Meet the Team Europe WAGs with tennis pro daughter and Ryder Cup star's 23-year age gap

The Ryder Cup is upon us and golf enthusiasts are eager to see whether Team Europe or Team USA will triumph at this year's event. The team competition kicks off at Bethpage Black in New York on Friday, September 26.

Consequently, the world's top players have flown to the US this week to get settled and fine-tune their strategies for the tournament. Many have been joined by their partners, who are keen to see their loved ones succeed on the greens and fairways.

But who has Team Europe brought along to cheer them on every step of the way? And what do we know about them? Let's delve into it...

Luke Donald and Diane Antonopoulos

Team Europe captain, Luke Donald, is joined by Diane Antonopoulos, whom he first encountered during his university years at Northwestern University in Illinois. The pair exchanged vows in June 2007 in Santorini, Greece, and they have three daughters together.

Although she won't be teeing off and putting on the greens this weekend, Antonopoulos has also played a significant role behind-the-scenes in Team Europe's tournament preparations. For instance, she has organised a number of events related to the competition and even revealed on social media earlier this year that she had planned a dinner for her husband and his team.

Rory McIlroy and Erica Stoll

Golfing superstar Rory McIlroy and his wife of eight years, Erica Stoll, have been a familiar sight at Bethpage Black. Stoll, who previously worked as a PGA office manager and managed championship volunteer operations, first met McIlroy at the 2012 Ryder Cup, but they didn't become an item until 2014.

Their relationship has certainly had its ups and downs over the years. In May 2024, McIlroy filed for divorce from Stoll, only to reconcile and call off the separation just weeks later.

Since then, Stoll and world No. 2 McIlroy have been spotted together at numerous PGA Tour events and major championships, with Stoll notably by his side during his Career Grand Slam victory at Augusta National earlier this year.

They've also recently moved into a new home together in Surrey's plush Wentworth estate.

Ludvig Aberg and Olivia Peet

Swedish golf sensation Ludvig Aberg is known for keeping his personal life under wraps, but it's no secret that he's dating Manchester-born Olivia Peet. The pair first crossed paths while studying at Texas Tech University and made their public debut as a couple at the 2023 Ryder Cup.

Peet hails from a sporting family - her father is former professional tennis player Chris Peet, who enjoyed a successful career in both singles and doubles. Like her father, Peet also played tennis during her university years, reaching a career high of 115th in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Rankings.

Matt Fitzpatrick and Katherine Gaal

Matt Fitzpatrick's romance with Katherine Gaal has been nothing short of a whirlwind affair.

The couple initially crossed paths just months following his breakthrough major triumph at the 2022 US Open, officially confirmed their relationship in January 2023, and were betrothed before that year concluded.

The duo tied the knot last October.

Armed with a major in finance and broadcast journalism from Pennsylvania State University, Gaal presently serves as a regional marketing manager throughout the Southeastern United States, though she has previously been employed in data protection and management roles.

Tommy Fleetwood and Clare Craig

Tommy Fleetwood has been wed to Clare Craig since 2017, though their love story nearly failed to materialise.

They initially grew close when Fleetwood relocated to Hambric for management in 2015, with Clare subsequently becoming his manager.

Despite Fleetwood attempting to ask Clare out "a few times", she initially rejected his overtures given she is 23 years his senior.

Speaking on the Performance People podcast, she confessed: "Of course, I turned him down. I was like, 'Don't be stupid'."

However, the pair eventually commenced dating and found themselves engaged and wed in 2017.

Clare continues to serve as Fleetwood's manager, with the 34-year-old securing his inaugural PGA Tour victory recently at the TOUR Championship in August.

Tyrrell Hatton and Emily Braisher

While the exact timeline of Tyrrell Hatton and Emily Braisher's romance remains a mystery, the couple got engaged in 2019 and exchanged vows two years later.

A Nottingham Trent University alumna, Braisher once ran a 'Wife On Tour' blog where she penned her thoughts on golf and shared snippets of her relationship with Hatton, although she has since retired from blogging.

The smitten pair have been spotted together on tour for several years, making appearances at the Ryder Cup in 2018, 2021 and 2023.

Rasmus Hojgaard and Julie Sander Danielsen

Despite their preference for privacy, Rasmus Hojgaard has been seen celebrating at events and on social media with his girlfriend, Julie Sander Danielsen. Hailing from Denmark, it's unclear how long Danielsen has been dating Hojgaard, but they've been featuring on her Instagram since as far back as 2019.

Viktor Hovland

Reports suggest that Viktor Hovland is currently single and he wasn't accompanied by a date during the official Team Europe photo ceremony. While it's not confirmed, if he does have a partner, he's keeping them away from the public eye for now.

Shane Lowry and Wendy Honner

Shane Lowry has been happily married to Wendy Honner since 2016, and the couple share two daughters, Iris and Ivy. The duo first met during a night out in 2012, with Honner previously serving as a nurse at Temple Street Children's Hospital in Dublin.

Despite tying the knot in New York and residing in South Florida, close to their good friend McIlroy, the couple also maintain a residence in Dublin.

Robert MacIntyre and Shannon Hartley

Not much is known about Shannon Hartley, but it's understood that she attended Glasgow Caledonian University and currently serves as a nurse for the NHS. She first made an appearance on Robert MacIntyre's social media back in July 2013, when the Scot was planning his approach for the Open Championship at Royal Liverpool.

Jon Rahm and Kelley Cahill

LIV Golf star Jon Rahm has been wedded to Kelley Cahill since 2019, and the duo have three children together. The Spaniard started dating Cahill while they were both studying at Arizona State University, having initially met at a Halloween party.

Cahill was also athletic during her university years, being a javelin thrower on the university's track and field team. She has been a constant support for her husband on the golf course ever since and is expected to be a strong pillar of support for Rahm at the Ryder Cup.

Justin Rose and Kate Phillips

Justin Rose has been married to his wife Kate Phillips for nearly two decades, after first sparking a romance in the early 2000s. Fast forward to 2025, and the blissful couple have two children together, a son named Leo and a daughter named Charlotte.

Rose and Phillips founded the Justin and Rose Foundation in 2009, with a mission to assist children living in poverty in Central Florida. She has also served as a board director for the PGA Tour Wives Association.

Sepp Straka and Paige Dean

Sepp Straka and Paige Dean's paths first crossed when their respective college football teams faced off in 2017, sparking an immediate romance. The couple got engaged in 2020 and tied the knot the following year.

In December 2023, they welcomed their son, Leo. Dean currently holds a position as a senior acquisitions manager for Southern Veterinary Partners, but she often accompanies Straka to his international events.