Many members of the 2023 U.S. Ryder Cup team could be in uncharted waters later this year.
Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome, Italy, this year’s Ryder Cup site, has hosted the DP World Tour's Italian Open for the past two years, and many European Ryder Cup hopefuls for ‘23 have experience on the track from playing the Italian Open, which may give them a leg up on their American counterparts.
All roads lead to @MarcoSimoneGolf & the 2023 @RyderCup 🏆 pic.twitter.com/PStOQgtSWE
— Ryder Cup USA (@RyderCupUSA) March 30, 2023
"It was really important to be here," Rory McIlroy, a six-time Ryder Cupper, said at last September's Italian Open. "Every other European Ryder Cup venue I've played before, whether it be in tournaments or — I just wanted to get some prep. I wanted to get an early look at the golf course. I knew that I wouldn't be able to come back here next May and play because of the schedule and everything else, so this is my one opportunity to play."
It will be one of the hilliest courses we step foot on.
Europeans such as McIlroy, Matt Fitzpatrick, Viktor Hovland, Tyrrell Hatton, Victor Perez and Tommy Fleetwood have posted strong results at Marco Simone. Meanwhile, Kurt Kitayama — who is currently 11th in the U.S. Ryder Cup standings — placed seventh at last year's Italian Open, but was one of the few Americans in the field.
However, Zach Johnson, the 2023 U.S. captain, played Marco Simone last year and has a few course comparisons for those who haven't yet gotten their feet wet on the Ryder Cup venue.
"It's got a lot of everything — up, down, left, right, short, long," Johnson said Wednesday at the PGA Tour's Zurich Classic, where he’s teaming with 2021 U.S. captain Steve Stricker, who's also an assistant captain this year.
"It will be one of the hilliest courses we step foot on. It's hard to compare. It's all of Augusta and more. The greens aren't nearly as big or as undulating, but as far as shot-making up and down, it's remarkable how many yards up and down shots play. It's just kind of built into a hill.
"Some of the courses that I've seen out here that we play that may have some similarity may be like Harding Park, or (The Olympic Club), kind of built on the bluff there and kind of sits on a hill. That's kind of what it reminds me of."
Due to the Ryder Cup, the Italian Open will be played in May this year, rather than in the fall. Some might choose to play the tournament as preparation for the biennial event, however, it coincides with the PGA Tour's Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow, a designated event.
"(The Wells Fargo Championship is) a massive event that week and one that deserves attention and respect," Johnson said.
If that means the U.S. squad will enter the Ryder Cup with less knowledge of Marco Simone than their opponent, Johnson isn't worried. He has a few tricks up his sleeve to prepare his crew for the task at hand in September.
"I'm not going to discourage anybody from going (to the Italian Open)," he said. "I'm not going to say that, by any means. The more times you can get your feet on the site, great. But I've got some plans in store that will allow (Team USA) to get used to a golf course that they're not familiar with."
