was part of the victorious European Ryder Cup team in 2023.

Unfortunately, he didn’t make Team Europe this year — for the 2025 Ryder Cup, only one change has been made to the lineup.

Nicolai was replaced by twin brother Rasmus after he qualified through the ranking system.

Rasmus turned professional in 2019, making his mark by winning the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open the same year.

In the process, he became the third-youngest winner in European Tour history at just 18 years and 271 days old.

Rasmus has gone on to collect five European Tour wins so far, including notable victories such as the 2020 ISPS Handa UK Championship, 2021 Omega European Masters and 2023 Made in Himmerland in Denmark.

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The twin brothers hold the record for being the first siblings to win European Tour events in back-to-back weeks.

Rasmus missed the 2023 Ryder Cup due to injury, but will be keen to make amends at this year’s event.

Who is Rasmus Hojgaard’s girlfriend Julie Sander Danielsen?

Rasmus Hojgaard’s girlfriend is Julie Sander Danielsen, who leads a relatively secretive life away from the public spotlight. 

Julie hails from Vejle, Denmark — although she now lives in Aarhus, the country’s second-largest city.

Rasmus and Julie have been seen together on social media and at events dating back as far as 2019.

However specific details of how they met and their ongoing relationship remain private.

Ryder Cup 2025 – all the info

The Ryder Cup is back THIS WEEK as Team Europe hope to defend their crown on American soil

Luke Donald‘s team has travelled to New York ahead of the big start on Friday.

Europe has dominated the prestigious competition in the 21st century, winning eight of the 11 meetings since 2002.

But only two of those wins have come in the United States, with Team USA winning both the 2021 and 2016 competitions.

In fact, Team Europe has only won one of the four Ryder Cups held in the US – 2012 – since their win there in 2004 and Team USA enter as the odds-on bookies’ favourites.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Ryder Cup 2025…

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All the info

Latest news

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Julie does share some aspects of her life on social media — she has two dogs named Berta and Manfred. 

She’s currently studying business administration and law at Aarhus University in Denmark, according to her LinkedIn profile.

When is the Ryder Cup 2025 on?

The Ryder Cup is a biennial competition between teams from the US and Europe.

The 2025 edition starts on Friday, 26 September and lasts for three days, taking place at Bethpage Black, Farmingdale, New York.

Friday features foursomes and fourball matches, with Saturday following a similar format, while Sunday consists of twelve singles matches.

Taking a break from the more impartial approach of previous years, NBC has announced a special guest broadcaster for this year’s Ryder Cup coverage.

NBC’s lead golf producer Tommy Roy boasted about how its presenters and pundits will be very unabashedly partisan towards the Team US.

He also revealed that English great and five-time Ryder Cup winner Nick Faldo will be back in the booth at Bethpage Black.

GOLF star Charley Hull stunned in an elegant dress as she attended Donald Trump’s state banquet at Windsor Castle.

The US president is on a state visit to the UK and met King Charles on Wednesday.

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He also hosted a state banquet at Windsor Castle with 150 guests, including golf royalty.

Sir Nick Faldo was in attendance along with Hull, who wowed with her outfit choice.

The world No.10 caught the eye in a silk gown and posted a selfie on Instagram ahead of the dinner.

She captioned the post: “Swapped the golf gear for something a little more fancy.”

Hull, who won the Kroger Queen City Championship at the weekend, is a big Trump supporter.

She said of the American president: “I love Trump. I think he’s brilliant.’

“I like how he just says things, he doesn’t care what people think and he’s straight to the point.

“I wish he was head of the UK. I just like him as a person. He’s a little better than our Prime Minister.”

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Trump, who is a big golf fan, shared the message Hull wrote on Truth Social.

He also invited Faldo along to the banquet, who attended alongside his wife Lindsay De Marco.

A RYDER CUP star was dumped out of the BMW PGA Championship after three rounds – following a rarely-seen SECOND CUT.

All 12 Team Europe players plus captain Luke Donald teed it up at Wentworth this week in the last big event before they fly to New York to face the USA.

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But DP World Tour chiefs were forced into an unusual rule change.

A whopping 86 made it through the regular cut at the mid-way point after 36 holes on Friday evening – with 26 players tied on two-under-par.

