With most top European Tour players enjoying membership on both major tours, the DNA of the two circuits has becoming inextricably intertwined. Ten of the 12 players on the European Ryder Cup team were members of the PGA Tour this season, and several have extensive ties to the US or its primary tour.
Graeme McDowell, Northern Ireland
The hero of the 2010 Ryder Cup married American Kristen Stape last year and the couple in August welcomed a US-born daughter four weeks ago. McDowell played college golf at University of Alabama-Birmingham, and other than Luke Donald, might be the most Americanised of all the European players. He has lived in Orlando, Florida, for 15 years.
Lee Westwood, England
In late 2012, at age 40, the former world No 1 moved his family from England to Florida to play the PGA Tour on a full-time basis. As he described the move in the spring of 2013, he went “all in”. Westwood even dived into the political scene by becoming a member of the PGA Tour Player Advisory Council in 2014.
Martin Kaymer, Germany
The former world No 1 has long had a home in suburban Phoenix, Arizona, but did not join the PGA Tour until 2013. Now he is the reigning titleholder at the US Open and Players Championship, two of the biggest events in golf.
Ian Poulter, England
The popular Englishman is a fixture at NBA games in Orlando, the city in which he built a mansion two years ago. Poulter lives at the popular Lake Nona development, where McDowell, Stenson, Rose and several other European Ryder Cuppers have maintained homes over the years. Two of Poulter’s four children were born in Orlando’s Arnold Palmer Hospital and have US citizenship.
Justin Rose, England
Like several teammates, Rose lived for years at the Lake Nona community and had a child born in the city. Rose and his English wife Kate have been active in numerous community programs to help feed underprivileged school-age kids.
Rory McIlroy, Northern Ireland
McIlroy made a serious commitment to the US tour in late 2012, when he rejoined the lucrative circuit. In December of that year, two months after the last Ryder Cup was staged, he bought a US$10.9 million (Dh40m) mansion in Florida, which serves as his home base.
Henrik Stenson, Sweden
Stenson’s wife, Emma, played college golf in the US, and Henrik visited for weeks at a time during the early portion of his career, well before he was a Ryder Cupper. The couple’s second child was born in Orlando, the family’s primary base since relocating from Dubai in 2012.
Paul McGinley, Ireland
The European Tour veteran, the team captain this year, never played the US tour as a member, but he attended US International University and earned a degree from the San Diego school.
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