One of the most highly anticipated weeks of the golfing year is here.
The Ryder Cup begins at Marco Simone in Italy on Friday afternoon (AEST). The teams are finalised with a handful of surprise selections and non-selections making headlines. Here are all the player details, including their record and form.
TEAM EUROPE
It's been 30 years since the Europeans tasted defeat on home soil. Captain Luke Donald has assembled a well-balanced side to try to win back the famous trophy they lost at Whistling Straits, with blockbuster names such as McIlroy, Rahm and Hovland to accompany some exciting rookies in the likes of Aberg, Hojgaard and Straka who will all be gunning to keep Europe's 30-year record intact.
RORY MCILROY
Age: 34
Country: Northern Ireland
Ryder Cup Record: (W)12-(L)12-(H)4 (six appearances 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2021)
Professional Wins: 37
World Ranking: 2
Rory's form is always rock solid; you won't have to scroll further down than 10th on most leaderboards to find his name. The four-time major champion will be just as much of a leader as Donald in the European locker room, looking to set the standard for his less experienced teammates. Heading into the 2023 Ryder Cup, Rory will look to improve on his recent form in the biennial event, having lost seven of his last ten matches. A class-act and, generational talent and a Ryder Cup captain in waiting, there won't be many Americans who will want to face Rory.
JON RAHM
Age: 28
Country: Spain
Ryder Cup Record: 4-3-1 (two appearances, 2018, 2021)
Professional Wins: 20
World Ranking: 3
The current Masters champion boasts an impressive resume. Rahm has found himself on both sides of the ledger regarding the Ryder Cup. A noted winner and passionate about the representing Europe, Rahm's all-round game is sublime. He was Europe's top points scorer at Whistling Straits, collecting 3.5 points. The Spaniard also showed no occasion was too big when he defeated Tiger Woods in singles on his Cup debut in 2018. A double major champion with four PGA Tour wins next to his name this year alone, one of the best players on the planet, Rahm, will take some stopping at Marco Simone.
ROBERT MACINTYRE
Age: 27
Country: Scotland
Ryder Cup Record: Debut
Professional Wins: Three
World Ranking: 55
MacIntyre knows his way around Marco Simone better than most; the Scotsman sensationally held off teammate Matt Fitzpatrick in a play-off at the 2022 Italian Open for his second DP World Tour victory. He is the first Scotsman to feature at the Cup since Stephen Gallacher in 2014. MacIntyre's record on the course this season has been average, but he showed he could rise to an occasion when falling just short of his home Open due to some Rory brilliance earlier this year. The Scot plays with plenty of passion, which tends to be a good recipe in Ryder Cups.
VIKTOR HOVLAND
Age: 26
Country: Norway
Ryder Cup Record: 0-3-2 (one appearance, 2021)
Professional Wins: 10
World Ranking: 4
Nobody in the game has had a better past four months than Hovland. The FedExCup champion's Ryder Cup record leaves much to be desired, but the Norwegian is a far more complete player in 2023 and will have taken a lot out of his maiden Ryder Cup experience at Whistling Straits. Historically, the short game has been where Hovland critics have come to the forefront. But he has been fantastic on the greens the last two seasons and scrambled dramatically better in 2023 than in other years. A premier ball-striker and the hottest property in men's golf, there is no doubt Hovland's Ryder Cup record will look better than it does now at the end of the week.
TYRELL HATTON
Age: 31
Country: England
Ryder Cup Record: 2-4-1 (two appearances, 2018, 2021)
Professional Wins: 10
World Ranking: 11
Hatton's winning Ryder Cup points have come in the Saturday four-ball sessions. The 31-year-old has experienced two Ryder Cups now – a win and a loss – so he will be another European player looking to improve his personal record. The Englishman is a phenomenal putter – ranked seventh on the PGA Tour – and scrambles his backside off, which can prove pivotal in match play.
