1 of 6 | Rory Mcilroy, the top player on the European team, practices for the 2023 Ryder Cup on Tuesday at the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Rome. Photo by Fabio Frustaci/EPA-EFE
Sept. 28 (UPI) — Golf fans will need to be early risers if they want to catch the 2023 Ryder Cup, with Europeans and Americans battling for biennial bragging rights from Friday through Sunday in Rome.
The 44th edition of the tournament — held every two years — will be played at the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club and air on USA Network and NBC.
Ryder Cup rosters, consisting of a dozen competitors each, include all ten of the top-ranked players and 19 of the top 25 in the Official World Golf Rankings.
“The ultimate goal is to win,” expressed American Collin Morikawa during a press conference. “We are willing to make sacrifices, giving our blood, sweat, and tears. It requires nonstop effort and dedication. This week is long and demanding, but if we secure the Cup on Sunday, it will all be worth it.”
The Americans seek to defend their title after a decisive 19-9 victory in 2021, marking their largest margin of victory since 1967. They have won two of the last three tournaments, while the Europeans dominated previous editions with six victories.
Rory McIlroy, the top-ranked player on the European team, acknowledged the transitional phase the European team is going through: “We have some missing long-time team members this week. However, I have great confidence in the talents of the new players who have joined us.”
All members of the U.S. team rank within the top 25, led by No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, No. 5 Patrick Cantlay, No. 6 Xander Schauffele, No. 7 Max Homa, No. 9 Brian Harman, and No. 10 Wyndham Clark.
The American squad also includes No. 12 Jordan Spieth, No. 17 Brooks Koepka, No. 19 Morikawa, No. 20 Sam Burns, No. 24 Justin Thomas, and No. 25 Rickie Fowler.
The top European players are McIlroy (No. 2 in the world rankings), with Jon Rahm (No. 3), Viktor Hovland (No. 4), and Matt Fitzpatrick (No. 8).
Additionally, the European team features Tyrrell Hatton (No. 11), Tommy Fleetwood (No. 13), Sepp Straka (No. 22), Shane Lowry (No. 34), Justin Rose (No. 37), Robert MacIntyre (No. 55), Ludvig Aberg (No. 80), and Nicolai Hojgaard (No. 82).
The U.S. team will be captained by Zach Johnson, while Luke Donald will lead the Europeans.
The tournament will kick off with a foursome session on Friday and Saturday, followed by a four-ball competition. The final round on Sunday will feature twelve one-on-one matches.
Four-ball play involves two-man teams competing against each other. The lowest score between players on the same team is counted for each hole, while the other scores are disregarded. The foursomes competition also features two-man teams, with teammates alternating shots until the hole is complete.
Each competition is worth one point, with half-points awarded for tied matches. The first team to secure 14.5 points claims victory in the Ryder Cup.
Both teams include four rookies, although the Europeans bring slightly more experience. Six Europeans have appeared in two previous tournaments, compared to four Americans. McIlroy has the most tournament experience, with six previous appearances. Justin Rose has five previous Ryder Cup starts.
On the American side, Fowler and Spieth have the most experience, with four previous appearances. Koepka (three) and Thomas (two) are the only other Americans with multiple Ryder Cup appearances. Clark, Harman, Burns, and Homa will make their debuts.
The European rookies are MacIntyre, Straka, Aberg, and Hojgaard.
The American team boasts more success on the PGA Tour and in major tournaments, with a combined total of 85 PGA Tour titles and 15 major championships, won by seven different players. The European team has 67 PGA Tour titles and nine major championships (won by five players).
Throughout the weekend, the temperatures are expected to range from the 60s to 80s, with no rain in the forecast. The 7,181-yard course at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club will play at a par of 71, featuring challenging elements such as blind approaches to greens, water hazards, thick roughs, and various elevations that could test players’ stamina.
The American team will also face a crowd that heavily favors the European team.
“While we may have some fans, the silence becomes our cheer,” said Fowler. “I actually enjoy it. The fans here have always been great. They might give us a hard time with a few one-liners, but that’s part of it. We are on foreign soil, and we are not the favorites.”
Ryder Cup schedule
All times EDT
Friday
First round coverage from 1:30 a.m. to noon on USA Network
Saturday
Second round coverage from 1:30 to 3 a.m. on USA Network
Sunday
Final round coverage from 5:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on NBC
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