However, a secondary cut can be introduced by the Tournament Director after the third round on Saturday to reduce the field for the final day if more than 84 make it to the weekend.

The secondary cut is designed to ensure the maximum number of players on Sunday is 78.

This was the first time the little-known rule was implemented on the DP World Tour since the Hero Dubai Desert Classic in 2023.

That ensures the leaders can go out at 11.10am on Sunday – allowing enough time for a possible play-off and to stick to TV schedules.

However, it was bad news for Robert MacIntyre.

The fiery Scot – who slammed his driver into the ground after a wayward tee shot on the sixth hole – missed out on a tee time for Sunday’s final round as one of the unlucky 13 to miss the additional cut.

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His level-par 72 kept him at -2 and sent him packing alongside Alex Fitzpatrick and Niklas Norgaard among others.

But unlike the regular cut, the 13 golfers ditched after Saturday are still entitled to both ranking points in the Race To Dubai and prize money from Wentworth.

Tommy Fleetwood, fresh from his maiden PGA Tour win, just scraped through to Sunday on -3 with Rory McIlroy two shots better off.

Justin Rose, Jon Rahm and Shane Lowry are all at -7 with Ludvig Aberg and Matt Fitzpatrick on -10.

But MacIntyre’s European team-mates Viktor Hovland (-12) and Tyrrell Hatton (-13) will be hoping to chase down the leaders Alex Noren and Adrien Saddier on -15.

Ironically, Noren is a vice-captain for Donald at Bethpage Black in two weeks’ time.

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Ryder Cup line ups

Here are the players who will be competing in the Ryder Cup…

Team Europe

• Luke Donald (C)
• Shane Lowry
• Jon Rahm
• Sepp Straka
• Viktor Hovland
• Ludvig Aberg
• Matt Fitzpatrick
• Rory McIlroy
• Robert MacIntyre
• Tommy Fleetwood
• Justin Rose
• Rasmus Hojgaard
• Tyrrell Hatton

Team USA

• Keegan Bradley (C)
• Justin Thomas
• Collin Morikawa
• Ben Griffin
• Cameron Young
• Patrick Cantley
• Sam Burns
• Scottie Scheffler
• JJ Spaun
• Xander Schauffele
• Russell Henley
• Harris English
• Bryson DeChambeau

Tyrrell Hatton has revealed how he got hopelessly drunk – and violently sick! – after qualifying for his fourth Ryder Cup.

Hatton said he went on a “bit of a tear-up” with Jon Rahm – the player he teamed up with in Rome two years ago – when European captain Luke Donald rang to confirm he was definitely on the team.

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That came as a surprise to the English ace. He feared he would be knocked out of the six automatic spots on the team by some of the European stars in action at last month’s Tour Championship.

He explained: “Luke called me to say the guys weren’t earning points in Atlanta, and I’d actually made the team automatically. That was a very nice phone call to receive, and I was over the moon.

“Jon had just won the LIV individual title, so we had a bit of a tear-up. Yeah, that was a messy night. I don’t ever want to get into that state again to be honest.

“When I actually got back into my hotel room, I fell across the bed sideways, face down and fell asleep in that position.

“Then I woke up throwing up in that same position.

“Then I fell back asleep, and when I woke up again, I had gotten sick all down my arms, both sides, all down my shirt.

“I get off the bed and walk around to the bathroom, look in the mirror, and I’ve got sick on my face, and in my beard.

“How I set an alarm to make a flight in a few hours’ time, I don’t know.

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“But yeah, waking up in a slightly more sober state was horrendous, and having to clean up that mess. I ended up calling my wife, Emily, and saying: ‘I don’t know what to do’.

“I was rushing to make the room somewhat more acceptable before leaving.

“So I ended up stripping the bed, leaving some cash and a note, saying I was really sorry, I was sick in the bed in the night, please throw it in the trash.

“I feel like I did the right thing but I was obviously in a pretty bad state. I do not ever want to feel as bad as I did that next day. Yeah, that was aggressive.”

Hatton, 33, who is one of the star attractions at this week’s BMW PGA Championship, proceeded to give details of just how much he had drunk – admitting the episode was like a remake of the hit film The Hangover.

