The Ryder Cup is not just another competition. It is a clash between the European and American golfing titans, pumped to bring the prestigious title home. At the Ryder Cup, golfers put their personal interests aside and play as one unit to make their nation proud. The historic rivalry between Europe and the United States fuels every participant to give their best on the field and adds to the intensity of the tournament. From the iconic 'Miracle at Medinah' to the unforgettable 'War on the Shore,' the Ryder's Cup has given us nail-biting moments that will be etched in golf history forever.
Now that the 2023 Ryder Cup is just around the corner, it is time to learn everything about the upcoming tournament. So let's not waste any time and get right to it.
The 2023 Ryder Cup Dates and Venue
The 44th Ryder Cup will be hosted by Italy at the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Guidonia Montecelio near Rome. The Marco Simone Golf and Country Club has hosted various prestigious golf tournaments and will now get the honour of becoming the first-ever golf club in Italy to host the Ryder Cup.
The renowned championship course features 18 carefully designed holes, undulating fairways, small greens, and some of the best tee shots in the country. In short, the players will be presented with challenging conditions at the 2023 Ryders Cup venue. As for spectators, they can enjoy an intense three-day game along with the scenic beauty of Marco Simone's Championship Course.
The dates for the biennial men's golf competition have also been finalised. Team Europe will be face-to-face with team United States at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club from Friday, September 29 to Sunday, October 1.
Ryder Cup 2023 Captains & Team Members
The Ryder Cup is one of the most prestigious team-format golf tournaments played between European and American golf teams. Each team consists of 12 players as well as a team captain and up to five vice captains. With the tournament only weeks away, Europe and the United States have announced their team members. Each team has a blend of highly experienced golfers and incredibly talented rookies. So, it is safe to say that the Ryder Cup 2023 will be one hell of a tournament.
Team U.S.A. for the 2023 Ryder Cup
Ryder Cup 2023 Captain
Zach Johnson
Vice Captains
Steve Stricker
Davis Love III
Jim Furyk
Fred Couples
Stewart Cink
Ryder Cup 2023 US players
Automatic Qualifiers
Scottie Scheffler: Ranking number 1 on the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR), the 27-year golfer is the first automatic qualifier for the American Ryder Cup team. Scheffler previously played on Team USA in 2021 and took down the number 1 golfer, John Rahm.
Wyndham Clark: The 29-year-old golfer earned a spot on Team USA by playing an incredible season which includes seven top-10 and 13 top-25 finishes on Tour. Clark also bagged the U.S. Open and Wells Fargo Championship this year.
Patrick Cantlay: The world's number 5, Patrick Cantlay is all set to win the tournament for the United States once again. Cantlay played incredibly well in the 2021 Ryder Cup and aims to do that all over again.
Brian Harmon: Brian will debut at the 2023 Ryder Cup after bagging the Champion Golfer Of the Year title just a few months ago. As an amateur, Harmon has played for the American team at the Walker and Palmer Cup twice, experiences that will help him add value.
Max Homa: The Fortinet Championship and Farmers Insurance Open winner is set to make his debut in the 2023 Ryder Cup. Given his exceptional performance in the Presidential Cup, the US experts and fans have high expectations for him in the Ryder Cup.
Xander Schauffele: Xander enjoys the 6th position on the official world golf ranking and has been phenomenal throughout the Tour. The 29-year-old has seventeen top 25 finishes, including ten in the top 10.
Captains Picks:
On the 29th of August, Zach Johnson announced the United States captain's picks for the 44th Ryder Cup. Those are:
Sam Burns: The World Golf Match Play Championship 2023 winner is known for his putting skills and ability to work in a team. Zach Johnson received a lot of backlash for picking the 27-year-old, but the captain still has high expectations from Burns.
Rickie Fowler: This year, Fowler won the Rocket Mortgage, finished as a runner-up at the Zozo, and had eight top-10 finishes, including a T-5 at the U.S. Open. Having played for the Ryder Cup team USA in 2010, 2014, 2016, and 2018, Fowler is expected to use his experience to keep everyone together.
Collin Morikawa: Collin stunned the golfing world with his 2021 Ryder Cup debut, and the United States team captain has high expectations from the 26-year-old this time as well.
Jordan Spieth: Having four Ryder Cup appearances in 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2021, Speith will be one of the most experienced team players on the Marco Simone Championship Golf Course. This year Spieth had seven top-10 finishes, including a runner-up at the RBC Heritage.
