Ryder Cup week in Rome.

 What you need to know about the 44th edition of the Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club.

Captain Zach Johnson appears undaunted by the task at hand for the U.S. Team, who are attempting to win on European soil for the first time since 1993. The last time they came over, in 2018, Thomas Bjorn's side ended the week at Le Golf National claiming Ryder Cup glory with a winning margin of 17.5 points to 10.5 points.

Yet despite the added weight of history, Johnson is adamant that while his team are keen to embrace the difficulty of playing away from home, they will not be bearing the burden of teams of the past.

"I know what history says," he told media on Monday.

"I'm very aware of that. But at the same time I can speak confidently, and talking to my team, these guys are ready and want to embrace that difficulty and want to just look at this as a great opportunity."

"The teams of the past are teams of the part. This is a new team with a new opportunity."

New Format

European Ryder Cup Captain Luke Donald is hoping to get off to a fast start in the opening foursomes in the 44th Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club.

The opening session usually kicks off with four-balls, but the 2023 edition will begin with foursomes on Friday in Italy as Team Europe try to reclaim the Ryder Cup in Rome against a team that is trying to win away from home for the first time in 30 years.

Why the change?

Put quite simply, Europe's record in foursomes across the board is stronger than it is in four-ball matches. For Donald, a decision to switch from the tradition of opening four-balls wasn't one he had to think long about but rather a simple case of doing whatever will give Europe the best chance of gaining an early advantage.

"Pretty simple really," Donald said when he met with media for the first time on site on Monday.

"We feel like as a team, statistically, we are stronger in foursomes within our team than we would be in four-balls. Why not get off to a fast start? That's it."

The Course 

Italy will play host to its first Ryder Cup this year, staged at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club.

The prologue of Marco Simone begins in 1978, when Italian fashion designer Laura Biagiotti and eventual husband Gianna Cigna purchased Marco Simone Castle, which dates to the 11th century, and the surrounding land in Guidonia, less than ten miles from Rome’s city centre. Eleven years after that acquisition, 27 holes of golf were constructed, including an 18-hole championship layout.

In 2018, as part of receiving its Ryder Cup bid, Marco Simone had its 18 holes – the other nine no longer exist – renovated by the collaboration of American architect Tom Fazio and Euro Golf Design’s Dave Sampson. Completed in 2021, the renovation included redesigning every hole. The back nine, like McIlroy alluded to, features some exciting holes, including two drivable par fours, Nos. 11 and 16, as well as the longest closing par five in Ryder Cup history, the 597-yard 18th hole. Those three holes are among the five that provide views of St. Peter’s Basilica off in the distance. The castle sits behind the fifth hole.

Marco Simone has previously hosted the Italian Open on the DP World Tour every year since 2021, as well as 1994. This week the course will play to a par of 71 and a yardage of 7,181 yards. There is also 170 feet of elevation change, and the grasses are as follows – paspalum fairways, fescue rough and bentgrass greens.

Home Advantage

While the majority of the U.S. Team only saw Marco Simone for the very first time during a practice trip a couple of weeks ago, the players on the DP World Tour have been enjoying success at the Italian venue as a recent regular stop on the DP World Tour schedule over the last three years. In fact, of three editions at the Rome venue, two of the winners are now rookies in Team Europe.

Danish rookie Nicolai Højgaard became the first winner at the Ryder Cup venue when he triumphed during the Italian Open's first staging here in 2021, and followed up that success with a fifth placed finish here in 2023. Last year, fellow rookie Robert MacIntyre bested Ryder Cup teammate Matt Fitzpatrick in a play-off to win the title in 2022.

It means of Team Europe, two of their four rookies have victories to their name over the course, presently a uniquely positive experience to draw on for players teeing up in the biennial content for the first time.

edit***

If the Ryder Cup emulates last weekend's female counter part, the Solheim Cup, we are in for another gripping, nail biting 3 days. Europe retained the Cup with a first ever 14-14 draw in Spain, with Spanish star Carlota Ciganda holing the winning putt on the 17th green to beat Nelly Korda in a storybook ending. She went 4-0-0 on the week.

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus  (edit)