He added: “I had like six glasses of wine at dinner, and then I had a double gin and tonic.

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“Drunk that at a very normal rate, and then Jon was deciding what he wanted and he said Disaronno Sours.

“And I was like, perfect, go on them. They go down very easily.

“Then I was starting the chant of basically getting someone to down it, and then every cocktail that then followed was a shot.

“So we then ran out of Disaronno Sour. The guy at the bar made some hazelnut sour which wasn’t great, but we still had a few of them.

“Then there was a margarita and then there was a strawberry vodka thing.

“God, it was aggressive. It was horrible. But I mean, it was funny at the time. Not so much the next day.”

Ryder Cup line ups

Here are the players who will be competing in the Ryder Cup…

Team Europe

• Luke Donald (C)
• Shane Lowry
• Jon Rahm
• Sepp Straka
• Viktor Hovland
• Ludvig Aberg
• Matt Fitzpatrick
• Rory McIlroy
• Robert MacIntyre
• Tommy Fleetwood
• Justin Rose
• Rasmus Hojgaard
• Tyrrell Hatton

Team USA

• Keegan Bradley (C)
• Justin Thomas
• Collin Morikawa
• Ben Griffin
• Cameron Young
• Patrick Cantley
• Sam Burns
• Scottie Scheffler
• JJ Spaun
• Xander Schauffele
• Russell Henley
• Harris English
• Bryson DeChambeau

A pair of British golfers have been booted out of a Donald Trump Invitational event.

England‘s Sam Bairstow and Scotland‘s Calum Hill were among the DP World Tour pros in action for the Nexo Championship at Trump International Golf Links in Scotland this week.

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However, disaster struck as the duo endured a nightmare time on the green.

Bairstow, who had been among the bookies’ favourites to win a maiden DP World Tour title event, saw his game go off course with a major error at the end of his opening round.

The 26-year-old had noted down a five on the par-4 14th hole, when he had actually shot a seven after missing a fairway with his tee shot and forced to hit a provisional.

And having not found his original tee shot, the Englishman played a tap-in thinking he had made a bogey, a mistake neither of his playing partners had picked up either, when he actually made a triple bogey

He had headed into the scorers’ tent believing he was one-over with a score of 73, but it was later revealed to him that he was actually three-over 75.

Bairstow then dropped another stinker with a double-bogey at the par-5 closing hole.

And less than 24 hours later, Hill was also ejected from the Championship after failing to hole out at the eighth – his penultimate shot of the day.

The two-time DP World Tour winner endured a frustrating afternoon in tough conditions as he finished round one on four-over courtesy of a torrid back nine holes on Thursday.

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A bogey on par-5 on Friday gave way in the second round to a birdie on the par-4 15th – only for that to be immediately cancelled with a dropped shot attempt on the following par-3.

At six-over he then suffered another birdie-bogey before adding another bogey on the fourth.

His tournament then ended on hole 17 as Hill missed a par putt from inside nine feet – with the cut-off line being three-over. – before he decided to call it a day.

The duo won’t collect anything from their efforts on Scotland’s north-east coast either.

However, Hill is not likely to fall any lower than his current 26th rank in the Race to Dubai, while Bairstow is set to fall four places from 54 to 58.

THE Open is set to return to Royal Portrush THIS WEEK for the 153rd edition of the iconic golf tournament.

Some huge names will feature in Northern Ireland, including home hero Rory McIlroy.

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McIlroy is eyeing another Major title after he ended his 11-year drought by winning the Masters in April.

The golf icon failed to make the cut in 2019 when The Open was last hosted at Portrush.

Shane Lowry was victorious when the tournament was last played on the prestigious Northern Irish course.

To this day, it’s Lowry’s only Major win, and he will be looking to repeat history this week.

Some huge names feature in the star-studded 156-player field – but is Tiger Woods one of them?

Is Tiger Woods playing at The Open 2025?

Tiger Woods will NOT feature at the 153rd Open as he continues to recover from a ruptured Achilles tendon.

His absence means the three-time Claret Jug winner will have missed all four of the annual Major tournaments.

Woods last competed in a PGA Tour event 12 months ago, when The Open was held at Royal Troon.

