Rory McIlroy and his European teammates made the most of their stunning Ryder Cup success on Sunday, partying long into the night following their 16.5-11.5 victory against the USA.
Captain Luke Donald led celebrations as his team of 12 players toasted a triumph wrapped in unity and a team spirit that was the envy of their opponents.
They were joined by their wives and girlfriends who made the most of a never-to-be-forgotten weekend in Rome before dancing into the wee small hours at the post Ryder Cup party.
Only Viktor Hovland arrived at the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club with the Norwegian still on the lookout for love. The world No. 4 even has a Tinder profile but it is hard to imagine that he will be short of interest after his heroics in Italy last week.
With Hovland excluded, here’s an introduction to the WAGs of Europe’s Ryder Cup champions.
Kelley Cahill
Jon Rahm’s wife Kelley met The Masters champion whilst they were both attending Arizona State University. Kelley was also a very capable sportsperson, competing on the track & field team as a javelin thrower. She was also very good a tennis.
After graduating the pair lived together for two years before they wed in Bilbao, Spain in December 2019. They now have one child called Kepa.
Paige Straka
Sepp Straka’s American wife Paige (need Dean) grew up in Alabama before going to Auburn University’s Harbert College of Business to gain a master’s degree in accounting. It was here that she first saw Austrian Straka playing golf for the University of Georgia against Auburn.
After being introduced by mutual friends Straka eventually popped the question in a wine bar. The couple wed in September 2021 but do not yet have any children.
Olivia Peet
Budding UK tennis star Olivia Peet is probably still pinching herself after the weekend she has just had. The 23-year-old’s embryonic relationship with Ryder Cup rookie Ludvig Aberg only came to light last week as she appeared in Rome on his arm.
Aberg has been on a whirlwind assent since turning professional just three months ago. In the blink of an eye, he already has a huge profile in golf whilst Peet has also now been thrown into sharp focus.
Clare Fleetwood
Tommy Fleetwood and his sports agent wife Clare have a unique relationship. The pair got to know each other when Clare approached Tommy about becoming his manager. Eventually they fell in love but not before the Southport-born star was knocked back on several occasions by Clare, who is 23 years older than him.
The couple got married in the Bahamas in 2017 and have a son called Franklin.
Erica McIlroy (nee Stoll)
With the possible exception of Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy is the biggest name in modern golf. Erica Stoll was born in New York but moved to Florida. She was working for the PGA when she first met McIlroy in 2012 and the story behind it is a legendary one.
McIlroy nearly ruined Europe’s miracle comeback at the Ryder Cup in Medinah when he overslept and nearly missed his tee time. Erica was the PGA employee who came to his rescue and rushed him to the course. The rest is history.
They married in 2017 and in 2020 welcomed their first child Poppy Kenney McIlroy.
Fate had clearly decided that they would fall in love. McIlroy had previously been engaged to tennis superstar Caroline Wozniacki in 2014 before the Northern Irishman called the wedding off with invitations already sent out.
Kate Rose
At 43, Justin Rose may be the old man of the Ryder Cup team but he still has what it takes to be in a winner. His wife Kate is a former international gymnast who graduated from the University of Sussex.
The couple started dating in 2000 and eventually married six years later in the Bahamas. They now have two children and away from golf run the Kate and Justin Rose Foundation to help under-privileged children.
Wendy Lowry
Former Open champion Shane Lowry is married to Irish nurse Wendy. They met in 2012 through mutual friends and soon started dating. Two years later they were engaged and finally married in April 2016. They now have two children called Iris and Ivy.
Emily Hatton (nee Braisher)
Buckinghamshire-born Emily Braisher attended Nottinghamshire University before swapping England for a life travelling the world with partner Tyrrell Hatton. The couple got engaged in 2019 and married in 2021, but not before Hatton turned up half an hour late for the ceremony.
They don’t yet have any children but Emily writes a hugely popular online blog called ‘Wife on tour’ and has an active Instagram account.
Katherine Gaal
Matt Fitzpatrick already knows what it’s like to be a Major champion having won the 2022 US Open, but he is also winning off the course. The Englishman is now engaged to stunning Katherine Gaal who was Miss New Jersey runner-up in 2014.
The couple confirmed their relationship on social media in January and last month revealed that they are now engaged. Gaal works as a marketing manager for software development firm and has help to raise millions of dollars for children with pediatric cancer through her volunteering work with the Penn State Dance Marathon.
Shannon Hartley
Ryder Cup rookie Robert McIntyre will never forget the week he has just had in Rome and neither will his girlfriend Shannon Hartley.
The Scottish keep their private life low-profile but have been spotted out together on several occasions. Model Hartley was pictured on the Spanish steps with her Ryder Cup partner in Rome last week, suggesting that they are still an item.
Amanda Falkenberg
Nicolai Hojgaard was another rookie at the Ryder Cup for Europe, so it was also a first appearance at the popular event for his girlfriend Amanda Falkenberg.
Like teammate McIntyre, their relationship is a very private one, but they appear to have been an item since the Dane won the Italian Open in 2021.