MATT FITZPATRICK
Age: 29
Country: England
Ryder Cup Record: 0-5-0 (two appearances, 2016, 2021)
Professional Wins: Nine
World Ranking: 8
In his two trips to the Ryder Cup, Fitzpatrick has yet to register a point. Since he last ventured to the biennial fixture, he has claimed a major title – the 2022 U.S Open – and has mustered another big win in 2023 at the RBC Heritage, defeating Jordan Speith in a play-off. So, the Englishman's resume has improved drastically since his last trip to the Cup, and frankly, his game is lightyears better, too. Another Brit who rolls his rock phenomenally, ranked third on the PGA Tour in total putting and, averages over 300 yards off the tee, so he knows how to get it out there. The man from Sheffield will be determined to improve his record, and at a course he knows well, it's hard to see him stay sitting on a duck.
TOMMY FLEETWOOD
Age: 32
Country: England
Ryder Cup Record: 4-2-2 (two appearances, 2018, 2021)
Professional Wins: Nine
World Ranking: 13
Who could forget the absolute clinic Fleetwood and Francesco Molinari displayed at the last time the Ryder Cup was in continental Europe in 2018, winning all four points when the "Moliwood" duo teed it up together. Fleetwood has a good record in the contest but found it tough on U.S soil last time out. A noted ball-striker ranked fifth on the PGA Tour in strokes gained total. Fleetwood hits it straight and will be a severe weapon in Luke Donald's arsenal if he can get hot on the greens.
SEPP STRAKA
Age: 30
Country: Austria
Ryder Cup Record: Debut
Professional Wins: Three
World Ranking: 22
The Austrian debutant knows how to score; he will make plenty of birdies around the Italian loop. Straka is accurate off the tee, ranked 21st on the PGA Tour in driving accuracy, a crucial strength around Marco Simone where the rough will be a proper penalty. Straka has picked up a victory in his last two seasons on the PGA Tour. Just the second player from Austria to feature in the Ryder Cup after Bernd Wiesberger in 2021, he has had a good 2023; what better way to top it off than to try to hoist the Ryder Cup.
JUSTIN ROSE
Age: 43
Country: England
Ryder Cup Record: 13-8-2 (five appearances 2008, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018)
Professional Wins: 25
World Ranking: 37
Coming into his sixth Cup, Rose has found some form in 2023. He broke through to win his first PGA Tour event since 2019 when he triumphed at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Rose is comfortably the oldest player on display from either side, but the recent work he has been doing with coach Mark Blackburn has seen the Englishman turn a corner, ranked 13th on tour this season in strokes gained total and second in sand saves. Rose has a good record at the Cup and vast experience in the big moments; he will be a man Donald will count on for points this week.
SHANE LOWRY
Age: 36
Country: Republic of Ireland
Ryder Cup Record: 1-2-0 (one appearance, 2021)
Professional Wins: Six
World Ranking: 34
There was some conjecture around the selection of Shane Lowry for this year's Cup. And for sure, by his own standards, the Irishman has had a quiet year. But there wasn't any doubt in Donald's mind that Lowry would be stamping his passport and on his way to Italy. Statistically, it has been an okay year for Lowry in most departments; he is 28th in strokes gained total and eighth in total driving on the PGA Tour. He has just had a below-par year on and around the greens – an area he has historically been phenomenal. A tie for 18th at Wentworth in his final event before Rome, his game looked in good shape and ready for another berth at Ryder Cup glory.
NICOLAI HOJGAARD
Age: 22
Country: Denmark
Ryder Cup Record: Debut
Professional Wins: Three
World Ranking: 82
The Danish debutant may not have his name in the winner's column this year, but he certainly has impressed this season. With three top-10s in his last five starts, Hojgaard has all the tools to be a successful Ryder Cup player. He is ranked 11th in driving distance, third in scoring average and 13th in greens in regulation on the DP World Tour. Being on debut at a young age and playing against some of the best players in the world is an intimidating prospect, but no doubt Donald will pair Hojgaard up with someone with plenty of experience to help him find his feet at this level.
LUDVIG ABERG
Age: 23
Country: Sweden
Ryder Cup Record: Debut
Professional Wins: One
World Ranking: 80
He hasn't been in the elite ranks for long, but he has turned a few heads since turning pro four months ago. Aberg has been super impressive in his short pro career and managed to pick up his first win right in the nick of time for a captain's pick when he won the Omega European Masters in Switzerland. Such a clean striker of the ball with any club in the bag, but it's Aberg's ice-cool attitude that is most impressive, the Swede just has the ability to stay in the moment and not get too emotionally high or low, watching him go about his work is like watching a surgeon complete a routine operation. Remember the name Ludvig Aberg because it may be his first appearance at the Ryder Cup, but it certainly won't be his last.