The 15-time Major champion missed the cut in his last outing.

How to watch The Open 2025

In the UK, The Open will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Golf throughout the tournament.

Sky Sports customers can live stream all the action via the NOW/Sky Sports app.

In the US, the tournament will be aired on USA, NBC Sports and Peacock.

FIRE-BREATHING US Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley may just have given himself the chance to finally unlock the suitcase that has remained off for limits nearly 11 years.

After experiencing a second successive Ryder Cup defeat at Gleneagles in 2014, Bradley vowed never to unpack his case until he finished on a winning USA team.

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That looked increasingly unlikely as the man from Vermont failed to play his way back onto the team, was controversially snubbed for a wild card in 2023, and was then installed as US captain a year ago.

But exactly a year to the day after he was asked if he wanted to take on the Ryder Cup captaincy, he clinched a victory that handed him a whole new dilemma.

Bradley, who jumped at the chance to do the job Tiger Woods had already turned down, has spent the last year playing down his chances of becoming the Ryder Cup’s first player-captain since Arnold Palmer doubled up in 1963.

But after his dramatic win in the Travelers Championship, he admitted he would have to take a “pretty hard look” at whether he should be on his own team.

In front of a Connecticut crowd chanting ‘USA, USA’, Bradley took advantage of Tommy Fleetwood’s three-putt bogey on the final hole by sinking a six footer for birdie – and a one shot victory.

That propelled him to a career high seventh in the world rankings, and catapulted him from 17th to ninth on the Ryder Cup qualifying list.

Only the top six qualify automatically. But the question now is whether Bradley, 39, can afford NOT to pick himself, unless his form falls off a cliff between now and September 26, when the battle with Europe begins at Bethpage Black in New York.

No-one can doubt Bradley’s passion for the Ryder Cup. Or anything else.

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He has become famous for the sort of frenzied celebrations that followed his latest win – letting out a massive roar, screaming a few obscenities at the adoring New England crowds and chest bumping caddie Scott Vail.

When he calmed down, a sheepish-looking Bradley confessed: “I kind of lost it again there, didn’t I? I might be in trouble with my mom for using some bad words.”

It would not be the first time.

Despite being known for his fiery nature, Bradley shocked plenty of people with his outburst in the USA’s President Cup team room, shortly after holing the winning putt  in their victory over the Internationals last year.

He roared: “I’ve been doubted my whole f***ing life, That’s when I do my best work. We are gonna go to Bethpage to kick their f***ing ass.”

Bradley later claimed he was surprised that comment was broadcast on Netflix’s Full Swing series. Really?

They did not hold back from showing the stunned reaction of the entire Bradley family when he missed out on a wild card pick from Zach Johnson two years ago, with the out of form Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler picked ahead of him.

Maybe the memory of how the Scottish crowd taunted Bradley over his exaggerated pre-shot routine – a dozen or more club twirls, and backing away from his ball a few times before pulling the trigger – counted against him.

And his volatile on-course antics, which once saw him in a World Match Play face-off with Migel Angel Jimenez that had to be defused by a rules official, has also raised a few eyebrows.

Off the course, Bradley is a completely different animal – a devoted family man who dotes on wife Jillian and their two sons.

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And he has formed a close friendship with basketball legend Michael Jordan.

Bradley was their original brand ambassador when the range of Jordan golf shoes was launched, and he still wears them now. Do not be surprised if golf nut Jordan is one of the US cheerleaders at Bethpage Black in September.

Bradley, 39, insists he will not surrender the US captaincy, “under any circumstances”.

But he admitted the possibility of doubling up – and leaning more heavily on vice-captains Webb Simpson, Brandt Snedeker, Kevin Kinsner and Jim Furyk to look after the off course stuff – is now a real possibility.

He said: “This changes the story a little bit. I never would have thought about playing if I hadn’t won. This definitely opens the door to play.

“I don’t know if I’m going to do it or not, but I certainly have to take a pretty hard look at what’s best for the team and we’ll see.

“I never really planned on playing. I really wanted to just be the captain. I really felt strongly about that. I want to serve the guys. They asked me to do a job. I want to do it to the best of my abilities.

