The stars of the Ryder Cup and their WAGS turned on the glamour for a glitzy gala dinner at the Palace of Versailles on Wednesday night.
Both teams posed on the steps of the 17th-century palace before heading inside for the ball, but they did their best to match the magnificence of the venue by turning out looking their finest.
The players wore matching team suits, but it was the wives and girlfriends who stole the show in their stunning ball gowns.
The Ryder Cup teams and WAGS posed for a group photograph on the steps of the Palace of Versailles on Wednesday
Team Europe posed for a group photograph prior to the Ryder Cup Gala dinner, two days before the competition starts
They were joined on the steps by their American opponents with both teams dressed in matching team suits
Danish ace Thorbjorn Olesen (centre) posed with the European players’ wives and partners inside the palace before the event
Thomas Bjorn (left) attended the event with his girlfriend Grace Barber, while Graeme McDowell was joined by wife Kristin
Rory McIlroy (left) held the waist of wife Erica while Justin Rose smiled with his wife Kate, who playfully kicked up a heel
Europe captain Thomas Bjorn’s girlfriend Grace Barber donned a sleek sky blue dress, complete with silver sparkles, while Rory McIlroy’s wife Erica looked elegant in a white and black spotty skirt.
Kate Rose, who is married to English ace Justin, may well have turned some of her fellow WAGs green with envy as she looked stunning in a long gown of the same colour.
Alex Noren technically brought two guests as his wife Jennifer is heavily pregnant. He looked proud as punch as he held Jennifer’s baby bump during a photo call.
The American WAGS perhaps stole the show, however.
Webb Simpson’s wife Dowd wore a patriotic red, white and blue skirt, while Tiger Woods’s girlfriend, Erica Herman, caught the eye in her black and white gown, featuring shimmering silver embellishments.
Paulina Gretzky put her partner, world No 1 Dustin Johnson, to good use by having him take pictures of her on the steps of the Palace wearing her fabulous golden gown. There was also time for selfies aplenty as they made the most of their time at one of the world’s grandest locations.
The players, captains and vice-captains didn’t look too shabby either. Team Europe dressed in navy blue suits and black shoes, while their American rivals were all decked out in matching black suits and brown shoes.
Tiger Woods and his girlfriend Erica Herman also posed on the steps; as did Rickie Fowler with his fiancee, Allison Stokke
Jena Sims, Brooks Koepka’s girlfriend, takes a selfie with Paulina Gretzky, Dustin Johnson’s partner, at the magnificent palace
Gretzky also put Johnson, the world No 1, to good use by having him take a picture of her in front of the palace
Gretzky, who is prolific on social media, lifts her golden gown as Johnson takes another picture of his glamorous partner
Dowd Simpson arrives at the gala in a striking red, white and blue skirt along with her husband, Webb Simpson
Patrick Reed and his wife, Justine, look happy as they arrive, while Phil Mickelson and his wife Amy (left) were also there
Great pals Justin Thomas (left) and Jordan Spieth arrived with their partners, Jillian Wisniewski and Annie Verret
Reigning US Open and US PGA champion Brooks Koepka strides in to the gala alongside US captain Jim Furyk’s wife, Tabitha (left), but Bryson DeChambeau was without his girlfriend, Sophia Phalen Bertolami
Thorbjorn Olesen, the Danish rookie, also got plenty of attention despite attending on his own. Olesen made light of his lack of a date by posing with every wife and girlfriend on the European team for a hilarious picture. Bryson DeChambeau was the only man on the US team without a date, with his girlfriend Sofia Phalen Bertolami absent.
After the pictures, the two teams headed inside for dinner, hosted in the beautiful Orangerie.
There was little chance to rest any sore heads on Thursday morning, with practice and press conferences scheduled from 7.30am BST.
The Ryder Cup opening ceremony takes place at 4pm, where the opening fourball pairings will be announced, meaning fans will get to know who will take on who in the first four matches.
Tommy Fleetwood (left) posed with wife Clare, while team-mate Tyrrell Hatton was accompanied by girlfriend Emily Braisher
Henrik Stenson (left) was upstaged by wife Emma who wore a sparkly dress, while Alex Noren held his pregnant wife’s bump
Paul Casey (left) and wife Pollyanna were in sync, with tie matching dress, as Robert Karlsson and wife Ebba both wore navy
Sergio Garcia (left) and wife Angela looked very much in love, while Ian Poulter and wife Katie both dressed to impress
Lee Westwood (left) grinned next to girlfriend Helen Storey; Padraig Harrington, another vice-captain, with his wife, Caroline
The teams headed inside for the gala event in the world-famous Palace’s beautiful Orangerie