TEAM USA
Looking to be the first American side to hoist the Ryder Cup behind enemy lines in three decades, Captain Zach Johnson has selected a side full of noted winners. He has the luxury of three current major champions at his disposal and a collection of others who know what it takes to get it done at major championship level and are no doubt primed to try and make history in Rome.
SAM BURNS
Age: 27
State: Louisiana
Ryder Cup Record: Debut
Professional Wins: Six
World Ranking: 20
Burns makes his way onto his first Ryder Cup side with winning match play form behind him, winning the WGC Dell Technologies Match Play in March this year. Burns is a great all-round putter, ranked fourth on the PGA Tour in total putting, ninth in strokes gained putting and seventh in one-putt percentage. To complement his skills on the greens, he is also ranked 17th in driving distance, proving he can keep up with the heavy hitters wearing blue and yellow if he has to. With five career PGA Tour wins and coming into a Ryder Cup fold following a Presidents Cup debut last year, it looks as if Burns is ready to take the next step in his career and will be up for the challenge.
PATRICK CANTLAY
Age: 29
State: California
Ryder Cup Record: 3-0-1 (one appearance, 2021)
Professional Wins: Nine
World Ranking: 5
Cantlay is yet to lose a point at the Ryder Cup after a superb debut at Whistling Straits in 2021. One of the most consistent performers on the PGA Tour who also flies somewhat under the radar, boasting eight tour wins, none of which came this season, but he did record 10 top-10 finishes from his 21 starts. Cantlay is long and accurate off the tee, making him hard to handle at the penile Marco Simone. First in total driving, fifth in strokes gained off the tee and 15th in driving accuracy on the PGA Tour this year. Cantlay will stay calm in the heat of battle and is a fantastic weapon for Johnson to have at his disposal.
WYNDHAM CLARK
Age: 29
State: Colorado
Ryder Cup Record: Debut
Professional Wins: Two
World Ranking: 10
Clark has had a season most only dream of, picking up a maiden PGA Tour victory and claiming a major championship two starts later. The U.S Open Clark won was obviously a massive win, but the way he did it was even more impressive; Rory McIlroy trying to run him down, the crowd against him, and he just didn't go away, stuck to his processes, putted the lights out and just nuked his driving iron around LACC. It is hard to see a better cauldron to prepare you for the Ryder Cup than that. Clark has also recently said he thinks he can take McIlroy down in Rome; he has done it once and might just get his wish.
RICKIE FOWLER
Age: 34
State: California
Ryder Cup Record: 3-7-5 (four appearances, 2010, 2014, 2016, 2018)
Professional Wins: 10
World Ranking: 25
There are not many better feel-good stories in golf than the resurgence of Rickie Fowler. The consistency and all-round game look well and truly back. He is putting supremely well and found his way back into the winner's circle, along with playing in the final group of the U.S Open. He is ranked 11th in strokes gained total and ninth in strokes gained approaching the green. We all know how classy Rickie can be, and he will no doubt be thankful to be in a position to represent his country again because it looked as if those days had passed him by.
BRIAN HARMAN
Age: 36
State: Georgia
Ryder Cup Record: Debut
Professional Wins: Five
World Ranking: 9
Harman slammed the door shut on the rest of the field at this year's Open Championship at Hoylake. It seemed as if every time his caddie handed him his putter, the ball found the bottom of the cup; it was one of the most surgical displays of putting in recent memory. The 36-year-old rookie has plenty of team golf experience, playing in two Walker Cups (2005, 2009), losing only one of his seven matches. Harman is a player who won't shy away from a dogfight, as he proved in testing conditions at The Open this year; he is right up for the challenge and made it clear he wanted to be on Johnson's team. With his short-game ability, he will be a dream partner for anyone on the American side.
