Ryder Cup 2021: The best photos from Wednesday's Team Europe Ryder Cup dinner

Back in 2018, beneath the glimmering chandeliers of the Palace of Versailles, the Ryder Cup gala brought the golf world to its knees. Dustin Johnson and Paulina Gretzky began their incredible comeback. The rock on Alisson Stokke’s finger was still new. Everything was opulent. Everyone was ostentatious. It made the Oscars look like a Sweet 16 birthday party at Dave & Buster’s. But that was then and this is Wisconsin. Things looked and felt very different on Wednesday night, when Team Europe got suited and booted for their big pre-Ryder Cup shindig. Don’t worry, though, there was still just enough of glitz and glamour to keep things interesting …

First up, the captains and their better halves ...

Speaking of keeping things interesting, the Poulters and Henrik Stenson and wife Emma Lofgren were in attendance. Never a dull moment when they're around.

Sergio Garcia and double agent Angel Akins were also there, serving up a double dose of PDA ...

... alongside Lee Westwood and fiancee/caddie, Helen Storey, with Lee looking like he went 13 rounds with those Lake Michigan winds and lost.

Paul Casey was also present and accounted for, which is important because it means Polyanna Casey was also present and accounted for.

Hatless Rory made an obligatory appearance, grinning and bearing the photo op with wife Erica Stoll ...

... while fellow European heavy hitter Jon Rahm and his wife Kelley Cahill enjoyed a rare date night following the birth of their son Kepa in April.

Tommy Fleetwood, meanwhile, showed out with his other Ryder Cup partner, Clare Fleetwood. Try not to take it too hard, Francesco. There's a lot of fish in the sea.

The scene stealer of the evening, however, was Viktor Hovland ...

... who, along with fellow bachelor Matthew Fitzpatrick, was not only single, but ready to mingle.

And mingle they did.

Finally the evening was capped with a friendly game of darts, and by "friendly" we mean Bernd Wiesberger kicked everybody's ass and took everybody's money.

As for the U.S. team's exploits? Well, unlike the viral firestorm of 2018, those were consciously kept under wraps. But we did get a few glimpses via the future Mrs. Jena Sims' Instagram.

Hell yeah, nothing says "beat Europe" like sparkles.