Alkass Digital
The 2023 Ryder Cup is just around the corner as Team Europe welcome Team USA to Rome looking for revenge.
The Americans romped to victory at Whistling Straits in 2021, winning 19-9 to secure the largest margin of victory in a Ryder Cup since 1967.
Steve Stricker’s young side were superb on home soil but USA have not won in Europe since 1993.
Build-up to this year’s tournament has been shrouded in LIV Golf controversy but thankfully, the action will soon take centre-stage.
Europe, led by superstars Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm, will head to Italy eager to reclaim the famous trophy and hit back from their horror show in Wisconsin.
The 44th edition of the Ryder Cup will take place from Friday, September 29 to Sunday, October 1.
It is being held at the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome, Italy.
Start times will be confirmed in due course but the action can be expected to begin at 9am UK time for the opening two days and 11am on Sunday.
A total of 28 points are up for grabs at the Ryder Cup and each team must reach 14½ to claim victory.
The competition is held over three days with three different disciplines – the foursomes, the fourballs and the singles.
Friday and Saturday will see four foursome (alternate shot) matches and four fourball (better ball) matches before the 12 singles matches on Sunday.
Any match that is tied after 18 holes will see both teams earn half a point.
Should the tournament finish 14-14, the team who won the previous edition will retain the trophy.
Every player will play in the singles but the pairs for the other matches will be decided by the captains before each session.
The Ryder Cup teams have now been fully confirmed.
Henrik Stenson was set to captain Europe but was removed in July 2022 following his decision to join LIV Golf.
Luke Donald was announced as his replacement last August and picked the team alongside vice-captains Francesco Molinari, Edoardo Molinari, Jose Maria Olazabal, Thomas Bjorn and Nicolas Colsaerts.
As well as McIlroy and Rahm, Viktor Hovland, Tyrrell Hatton and Matt Fitzpatrick will make up the backbone of the European team while Ludvig Aberg has earned a spot alongside the likes of Tommy Fleetwood and Shane Lowry.
LIV players such as Ryder Cup legends Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter were not considered for selection.
For the USA, Zach Johnson was named their team captain in February 2022 and will be joined by vice-captains Stewart Cink, Steve Stricker, Davis Love III, Jim Furyk and Fred Couples.
World No1 Scottie Scheffler will lead the team alongside qualifiers and 2023 Major champions Wyndham Clark and Brian Harman.
Sam Burns and Rickie Fowler were among those to earn captain’s picks.
Also selected were PGA Championship winner and LIV star Brooks Koepka and surprise pick Justin Thomas.
The Championship Course at the Marco Simone Golf Club will be a par 72 and a maximum yardage of 7,268.
The undulating course was redesigned in 2021 with a focus on providing exciting match play holes.
The first hole has had a huge grandstand built around the tee box and will be a 445 yard par 4.
Action will ramp up from holes 4 to 9 with that run including two par 3s, two shorter par 4s and two gettable par 5s.
Matches may well be decided on the drivable par 4 16th while the final two holes consist of a demanding par 3 and a 626 yard par 5.
Fans will enjoy superb views of the Eternal City, St Peter’s Basilica and the Castle of Marco Simone as well as perfect late Italian summer weather.