Five reasons why Europe win Ryder Cup in 2023

There was no reason to be optimistic as a European fan after the 2021 Ryder Cup.

America inflicted a historic 19-9 drubbing on Padraig Harrington’s team in what was an evident gulf in class and quality.

The frightening thing was Team USA appeared just to be scratching the surface of a golden generation of young talent that now shoulders the burden of a 30-year winless run on away soil.

But recent months have been promising for Luke Donald. For one reason or another, the blue and gold colours have become brighter.

Team Europe will be determined to build upon an impressive home record sparked by Faldo, Ballesteros, Montgomerie and Woosnam before them.

They are the underdogs, but you can say that again. Europe always has been, and the impossible has been made possible more than once in the recent history of the Ryder Cup.

Here is why we think Europe can win the – forget that. Here is why Europe WILL win the Ryder Cup:

Europe’s home record is impeccable

It has been made no secret that America hasn’t won the Ryder Cup in Europe since 1993. John Major was still Prime Minister, a pint of lager was only £1.55 and the first season of the Premier League had just concluded.

Tom Watson’s Team USA entered the singles one point behind at the Belfry, but consecutive points won by Payne Stewart, Davis Love III, Jim Gallagher, Raymond Floyd and Tom Kite helped turn the tide.

The United States came very close at Valderrama to upsetting the Seve party and they were inched out at Celtic Manor in 2010 in washed-out Wales. But Europe has held firm on each occasion in the last 30 years in which they’ve hosted the event.

Home advantage is a statistical phenomenon proven to favour the home team in virtually any sport – playing away from your natural surroundings is an objective disadvantage and it’s one that America has failed to overcome for far too long.

Europe has won on away soil three times in the period the USA hasn’t which exemplifies their away woes even more. Marco Simone will be a fortress that Zach Johnson must tear down and stop another home Ryder Cup Europe wins.

A core of superstars at the top of the world rankings

In general, American players dominate the world rankings. 6 of the world’s top 10 players are on Team USA and 10 of the top 20 players are too.

However, Europe occupies three places in the top four of the rankings. Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm and Viktor Hovland will be seen as Luke Donald’s key players who must continue their fine form if Europe is to have a chance.

Rahm is the Masters champion and he also won the Genesis Invitational, the Sentry Tournament of Champions and the American Express at the start of the season.

Viktor Hovland came of age by winning the Memorial Tournament at Jack’s place, followed by securing the BMW Championship and subsequently, the Tour Championship.

If you said McIlroy was the most consistent player in world golf, I doubt you’d find many nay-sayers. He has 12 top-10s in his last 17 events including a win at the Genesis Scottish Open and a runner-up finish at the US Open.

With Matt Fitzpatrick, Tyrrell Hatton and Tommy Fleetwood playing their way into the world’s top 20 too, Europe has developed a very strong top-end of their 12-man team.

Local knowledge

Marco Simone Golf and Country Club will host the first-ever Italian Ryder Cup, and it has also hosted the DP World Tour’s DS Automobiles Italian Open in each of the last three years.

Nicolai Hojgaard won the event in 2021, beating Fleetwood by one shot. Robert MacIntyre won it in 2022 as well, beating Fitzpatrick in a playoff. These players have a clear affinity for the course and can play it extremely well.

Hatton also won the Italian Open at Milano in 2017 while vice-captains Francesco Molinari and Nicolas Colsaerts have almost excelled in this event in recent years too.

The style of Italian golf is ingrained in Team Europe and with the Molinari brothers as part of Donald’s staff too, there will be a steely determination not to face defeat in their home nation.

Out with the old and in with the new

Whether it was the emergence of LIV Golf or their time had simply come, a core of European stalwarts will no longer be a part of Team Europe in a playing capacity.

Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Sergio Garcia and Paul Casey all represented the blue and gold at Whistling Straits in 2021 knowing it was likely the last time they’d cling on to their long-established places in the team.

All four players are responsible for magical moments in the Ryder Cup’s history, but Donald will now hope his new crop of fresh-faced and fear-free Europeans will fill this void and go on to form memories of their own.

Nicolai Hojgaard, Robert MacIntyre, Ludvig Aberg and Sepp Straka have all shown promise in 2023, with the latter pair particularly proving their worth with recent wins on the PGA and DP World Tours.

There is an unpredictability about these new additions to Team Europe, a new dynamic that might catch the Americans by surprise.

A different American side from two years ago

The USA are favourites to win back-to-back Ryder Cups for the first time since 1993, and rightly so.

Johnson possesses seven major champions, but three of these major champions sprung surprises this season and would likely have not been considered for selection had they not picked up one of golf’s four big trophies.

Wyndham Clark held off McIlroy to win the US Open in June, and Brian Harman produced a stunning display at Hoylake to win The Open in July.

Brooks Koepka’s place was virtually ruled out after he moved to LIV Golf as well, but coming tied for second at the Masters and then winning the PGA Championship secured him a captain’s pick.

These are three players Johnson couldn’t have conceived of being part of his team 12 months ago. Will Clark and Harman take to the Ryder Cup cauldron? Will Koepka’s recent LIV form stand up this week in Rome?

Team USA are near perfect, but they aren’t. This trio of players are unavoidably deserving of their Ryder Cup spots, but will they produce a relentless barrage comparable to the 2021 event that many are expecting?

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Now on the wrong side of 25, Matt has been playing golf since the age of 13 and was largely inspired to take up the game by countless family members who played golf during his childhood.

Matt is a member at Royal Cinque Ports in Deal playing off a 5 handicap, just a pitching wedge away from his hometown of Dover where he went to school and grew up. He has previously been a member at Etchinghill and Walmer and Kingsdown in Kent.

Having studied history at the University of Liverpool, Matt went on to pass his NCTJ Exams in Manchester a year later to fulfil his lifelong ambition of becoming a journalist. He picked up work experience along the way at places such as the Racing Post, the Independent, Sportsbeat and the Lancashire Evening Post.

Matt joined NCG in February 2023 and is the website’s main source of tour news, features and opinion. He has reported live from events such as The Open, the Ryder Cup and The Players Championship, having also interviewed and spent time with some of the biggest names in the sport.

Consuming tour golf on what is a 24/7 basis, you can come to Matt for informed views on the game and the latest updates on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour and LIV Golf.

What’s in Matt’s bag: Cobra LTDx LS driver, Cobra LTDx 3-wood, TaylorMade P7MC irons, Ping Glide 4.0 wedges, Odyssey putter.