Ryder Cup WAGs cleared to hit US for Team Europe support

The wives and girlfriends of Team Europe’s Ryder Cup side will be allowed to support their partners in America after all.

The ‘WAGs’ who have been an ever-growing presence in recent Ryder Cups, have been granted an exemption from the current US travel restrictions to fly out and watch in Wisconsin at Whistling Straits.

EU and British citizens are currently not permitted to enter America due to coronavirus restrictions but after extensive talks between the US Embassy, PGA and European Tour, the US State department agreed to issue waivers for family of the players.

Padraig Harrington and Co will now be joined by their partners on a charter flight for around 200 people that leaves Heathrow on Monday, before the wives and girlfriends will be formally introduced at the opening ceremony on Thursday.

It’s a boost for the players as they bid to retain the Ryder Cup against a star-studded Team USA – and here’s a lowdown of some of the partners who will be seen parading the fairways at Whistling Straits next week.

Rory Mcllroy famously overslept on the Sunday and nearly missed his tee-off time for his singles’ duel with Keegan Bradley.

Erica Stoll, a PGA employee at the time, helped rescue him from what would have been a humiliating episode, and the police got him to the course before Mcllroy won his match 2&1, helping Team Europe to a sensational 14.5-13.5 win.

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Mcllroy’s alarm clock mistake converted into another positive when five years later he married the American on the grounds of Ashworth Castle in Ireland. The couple now have a daughter, Poppy.

Stoll, a keen sailor, has been happy to travel all over the globe to support her husband but isn’t one for the spotlight, and keeps a low profile.