MAX HOMA
Age: 32
State: California
Ryder Cup Record: Debut
Professional Wins: Eight
World Ranking: 7
With two PGA Tour wins this season to compliment his 13 top-10s, Homa has displayed a complete game and a winning mindset throughout the last few seasons. Known to many as the social media funny guy, Homa showed how formidable he can be in team fixtures, going 4-0-0 in the 2022 Presidents Cup. The Ryder Cup is a step up again, and with the way Homa has gone about his career of late, he will be able to perform on the biggest stage.
BROOKS KOEPKA
Age: 31
State: Florida
Ryder Cup Record: 6-5-1 (three appearances, 2016, 2018, 2021)
Professional Wins: 18
World Ranking: 17
The bigger the occasion, the better for five-time major champion Brooks Koepka. The only LIV golfer to make Johnson's side, he has repeatedly shown that he is made for the big moments. If Netflix's Full Swing documentary was anything to go by, Koepka's career looked like it could be coming to a close. Injury-plagued, issues on the greens, what was next was uncertain for Koepka. So, he took the LIV money but began to find some form again. He was fit and healthy and in the final pairing at the Masters. He would then silence all the doubters at the PGA Championship at Oak Hill, hoisting his third Wanamaker trophy. There is no point in looking at numbers or form with Koepka; just size up the occasion, and if it is a big one, you know he will front up.
COLLIN MORIKAWA
Age: 26
State: California
Ryder Cup Record: 3-0-1 (one appearance, 2021)
Professional Wins: Six
World Ranking: 19
Morikawa's only trip to the Ryder Cup has also been a winning one, where he picked up 3.5 points out of a possible 4. Morikawa, a premier ball-striker with two major championships in his back pocket, is another American who thrives in the big-moment pressure cooker. He hasn't tasted victory since his win at Royal St George's in the Open Championship in 2021. Across all the team events he has represented the USA in (Walker Cup, Presidents Cup and the Ryder Cup, he has picked up 9.5 points out of a possible 11; the Californian means business when he is representing the American flag.
XANDER SCHAUFFELE
Age: 29
State: California
Ryder Cup Record: 3-1-0 (one appearance, 2021)
Professional Wins: 10
World Ranking: 6
The only loss of Schauffele's short Ryder Cup career came at the hands of Rory in the singles at Whistling Straits. No wins for Schauffele in 2023, but he had a great year nonetheless, finishing second in the FedExCup, 11 top-10s and was one of two players to finish in the top-20 in all four majors (Viktor Hovland was the other). Ranked fourth in strokes gained putting and third in strokes gained total, he is hitting the ball exceptionally well at the moment and in his first Cup on European shores, he will need all of his class.
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER
Age: 27
State: Texas
Ryder Cup Record: 2-0-1 (one appearance, 2021)
Professional Wins: Eight
World Ranking: 1
The best player on the planet hits it differently from most, ranked first on tour in strokes gained off the tee, approach to the green, tee to green and total strokes gained. Undoubtedly, it will be a formidable task to try and take Scheffler down, but the concern with the Texan has been his flat stick. He is ranked 151st in strokes gained putting. In saying that, he still found a way to win twice this year and record 17 top-10s. Was great on Ryder Cup debut in 2021 and will need all of his class to help create history in Rome; if the putter shows up, look out.
JORDAN SPIETH
Age: 30
State: Texas
Ryder Cup Record: 8-7-3 (four appearances, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2021)
Professional Wins: 16
World Ranking: 12
Spieth is headed to his fifth Ryder Cup, having won two and lost two. We all know how classy the three-time major champion is, but he has had some trouble in singles at previous Cups; he has yet to win any of his four outings on Sunday (L3 H1). The 30-year-old had seven top-10s on the PGA Tour this year, and his work around the green looked like the Spieth of old. He has also picked up more points on European soil than he has in the U.S, a positive sign for Johnson.
JUSTIN THOMAS
Age: 30
State: Kentucky
Ryder Cup Record: 6-2-1 (two appearances, 2018, 2021)
Professional Wins: 17
World Ranking: 24
He may not have had his best stuff lately, but Johnson clarified that Thomas was a no-brainer for one of his captain's picks. Thomas boasts a fantastic record at the biennial event, and he has the ability to get under his opponent's skin. JT returned and played well at the Fortinet Championship – one of the PGA Tour's Fall Series events – finishing fifth. It looks like he has put a poor 2023 behind him and is ready to prove a point in Rome.
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