Breakfast Ball #36: Wallace Wins in the Alps

As September golf weeks go, this week is up there. The Solheim Cup and an Irish Open at Royal County Down. Coffee golf time.

In This Week’s Newsletter:

Matt Wallace Begins his Quest for the Ryder Cup With a Win!

Matt Wallace clinched his first DP World Tour title in six years by winning the Omega European Masters in Switzerland, securing the victory on the first playoff hole with a clutch birdie. Although Wallace spends most of his time on the PGA Tour, where he has struggled in 2024—managing only four top-20 finishes in 20 starts—he has found his form in recent weeks. His resurgence began with an 8th place finish at the British Masters last week, and he entered the final day in the Alps with a commanding four-shot lead.

Spain's Alfredo Garcia-Heredia and England’s Andrew "Beef" Johnston were Wallace’s closest challengers. By the final hole, they had narrowed the gap to just one shot. Johnston’s tee shot found the trees, forcing him to settle for par, but Garcia-Heredia holed a 5-foot birdie putt to force a playoff. Garcia-Heredia, 42, has yet to claim a top-level title and came into the event ranked 629th in the world.

In the playoff, both players found the fairway off the tee, but Wallace’s approach shot to 8 feet set up the winning putt. This victory marks a significant turnaround for Wallace, who had shown signs of struggle earlier in the season. After missing the cut at the Scottish Open this summer, Wallace opened up emotionally in a raw post-round interview, admitting, "I just lack a load of self-confidence at the moment. I am not where I want to be."

However, the beginning of Ryder Cup qualification last week seems to have ignited a new fire in him. Driven by the goal of making Luke Donald’s Ryder Cup team, Wallace reflected on his recent mindset shift: "My whole team has seen a huge difference in me emotionally and mentally as I’m focusing on something bigger than myself—the Ryder Cup. I’m going to do everything I can to be on that team."

The Ryder Cup is a unique tournament, inspiring players to reach new heights as they compete for more than individual accolades and prize money. With Wallace now leading the team standings after his victory, there’s hope this momentum will carry him forward in his bid for Ryder Cup glory.

The Solheim Cup Takes Centre Stage as Royal County Down Hosts the Irish Open

The 19th Solheim Cup is taking place this week at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Virginia. Established in 1990, the tournament is the women’s equivalent of the Ryder Cup with the exact same team size and format. Europe retained the cup in 2023 in with a 14-14 tie after Spain’s Carlota Siganda won a dramatic match against Nelly Korda 2&1. The tournament flipped to odd years after the 2020 edition was canceled, and is taking place in consecutive years to mirror the Ryder Cup.

If you enjoy the Ryder Cup, this is must watch golf. The US team is full of stars including the top two players in the world in Nelly Korda and Lilia Vu. On the other hand, Europe only has 2 players in the top 20 of the world rankings. Despite this apparent difference in quality on paper, the US has not won the cup in their last 3 attempts. It is set up perfectly for a dramatic weekend.

When it comes to individual golf, the majors are undeniably the pinnacle of the sport. Beyond those, the next tier of events is often debated, but in my opinion, national opens—such as the Canadian, Scottish, and Irish Opens—are the best. These tournaments feature large, passionate crowds and a fantastic atmosphere, all set on a rotating selection of the country’s finest courses. This week, we have one of the premier national opens on the calendar: The Irish open.

According to Golf Digest, Royal County Down is ranked as the best golf course in the world. Nestled between the Irish Sea and the Mourne Mountains, its rolling sand dunes and challenging conditions provide a perfect test of true links golf. This week will also mark a special homecoming for one of Northern Ireland’s greatest golfers, Rory McIlroy. Reflecting on his first experience playing the course as a teenager, McIlroy said, “It was the hardest golf course I’d ever played. I remember thinking, ‘How could anyone break par around here?’ It’s so difficult.” We will have a full review of the tournament in next week’s newsletter!

Coming up this week on Tour

• The Irish Open at Royal County Down on the DP World Tour

• The PGA Tour’s Fall season begins with the Procore Championship in California

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