Bill Murray, Niall Horan, Michael Phelps headline Ryder Cup Celebrity Matches
Bill Murray checked his cell phone about business engagements before getting out of a golf cart to kick a football into the gallery.
Michael Phelps found the best way to loosen up before a massive gallery was to do what he does best.
He dropped his driver and performed his signature pre-race, “flap.”
Huey Lewis swayed as the loudspeaker boomed with one of his hits, “If This is It.”
GALLERY: CELEBRITY SCRAMBLE | PHOTOS: MURRAY, HORAN ENJOYING THE FESTIVITIES
A massive gallery enveloped the practice green, grandstands and the entire first hole to greet 16 celebrities paired in U.S. and Europe scramble format, with the total holes won accumulated to form the final team score. It was the second time celebrities gathered at a Ryder Cup to entertain the spectators, and the first that a team format was set up between the U.S. and Europe.
The Americans rolled Tuesday, 14-0.
SCORING
Kurt Russell & Rob Riggle def. Alessandro Del Piero & Andriy Shevchenko, 4 up
Michael Phelps & Kelly Slater def. John Regis & Martina Navratilova, 6 up
Todd English & Jeremy Roenick def. Jose Andres & Nigel Lythgoe, 4 up
Bill Murray & Huey Lewis, halved with Paul O’Connell & Niall Horan
“It was a blast!” said actor Kurt Russell. “I’ve played in many pro-ams before, including Pebble Beach, but this one felt different the moment I arrived. You could feel it.”
Phelps, the man who carries a record 22 Olympic medals, said that he had butterflies on the first tee.
“I haven’t played a lot of golf, but really love the game. This was a great experience,” he said. “Today, it was an amazing atmosphere. People were yelling ‘2020’ around the course. That was pretty funny, because it’s not happening.” Phelps said that he will be working on his golf game in earnest in the future.