“Now, with the amazing vice captains that I have, and I have a better perspective of playing in the Presidents Cup and being around a lot of the guys, I feel a lot more comfortable if I went that route.”

“It’s still only June, so we’ve still got a long ways to go. This definitely changes things a little bit, and we’ll all get together and figure out the best way to do this.”

PAIGE SPIRANAC was forced to make a statement after a viral video did the rounds online.

Influencer Paige cleared the air after a bizarre clip showing a woman falling off a golf buggy was shared online.

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In the clip, a blonde lady sipped a can of beer while clinging onto the side of a moving cart.

She seemed to be loving life as she vibed while clutching a handle.

But in a painful moment, things went south as the woman fell off the buggy.

The video ended with her landing on the ground and her sunglasses flying off her head.

The beer also didn’t make it, with the woman’s can spilling all over the green.

Her identity was not revealed on social media.

Yet she bore an uncanny resemblance to fan favourite Paige, leading some to speculate it was the golf goddess herself.

But Paige quickly went online to put the rumours to bed.

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She fired out a defiant statement insisting it was not her in the clip.

However, Paige still managed to see the funny side as she ended her statement with a hilarious quip.

She declared: “I would like to clear up the speculation. This is not me.

“We all know I wouldn’t be wearing a polo.”

Fans were quick to react to Paige’s message.

One said: “You would have stuck the landing.”

Another declared: “Sounds like something someone who fell off a golf cart would say.”

One noted: “We were worried for a moment.”

Another added: “I’m glad you cleared this up, too funny!”

A glimpse inside Paige Spiranac’s glamorous life…

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DENTIST Matt Vogt is determined to extract as much joy as possible from his emotional homecoming, as he makes his US Open debut just a couple of months after losing his father to cancer.

The fact that the tournament is being played at Oakmont in Pennsylvania – where Vogt caddied for six years as a youngster before earning a college scholarship – makes the event even more poignant.

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Vogt, 34, was born and brought up a few miles from  Oakmont.

So he is guaranteed plenty of support this week, especially as TV stations in the US have been portraying his story as a modern-day fairytale.

At 6ft 6in, the big-hitting amateur will not be hard to spot.

And he expects to experience an emotional roller-coaster over the next few days.

His dad, Jim, died from colon cancer just a few weeks before Vogt earned a spot in the US Open field the hard way – winning a regional heat, and then finishing top of the pile again in a hotly-contested final qualifier.

Back-to-back 68s at Wine Valley in Washington saw him finish ahead of plenty of seasoned PGA Tour players.

So he has plenty of game, despite the fact he has never even considered turning professional himself.

Vogt alternated between smiling broadly and fighting back tears, as he explained what it meant to be teeing off in a Major championship just a few yards away from where he used to hang out in the caddyshack.

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He commented: “Oh, wow. Oh my goodness. I don’t know where to start.

“I just hope that what has happened to me will be an inspiration to anyone who is going through a tough time, wondering when the next good thing will happen.

“I think everyone knows about my dad’s passing, and it’s bound to be on my mind a lot this week, especially with it being Father’s Day on Sunday.

“Even walking up the ninth fairway today after signing some autographs for some little kids – which was pretty awesome, by the way – I kind of looked up and thought about it.

“Anyone who’s lost a parent, you feel these brief spurts of emotion, from time to time.

“He had colon cancer. I wear the blue ribbon for that, and I say a prayer every night for people who have been affected by cancer.

“It’s a horrible, horrible thing. He got that diagnosis last year, and it wasn’t good.

“Over the past few months before his passing, you could see it was starting to take a toll. So it’s emotional, but honestly, I know he’s in a better place.

“He was beginning to suffer, and that’s something no one ever wants to see.

“Although I wish he was still here with us, there’s a sense of peace among our family. And I hope he’s at peace as well, because it was hard.

“And for me, I have a 15-month-old daughter now, and the last few months, I feel like in a way I’ve gone from a boy to a man, and like matured as a person and as a dad.”

Vogt, who has played in the US Amateur and Mid-Amateur golf tournaments, has been inundated with good luck messages from his patients, fellow dentists, other players – and the local caddies, who are all rooting for him.

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SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER appears to have made a lighthearted joke about his arrest with a bold outfit choice at the PGA Championship.

