Team Europe And Their Partners Just Recreated The Viral Rickie Fowler Ryder Cup Photo From 2016

Europe posed for a very similar photo to the hilarious viral Rickie Fowler one in 2016 where players and their partners kiss

Viktor Hovland and Jose Maria Olazabal
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Viktor Hovland and Jose Maria Olazabal were seen holding hands in a hilarious photo ahead of the Ryder Cup gala, where this year's players and their other halves got glammed up for photos and a dinner reception in Rome.

Hovland and Ryder Cup vice captain Olazabal did not have other halves with them and made waves on social media when the photos began surfacing online.

Viktor Hovland and Jose Maria Olazabal hold hands prior to the 2023 Ryder Cup gala

Hovland and Olazabal earlier in the week prior to the 2023 Ryder Cup gala dinner in Rome

(Image credit: Getty Images)

The pair were back at it again, this time in a photo where Europe's team and their partners all kissed after Luke Donald's team won back the trophy at Marco Simone by a 16.5 - 11.5 scoreline.

Team Europe and their partners

Hovland and Olazabal appear to be the only members of Team Europe without a partner this week

(Image credit: Getty Images)

It takes us back to the hilarious photo of Rickie Fowler in 2016 when he was surrounded by his teammates and their partners kissing in celebrations after their victory at Hazeltine.

Rickie Fowler at the 2016 Ryder Cup as the players and wives kiss around him

The Rickie Fowler photo that went viral in 2016

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Fowler was the only member of Team USA in 2016 without a partner, but he has since married his wife Allison Stokke.

It was a Ryder Cup week to forget this week for Fowler, sadly, who only played twice and lost both games. He was sat out of Saturday's play, with reports that he was struggling with illness.

Viktor Hovland, on the other hand, had an excellent Ryder Cup and was one of Europe's star players. The Norwegian, currently ranked 4th in the world after his FedEx Cup triumph in August, was one of two Europeans to play all five sessions.

He won three matches, including two foursomes games with Ludvig Aberg, and sealed victory in the second singles match versus Collin Morikawa on Sunday.

It was Hovland's second Ryder Cup appearance after his debut at Whistling Straits in 2021.

Hovland clearly formed a bond with Jose Maria Olazabal this week in Rome, with Olly returning to the European setup 11 years after his winning captaincy at the Miracle of Medinah in 2012. He last served as a vice captain nine years ago at Gleneagles, where Europe triumphed over USA 16.5-11.5 - the same score as this year's match.

Elliott Heath
News Editor

Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!

Elliott is currently playing:

Driver: Titleist TSR4

3 wood: Titleist TSi2

Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1

Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5

Ball: Srixon Z Star XV