The Ryder Cup is one of the most prestigious and exciting events in golf, and the 2023 edition promises to be no different. The biennial competition between Europe and the United States will take place at the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome, Italy, from September 29 to October 1, 2023. This will be the first time that Italy hosts the Ryder Cup, and the second consecutive time that it is being held in continental Europe after France hosted in 2018.
The two teams will consist of 12 players each, selected by their respective captains. The European captain is Luke Donald, who has 17 professional wins and is a four-time Ryder Cup participant. The American captain is Zach Johnson, a 12-time PGA Tour winner and a five-time Ryder Cup player. Both captains have a wealth of experience and knowledge to lead their teams to victory.
The format of the Ryder Cup is as follows: on each of the first two days, there are four matches of foursomes and four matches of fourball. On the final day, there are 12 singles matches. Each match is worth one point, and the team with the most points at the end of the competition wins the Ryder Cup. If the points are tied at 14-14, the team that holds the trophy retains it, with the current holders being Team USA, following their victory at Whistling Straits in 2021.
The 2023 Ryder Cup will feature some of the best golfers in the world, such as Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, and Collin Morikawa. Both teams have a mix of veterans and rookies, and each player will bring their own strengths and weaknesses to the table. The two captains also made their captain’s picks with very different tactics – Johnson adding players based on how they’ve performed over the past year or so, with Donald making selections based on more recent form, handing picks to Ryder Cup rookies Ludvig Aberg, fresh off his win at the European Masters, and Nicolai Højgaard, with three top-5’s in his last 4 starts on the DP World Tour.
The Championship Course at Marco Simone was designed by Jim Fazio and David Mezzacane, and it is a challenging and scenic layout that offers a view of St. Peter’s Dome from several holes. The course has hosted the Italian Open four times, in 1994 and 2021-23, and it has undergone a major renovation to prepare for the Ryder Cup. The course has been extended to 7,268 yards and will feature new tees, bunkers, greens and irrigation system. The course will also showcase the natural beauty of the Roman countryside, with olive trees, cypresses, oaks and pines.
So who will win the 2023 Ryder Cup? As always, it is hard to predict, as both teams are very strong and evenly matched. However, based on recent form, history, and home advantage, I would give a slight edge to Europe. They have won nine of the last 13 editions of the Ryder Cup, including the last one in France by a convincing margin of 17.5-10.5. The US team has not won a Ryder Cup in Europe in the last 30 years, and with the Europeans added familiarity with the course and the conditions in Italy, I don’t see the winless streak coming to an end.
Prediction: Europe 15-13 USA.