The American, 28, was arrested by police outside of the PGA Championship hours before tee-off last year after trying to drive into the entrance around the scene of a fatal bus crash.

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He faced charges of second-degree assault of a police officer, third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving and disregarding traffic signals from an officer directing traffic.

The criminal charges against him were dropped just 12 days after his arrest, but not before his mugshot from the Valhalla Golf Club incident went viral across the internet.

And it is that famous image of him wearing orange overalls that he appears to have taken a nod to with his outfit this year.

The World No.1 was seen wearing an orange polo shirt with the Nike symbol plastered on.

He appeared to be in far calmer waters wearing orange colours this time around.

Reacting on social media, one fan said: “New tradition.”

A second said: “I was so hoping that he would do this. Nice move Scotty.”

A third added: “They let anyone in majors now a days,” followed by laughing emojis.

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Another said: “He’s got to be messing?”

Other users reckoned the burnt orange colour was a nod to his time at the University of Texas in Austin, with the orange being the burnt orange.

Scottie Scheffler is eyeing his third PGA Championship at Quali Hollow in North Carolina.

The first round of tee offs have already begun, with Scheffler in the same round one group as Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele at 1.22pm UK time.

In the UK, the PGA Championship will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Golf.

Sky Sports customers can live stream all the action via the Sky Sports app.

THE second golf Major of the season is here with the PGA Championship from the stunning Quail Hollow.

Having completed the Career Gland Slam at Augusta in the previous big one, Rory McIlroy will arrive at his most fruitful venue on the PGA Tour, surely in the best condition he’s ever been and with an ability to swing free.

He’s still not the pick of the bookmakers though, with Scottie Scheffler heading an ultra-competitive field in the betting markets and a host of top golfers on their tails.

SunSport’s betting experts have taken a closer look at the tournament to provide you with the best bets, exclusive offers, bonus deals and amazing price boosts.

The 7 best sign-up offers for the PGA Championship 2025

William Hill

Offer: Bet £10, Get £30 in free bets and bonuses

William Hill are marking golf’s second Major of the season with a fabulous offer for new customers, rewarding brand new punters the opportunity to claim £30 in free bets and bonuses.

BetMGM

Offer: Get £40 in free bets when you stake £10

BetMGM are rewarding new customers with £40 in free bets when staking £10 on the action from Quail Hollow! Those free bets can be used on specific bets in the BetMGM sportsbook!

talkSPORT BET

Offer: Get £30 in free bets when you place a £10 bet

Ahead of the PGA Championship, talkSPORT BET have a terrific new customer offer. New punters who sign-up and stake a tenner on any sports – including any golf market – will receive £30 in free bets.

Betfred

Offer: Get £50 in free bets if you bet £10

Betfred’s new customer offer has always been popular and in the golf world it’s no different! They are offering all brand new customers a massive £50 in free bets if you sign-up and stake just £10 on sports.

Tote

Offer: Bet £10, Get £40 in bonuses

Tote have a generous welcome bonus for new customers with a massive £40 in free bets and bonuses up for grabs when new customers place a £10 bet on the PGA Championship.

bet365

Offer: Get £30 in free bets when you bet £10

The ever-popular bet365 are giving brand new customers to a tasty £30 in free bets to spend on the upcoming PGA Championship when they register an account and stake £10 on anything!

SBK

Offer: Bet £10, Get £30 in free bets

Joining SBK now will give brand new customers £30 in free bets to spend on any sport market – including the golf Majors- when you place £10.

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PGA Championship 2025 price boosts

William Hill

Money back if Rory McIlroy wins the PGA Championship

Punters will receive their stake back as a free bet – up to a maximum of £50 – if their selection loses and Rory McIlroy WINS the PGA Championship.

The promotion applies to the first bet placed on the PGA Championship and must be placed before 6pm UK time on Thursday 15th May 2025.

talkSPORT BET

Rory McIlroy to win the PGA Championship – was 9/2 NOW 5/1

talkSPORT BET have boosted the odds on Rory McIlroy to win the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow!

The usual price of 9/2 has gone and the bookmaker is offering super boosted odds of 5/1 for the Northern Irishman to back up his Masters win with another here!

