The Ryder Cup is set to return, and this time, Europe will have home advantage as the biennial competition heads to Italy for the first time. After the United States claimed a commanding victory on home soil in 2021, Team Europe is hoping to turn the tables and regain the trophy.
The United States team dominated the competition with a 19-9 victory at Whistling Straits in 2021, bringing the Ryder Cup back to their side. However, history is on Europe’s side as the US has not won on European soil since 1993. With many of Europe’s best players peaking at the right time, the team is poised for a strong performance.
Following the dramatic Solheim Cup, where Europe rallied to earn a draw and retain the cup, Luke Donald’s side is entering the Ryder Cup with renewed confidence. The Solheim Cup, the women’s equivalent of the Ryder Cup, showcased Europe’s ability to perform under pressure and bodes well for the upcoming event.
The 2023 Ryder Cup will take place from 29 September to 1 October at the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club near Rome in Italy. Viewers in the United Kingdom will be able to watch the Ryder Cup live on Sky Sports, with the option to stream the event through the Sky Go app.
The schedule for the Ryder Cup consists of practice days from 26 to 28 September, with the opening ceremony on Thursday evening. On Friday, there will be four foursome (alternate shot) matches in the morning and four fourball (better ball) matches in the afternoon. Saturday will follow a similar format, with foursome matches in the morning and fourball matches in the afternoon.
Sunday will be the most crucial day, featuring 12 singles matches before the closing ceremony. The home captain will choose the format played in the morning and afternoon on the first two days, adding an element of strategy to the competition.
The 2023 Ryder Cup will feature two new captains. Zach Johnson, a two-time major winner and five-time player at the event, will lead the United States team. Luke Donald, an Englishman, will guide Europe after replacing Henrik Stenson, who was stripped of the captaincy for joining LIV Golf.
Both teams will have a strong support system in the form of vice-captains. Europe’s vice-captains include Thomas Bjorn, Edoardo Molinari, and Nicolas Colsaerts. The US team’s vice-captains are Steve Stricker and Davis Love III, adding depth and experience to their respective teams.
Team Europe boasts an impressive lineup of players, including Rory McIlroy from Northern Ireland, John Rahm from Spain, Victor Hovland from Norway, and Tyrrell Hatton from England, among others. The team includes several captain’s picks, such as Tommy Fleetwood, Sepp Straka, Justin Rose, Shane Lowry, Nicolai Højgaard, and Ludvig Åberg.
On the other hand, Team USA will feature players like Scottie Scheffler, Wyndham Clarke, Brian Harman, Patrick Cantlay, and Xander Schauffele. They will also have captain’s picks, including Sam Burns, Rickie Fowler, Brooks Koepka, Collin Moriakawa, Jordan Spieth, and Justin Thomas.
With both teams stacked with talent and a rich history of rivalry, the 2023 Ryder Cup promises to be a thrilling competition. Europe will look to capitalize on their home advantage and the momentum from the Solheim Cup, while the United States will strive to continue their dominance and win on European soil after nearly three decades. Golf enthusiasts around the world will be eagerly anticipating the clash between these two great teams in Rome.