The Stylish Support Squad Behind Golf’s Greatest Showdown

As the prestigious Ryder Cup tees off at Bethpage Black Course this weekend, the spotlight isn’t just on Team USA and Team Europe’s elite golfers—it’s also shining on their remarkable wives and girlfriends who bring style, support, and substance to the fairway. This biennial competition, where American and European golfers compete for pride rather than prize money, has become just as much about the compelling personalities supporting from the sidelines. These women—ranging from college sweethearts to accomplished professionals in their own right—form an essential part of golf’s most electric team atmosphere while navigating the unique challenges of life with a professional athlete.

Many of these relationships began long before championship trophies and global fame. Scottie Scheffler, currently ranked World No. 1, has been with his wife Meredith since high school—though she surprisingly didn’t realize her boyfriend was a golf prodigy until spotting him in a commercial. Team USA’s Sam Burns and wife Caroline share an even longer history, having been childhood sweethearts who exchanged Valentine’s cards at age five before eventually marrying in 2019. Similarly, Collin Morikawa credits his wife Katherine Zhu, herself a former collegiate golfer, for his competitive breakthrough, jokingly telling Golf Central that his winning streak began only after she entered his life. These foundation relationships provide stability amid the chaotic tournament schedules and intense pressure of professional golf.

Behind many successful golfers stands a partner who balances her own career ambitions with the demands of supporting a high-profile athlete. Diane Antonopoulos, wife of Team Europe Captain Luke Donald, studied psychology at Northwestern while her future husband was setting golf records; they’ve now built a life together that spans multiple continents with their three daughters. Nikki Guidish Cantlay, who married Team USA’s Patrick Cantlay after a romantic Roman wedding in 2023, holds a Doctor of Pharmacy degree and worked as a pharmacist before embracing life on tour. Perhaps most notably, Clare Craig—Tommy Fleetwood’s wife—was initially his agent before their professional relationship evolved into romance, despite their 23-year age gap. When Fleetwood first expressed interest, she reportedly told him, “Don’t be stupid,” but his persistence eventually won her heart, leading to marriage in 2017 and a blended family.

The social media presence of these women offers glimpses into their varied approaches to public life. Katherine Gaal Fitzpatrick, wife of Team Europe’s Matt Fitzpatrick, embraces her platform as a budding fashion and lifestyle influencer with nearly 20,000 Instagram followers, often seen at prestigious events like Wimbledon with luxury brands tagged in her posts. Teil Duncan Henley, married to Team USA’s Russell Henley, has built an impressive following of 115,000 by showcasing her talents as a contemporary artist and author while balancing family life with three children. In contrast, others like Erica Stoll, wife of Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy, maintain private accounts and rarely make public appearances—a choice that has sometimes drawn criticism from fans, particularly during McIlroy’s Masters win in April when some felt she appeared too subdued. This spectrum of public personas reflects the different ways these women navigate their unique position in the golf world.

Some partnerships have weathered particularly public challenges. Rory and Erica McIlroy’s relationship made headlines in 2024 when he filed for divorce, only for the couple to reconcile weeks later, stating their “best future was as a family together.” Their story began at the 2011 Ryder Cup where Erica, a New York native, worked behind the scenes for the PGA in what she once described as her dream job. Kelley Cahill, wife of top earner Jon Rahm, brings competitive spirit to their relationship—having competed in national tennis tournaments before meeting Rahm at college. She once humorously recounted challenging her husband to a tennis match, only to discover his unexpected prowess on the court: “He was so good. I was so upset. I was actually mad for a day or two. We have not stepped foot on a tennis court since.” Now parents to three young children, they’ve transformed their athletic chemistry into family harmony.

As the Ryder Cup unfolds, these women will be strategically positioned throughout Bethpage Black, offering encouragement during triumphant moments and consolation through inevitable disappointments. Their presence represents much more than sideline support—they’re essential partners in the golfers’ journey, providing stability amid the transient nature of professional sports. Jillian Bradley, wife of Team USA’s Keegan Bradley since 2016, was memorably featured on Netflix’s “Full Swing” series, where viewers witnessed the genuine connection that helps sustain her husband through the highs and lows of competitive golf. Emily Braisher, who married Team Europe’s Tyrrell Hatton in 2021 during a ceremony where he arrived late and wedding photos were hastily taken roadside in the rain, once documented their globe-trotting adventures through her “Wife On Tour” blog. From Olivia Peet’s tennis background to Diane Antonopoulos’s Instagram glimpses of “final Ryder Cup preparations,” these women form a fascinating community connected by the unique experience of loving someone whose professional triumphs and struggles play out on an international stage every weekend.