PGA Championship 2025 latest odds

Latest odds

• Scottie Scheffler – 4/1
• Rory McIlroy – 9/2
• Bryson DeChambeau – 9/1
• Jon Rahm – 18/1
• Justin Thomas – 20/1
• Xander Schauffele – 22/1
• Collin Morikawa – 22/1
• Ludvig Aberg – 25/1
• Joaquin Niemann – 33/1
• Patrick Cantlay – 40/1
• Tommy Fleetwood – 40/1
• Brooks Koepka – 45/1
• Hideki Matsuyama – 45/1
• Tyrrell Hatton – 45/1
• Viktor Hovland  – 55/1
• Shane Lowry – 55/1
• Jordan Spieth – 60/1
• Russell Henley – 70/1
• Sepp Straka – 70/1
• Corey Conners – 70/1
• Jason Day – 80/1
• Patrick Reed – 80/1
• Min Woo Lee – 90/1
• Sungjae Im – 100/1
• Daniel Berger – 100/1
• Wyndham Clark – 110/1
• Justin Rose – 110/1
• Tony Finau – 110/1
• Cameron Smith – 125/1
• Sergio Garcia – 125/1
• Dustin Johnson -125/1
• Robert MacIntyre – 125/1
• Maverick McNealy – 125/1
• Sam Burns – 125/1
• Keegan Bradley – 125/1
• Will Zalatoris – 125/1
• Si-Woo Kim – 125/1
• Keith Mitchell – 125/1
• Byeong-Hun An – 150/1
• Akhshay Bhatia – 150/1
• J.J. Spaun – 150/1
• David Puig – 150/1
• Aaron Rai – 150/1

Odds from Betfred

Terms and conditions

*BetMGM: New customers only. 7 days to place qualifying bet of £10 at 1/1 (2.0) to receive 4 x £10 Free Bets: 1 x £10 football, 1 x £10 horse racing & 2 x £10 Bet Builders. Free Bets cannot be used on e-sports and non UK/IE horse racing. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. Full T&Cs apply.

*talkSPORT BET: 18+ New customers only. Opt in via mobile or app and bet £10 on any sports market (odds of 2.00+) within 7 days of registration. Get 3x£10 Free Bets on selected sports markets, which expire in 7 days. Scroll for T&Cs. GambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly

*William Hill: 18+. Play Safe. From 00:01 on 18.10.2022. £30 bonus. New customers only. Minimum £10 stake on odds of 1/2 (1.5) or greater on sportsbook (excluding Virtual markets). Further terms apply.

*Betfred: New customers only. Register (excl 05/04/25), deposit with Debit Card, and place first bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get 3 x £10 in Sports Free Bets & 2 x £10 in Acca Free Bets within 10 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility exclusions & T&Cs Apply. Eligibility & payment exclusions apply. Full T&Cs apply.

*Tote: New customers online only. Eligibility restrictions apply. Only valid with code B10G40 on registration. £10 min qualifying bet at 1/1 (2.0) odds or greater across sports or racing (if EW then min £10 Win + £10 Place). Receive £20 Tote Credit, £10 Free Sports Bet and 50 Free Spins on Big Bass Bonanza within 48 hours of qualifying bet settlement. 7-day expiry on free bets & Tote Credit. Your first bet will be your qualifying bet. One per customer. UK & ROI customers only. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Gambleaware.org .Full T&Cs apply.

*bet365. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply.

*SBK. New UK customers. Min £10 first deposit. Place a bet of £10 at min odds of 2.0 and get £30 in Free Bets within 48 hours. Restrictions apply. Full T&Cs apply, 18+. BeGambleAware.org.

*William Hill price boost. Available 08:00 12/05 – 18:00 15/05. First cash single only on Tournament winner (excl. McIlroy or Price Boosts). FB equal to qualifying stake. Online: Max 1 FB up to £50 (Exp 25/05). Full T&Cs apply. 18+ GambleAware.Org.

Remember to gamble responsibly

A responsible gambler is someone who:

• Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
• Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
• Never chase their losses
• Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
• Gamcare – gamcare.org.uk
• GambleAware – GambleAware.org

Read our guide on responsible gambling practices.

For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.