Stunned Justin Thomas is filmed saying ‘9&7’ to his caddy after realising USA Ryder Cup team-mates Brooks Koepka and Scottie Scheffler were pummelled by that margin during record victory for Europe’s Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg
- Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg won after just 11 holes in the foursomes
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A shocked Justin Thomas was filmed saying ‘9&7’ to his caddy after discovering his Ryder Cup team-mates Brooks Koepka and Scottie Scheffler had suffered a record-breaking foursomes loss.
World number one Scheffler and five-time major winner Koepka suffered a humiliating defeat as Europe continued to dominate the 44th Ryder Cup in Rome.
The American pair were five over par for the first three holes as they crumbled to a 9&7 defeat by Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg, the largest margin of victory in any 18-hole match in the event’s history.
Thomas was stunned after discovering his team-mates defeat during his foursomes round with Jordan Speith, with the former world number one filmed saying ‘9&7 to his caddy.
The result extended the home side’s lead to six points and it looked like there would be more to come as Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood were three up with six to play against Thomas and Spieth in the opening foursomes.
Ludvig Aberg and Viktor Hovland celebrated victory after just 11 holes in the foursomes
Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton were ahead by the same margin in the bottom match against Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele, with Brian Harman and Max Homa putting the only American red on the board as they led Shane Lowry and Sepp Straka by one hole after 10.
Europe captain Luke Donald had warned his side to be wary of the US players reacting like ‘a wounded animal’ as they looked to overturn a record-equalling five-point deficit, but the only wounds on show were entirely self-inflicted.
Hovland and Aberg were one over par for the first three holes but won them all, before Aberg almost made a hole-in-one on the fourth.
Another birdie on the sixth took the European pair five up and with both American players struggling badly, it was only a matter of time before they were put out of their misery.
‘Today was quite surreal at times,’ said Aberg, who only turned professional in June.
The European pairing swept aside the challenge of Brooks Koepka and Scottie Scheffler
‘I had to almost pinch myself a little bit.’
The previous largest margin of victory in a Ryder Cup foursomes was 7&6, which had been achieved on three occasions.
The United States’ Hale Irwin and Tom Kite beat Europe’s Ken Brown and Des Smyth by the margin in the 1979 event.
It was matched in 1991 by their compatriots Paul Azinger and Mark O’Meara over Nick Faldo and David Gilford, before Keegan Bradley and Phil Mickelson beat Westwood and Luke Donald in 2012.
Largest margins of victory in Ryder Cup 18-hole foursomes matches
9&7 – Ludvig Aberg/Viktor Hovland (EUR) def. Brooks Koepka/Scottie Scheffler (USA), foursomes, 2023
7&6 – Hale Irwin/Tom Kite (USA) def. Ken Brown/Des Smyth (EUR), foursomes, 1979
7&6 – Paul Azinger/Mark O’Meara (USA) def. Nick Faldo/David Gilford (EUR), foursomes, 1991
7&6 – Keegan Bradley/Phil Mickelson (USA) def. Lee Westwood/Luke Donald (EUR), foursomes, 2012
7&5 – Jose Maria Canizares/Jose Rivero (EUR) def. Tom Kite/Calvin Peete (USA), foursomes, 1985
7&5 – Ian Woosnam/Bernhard Langer (EUR) def. Paul Azinger/Payne Stewart (USA), foursomes, 1993
Source: Rydercup.com
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