Ryder Cup 2023 WAGS from Rory McIlroy's wife to TikTok Queen as Europe face USA
A worldwide audience, changing weather conditions, extreme spectator pressure, and the challenge of looking good on golf's biggest stage.
But it's not just the players who have to adapt to such notions over three frenzied days of action, but more so their wives and girlfriends, who are likely to harbour as much attention from cameramen as the stars themselves. Indeed, the WAGS are now almost as synonymous with the famous event as the mindless shouts from American fans.
Thrust into the celebrity spotlight whether they like it or not, expect few hairs out of place as the action gets underway on Friday morning. But as the weekend draws on, the tension, euphoria, and agony will become more apparent, pending on how their respective partner performs.
And whether they like it or not, social media is unlikely to miss a beat, with every exuberant celebration or on-course stumble certain to soon go viral. Mirror Sport has the lowdown on 12 of the WAGS who will grab much of the limelight, whether they intend to or not.....
Team USA
Nikki Guidish
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Guidish and husband Patrick Cantlay (Getty Images)Fair to say the fiancé of Patrick Cantlay won't be fazed by being on camera.
The former model and bodybuilding competitor used to appear regularly on US TV's the Home Shopping Network, earning some extra dollars by advertising footwear. The 31-year-old has since enjoyed quite the career change, working as a pharmacist for Palm Beach Pharmaceuticals in Florida.
Alisson Stokke
Former track and field athlete Allison Stokke (@allisonstokke/Instagram)By the time she was 17-years-old, Rickie Fowler's wife was already an internet phenomenon.
The track and field athlete broke ample American high school records for pole vaulting, and later combined work as a fitness model for Nike with her competitive career. A place at the London 2012 Olympics just eluded her though, and post career she married Fowler with the couple welcoming their first child in 2019.
Jenna Sims
To say that the American actress embraces media attention would quite frankly represent a ludicrous understatement.
Married to Brooks Koepka, the former Miss Georgia Teen USA winner has enjoyed a lucrative film career. Her Instagram account, followed by 281,000 people, often leaves little to the imagination either.
Brooks Koepka with his wife Jenna Sims
Katherine Morikawa has caddied for husband Colin (@katherine_morikawa/Instagram)Katherine Morikawa
Fair to say when Katherine Morikawa got with now husband Colin, she knew what she was getting herself in for.
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They mate at a collegiate golf event in America in 2017, with the 27-year-old having previously been raised in Canada and educated in China. She all goes beyond the realms of simply supporting the former Open champion - caddying for him at Augusta last year.
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She assumably needed to sort childcare before finalising a trip to the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome though. The pair's baby son was born just two months ago.
Lacey Homa
Max and TikTok star Lacey Homa (@max.homa/Instagram)When you're likely to end up plastered over social media anyway, it probably helps to be already hailed as a TikTok sensation.
Max Homa's wife Lacey can boast 450,000 likes to her account, with the 32-year-old real-estate agent lifting the lid on the life of a golf WAG. Expect more content this weekend, although the posts have slowed up somewhat since son Cam was born in 2022.
Annie Verret
One WAG who has rarely sought celebrity status, but described by Jordan Spieth has his "rock" throughout his career.
The High School sweethearts are married with two children, and the event co-ordinator has offered unwavering support to her man. Like Morikawa, she's even tried her hand at caddying for him at Augusta - albeit in the par three event and not the main event.
Europe
Kelley Cahill
Whilst golf didn't incorporate much of Cahill's life before she met - and later married - Jon Rahm, it's fair to say sport certainly was.
The Arizona State University graduate excelled in track and field team as a javelin thrower and also tennis. The pair have two children, with the eldest born on the eve of the 2021 Masters, after Rahm had vowed to leave the tournament early if the birth clashed.
Kelley Cahill will be cheering on her partner (Getty Images)
Rory McIlroy's wife Erica Stoll looks on during the 2016 Ryder Cup (Getty Images)Erica Stoll
Fate brought Rory McIlroy and the former PGA employee together, with Stoll helping to get the star to the course on time at the 2012 Ryder Cup in Medinah after he'd miscalculated his tee time.
Five years later they were married and now have a child together. But despite the media fame that accompanies her husband, Stoll herself is one for supporting quietly in the background.
Katherine Gaal
Gaal can be assured that if partner Matt Fitzpatrick's team don't prevail in Rome, then the country of her homeland will.
The former Miss New Jersey USA runner-up has forged her own successful career in marketing, but is also regularly seen supporting the 2022 US Open champion at events. And the pair aren't afraid to be seen in public together, attending Wimbledon this year.
Katherine Gaal and Matt Fitzpatrick (@mattfitz94/Instagram)
Diane Donald will be supporting the Team Europe captain (Instagram)Diane Donald
It's not just WAGS of the players who will be seen green-side this week, with European captain Luke Donald's Greece-born wife also set to be there throughout.
The pair met at Northwestern University in Illinois, where the 40-year-old graduated with a degree in psychology. The pair got married in 2007 and have since had three daughters together.
Kate Rose
If you've followed the lengthy career of Justin Rose, you'll be familiar with wife and devoted supporter, Kate.
He married the former international gymnast in 2006, since having two children with her. And the pair are also in business together having set up the Kate and Justin Rose Foundation to help children in need.
Wendy Honner
Like in 2021, Shane Lowry will no doubt be one of the characters of the Ryder Cup, and wife Wendy Honner will be there to cheer him on.
She balances her career as a nurse with travelling the world to support the Irish star, as well as looking after their two children. They married in New York in 2016, and now own a home in Florida.
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