Team Monty wins first Ryder Cup All-Star, Djokovic shows stellar performance

Novak Djokovic Drives Par 4 | All-Star Match | 2023 Ryder Cup

Novak Djokovic presented a stellar performance on Wednesday as his Team Monty secured a 7-4 victory over Team Pavin in the first-ever Ryder Cup All-Star Match in Rome. The match featured seven closely contested holes at the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club.

Djokovic, a 24-time tennis Grand Slam champion, teamed up with G4D Tour player Kipp Popert and made an impressive opening tee shot. They secured a 3-1 victory against Scuderia Ferrari Formula One driver Carlos Sainz and Italian G4D Tour player Tommaso Perrino.

Prior to the match, Djokovic jokingly walked up to the first tee with a tennis racquet. He eventually switched to a golf driver handed by his caddie. He said he was more comfortable hitting a tennis ball with his racket but asserted that he had not performed too poorly on the golf course that day.

“This is sporting greatness. I was going to play safe but the crowd made me do it. It was one of the best shots I’ve ever hit,” Djokovic said.

“I’ve never played golf in front of this many people, so considering my level I think I’ve played quite well.”

The Serbian drove an impressive shot by tallying the green at the iconic par-four 16th hole. He celebrated it similarly to Cristiano Ronaldo, leaping and swiveling with outstretched arms.

“It’s such an honour, a golden opportunity for a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” he said.

Meanwhile, Gareth Bale teamed up with team captain Colin Montgomerie for the seven-hole event. They won 2-1 against opposing team captain Corey Pavin and former footballer Andriy Shevchenko.

Bale admitted to feeling a bit nervous due to the large crowds but drew confidence from his previous pro-am experiences. He praised Montgomerie for his leadership during the event.

Bale also mentioned the challenging rough when missing the fairway. However, he highlighted his success on the 16th hole, hitting a solid shot and scoring a birdie.

Montgomerie shared that his debut on a golf course was “a real risk and reward test.” He acknowledged Corey as a strong competitor in this all-star golf match.

In another match, content creator Garett Hilbert and surfer Leonardo Firoavanti tied 2-2 with Hollywood actress Kathryn Newton and former NFL star Victor Cruz.