Craig Roberts vs. Steven Rodgers
Best of friends and ex-flatmates, these two find themselves on opposing teams for The Rider Cup and have enjoyed several battles over the last few years with neither wanting to lose to the other.
Quiet Beginnings
These two would avoid each other directly in the first battle at Wokefield but Rodgers secured the vital point that confirmed Kenmore as the first ever winners of The Rider Cup. The fact he beat Roberts' younger cousin Steven, the Taymouth Captain gave him bragging rights.
The Grudge Match
At Heron's Reach, both Rodgers and Roberts would taste defeat on the Friday but the draw for the Saturday fourballs finally threw them together. It was a must not lose for both men and the fact Rodgers was paired with Jason Kerr intensified the pressure even more on Roberts. After a close battle, the Kenmore side took at 2up victory and a vital point on the way to winning their second trophy. The defat hurt Roberts and he was out for revenge.
Captaincy Calling
Steven Rodgers was selected to lead the Kenmore side at Forest Pines in 2024 and, therefore, was in charge of the pairings and playing order across the 3 days of competition. On the opening Friday, Rodgers and his chosen partner James Cornelius, were drawn against Roberts and Alex Keir. Roberts took the chance for revenge with a comfortable 4&3 victory. The two men were then drawn again for the Saturday fourballs and after a solid start with partner Dave Cook, Rodgers had to face another Roberts defeat as he and John McLuckie won 3&2. Rodgers was keen to stress that Roberts had been hugely helped by his playing partners in both rounds.
The Decider
After playing each other on the Friday and Saturday, Roberts now led the overall head-to-head 2-1. On the Saturday night at Forest Pines, the Sunday Singles order was announced and, incredibly, Rodgers had pitted himself against Roberts again; meaning the two had faced each other in every session across the weekend. This was now mano a mano with no playing partners for support. It was also the anchor leg of the whole match so the destination of The Rider Cup could come down to who held their nerve. The contest never really got started as Roberts cruised to 5&4 victory and securing a point for Taymouth. He now leads Rodgers 3-1 in their battles, although the Kenmore man had the last laugh by lifting the retained Rider Cup as Kenmore Captain.
A Captain's Performance
The two men would once again face each other in the Friday Fourballs at Belton Woods in 2025. Roberts, the Taymouth Captain, was paired with John McLuckie to take on Kenmore's Captain Gary Cornelius and Rodgers. Roberts and McLuckie turned on the style on the back 9 to win 4&3. That put Roberts 4-1 up in their matches to date and better was to follow for the Taymouth man as he led his side to their first ever victory in the comptition, meaning he had equalled Rodgers feat of being a winning Rider Cup Captain.