Justin Thomas: The 30-year-old golfer has played for Team U.S.A in 2018 and 2021. Justin is known for his teamwork and got picked based on his last two Ryder Cup performances.
Brooks Koepka: Brooks Koepka is the only LIV golfer to play in the 2023 Ryder Cup. According to the United State's team captain, Koepka was an easy pick for the tournament as he is a highly experienced, temperamental, and passionate golfer.
Team Europe for the 2023 Ryder Cup
Ryder Cup 2023 Captain
Luke Donald
Vice Captains
Thomas Bjorn
Nicolas Colsaerts
Edoardo Molinari
Francesco Molinari
Jose Maria Olazabal
Ryder Cup 2023 Europe players
Automatic Qualifiers :
Rory McIlroy: Rory McIlroy, who currently holds the top position on the European Points List Rank and the second position on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) list, automatically qualified for the tournament several weeks ago. The 2023 Ryder Cup will mark his eighth appearance in the event. Since the Irish golfer is highly experienced in team play, Europe has high hopes associated with him.
Jon Rahm: The 2023 Masters champion also stands as a core member of Team Europe. Rahm has previously delivered outstanding performances for Team Europe in 2018 and 2021. He participated in a total of eight matches, securing four victories, facing three losses, and halving one, accumulating a total of 4.5 points.
Viktor Hovland: Currently ranked number 5 in the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR), Hovland took the third spot on the 2023 European Ryder Cup team on Tuesday,15 August, joining Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy. The 25-year-old has been in great form throughout the season and is expected to add positive value to Team Europe.
Matt Fitzpatrick: The 2022 US Open winner automatically qualified for the Ryder Cup earlier this week and is all set to represent Europe for the third time in the tournament. Fitzpatrick is in his best shape and determined to beat Team US.
Tyrrell Hatton: The 31-year-old Englishman will make his third consecutive appearance in the Ryder Cup this year. Tyrrell made his Ryder Cup debut in 2018 on Thomas Bjørn's victorious team and faced defeat in 2021. Hatton is now prepared to use his defeat as motivation to win the 2023 tournament.
Robert MacIntyre: The 26-year-old European rookie secured the last automatic qualifiers' spot through the European Points List. Macintyre is super excited for his Ryder Cup debut, claiming it means everything to him.
Captain's Picks:
The European Ryder Cup captain, Luke Donald finalised his 12-man army on Monday, 4th September. Amongst Europe's captain picks are:
Ludvig Aberg: The selection of Aberg has shocked the world, as the 23-year-old turned professional only a few months ago. Ludvig has achieved four top-25 finishes in the PGA Tour and secured a victory at the European Masters in Switzerland last Sunday. The European team captain, Luke Donald, has drawn comparisons between Ludvig's game and that of Rory McIlroy, expressing great confidence in him.
Tommy Fleetwood: The six-time DP World Tour champion narrowly missed automatic qualification for the 2023 Ryder Cup, making him an obvious choice for the captain's pick. Fleetwood has previously represented Team Europe in both 2018 and 2021. He is particularly renowned for his successful pairing with Molinari, as the duo won all four of their matches during the contest in Paris.
Nicolai Højgaard: By finishing amongst the top five in the final two events of the European Ryder Cup qualification, the 23-year-old managed to grab the attention of the European team captain, Luke Donald. Luke is satisfied with his pick and calls Hojgaard a young superstar golfer.
Shane Lowry: Golf experts and fans have shown their dismay at Lowry's selection for the 2023 Ryders Cup, calling him out-of-shape and not the best pick. The European team captain, however, claims that he's picked Europe's top 12 golfers and expects Lowry to produce a good performance.
Justin Rose: The 43-year-old is renowned as one of the finest and most experienced English golfers. Having participated in the Ryder Cup six times, eveyone expects Rose to provide valuable guidance to the young European team and help them snatch the trophy from the United States.
Sepp Straka: After his remarkable victory at the John Deere Classic, finishing second at The Open and amongst the Top 10 at the PGA Championship, Straka became an easy captain's pick for the 44th Ryder Cup. Straka is in his best form and ready to face Team US at the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club.
Last Word
A historic rivalry, a challenging golf course and a blend of highly experienced golfers and incredibly talented rookies on either side make the 2023 Ryder Cup a must-watch tournament for golf enthusiasts around the world. Who will lift the trophy is no less than a mystery-one thing we know for sure, however, is that the tournament will be incredibly electrifying, with a lot of drama, unforgettable moments, and heart-pounding action on the greens. So when the day comes, grab some popcorn, put on your favourite golf outfit, and support your team till the end.