After Europe’s triumph in Paris at Paris National in 2018, the venue for the 2022 Ryder Cup is staying in mainland Europe and travelling to Italy, more specifically Rome, and the Marco Simone golf and country club. Situated just 10 miles from the city centre, it is built around a castle of the 11th century and features from several holes the view of St.Peters dome of the Vatican City.
Golf in Italy
There are currently around 9,000 registered golfers in Italy, this number is hoping to rise with interest in the Ryder Cup that the country is hosting. A number of high profile professional golfers have come out of Italy over the years, including Constantino Rocca, who lost to John Daly in a play-off at the 1995 Open Championship.
The Molinari brothers, Francesco and Edoardo, have both made their mark on the golfing world, both participated in the 2010 Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor for Europe. Francesco recently in 2018 became the first Italian to win a major championship after winning the Open at Carnoustie, he and his brother Edoardo won the 2009 World cup of golf. Another professional golfer from Italy, rising star, Matteo Mannassero is currently on the European Tour and was named a prodigy in his youth after becoming the then youngest player to make the cut at the Masters at just 16 years of age.
Course renovations and changes
When it became voted to host the 2022 Ryder Cup in late 2015, it consequently became the first time that the Ryder Cup will be played in Italy, it held off just three other bids to host the tournament from Germany, Austria and Spain. Changes will have to be made to the course to improve it, firstly for the players it will be made longer to accommodate the length that the modern players hit the ball. Secondly for spectators to improve access, new roads and cart paths with an expected 30-40 thousand people at the venue each of the three competition days. Thirdly for the media who need room for media tents and hospitality tents and for all the manufacturer trucks. Also new lakes and a new irrigation system will be placed in to improve the overall quality of the course.
The course has hosted one major tournament in its history, the 1994 Italian Open won by Argentinian golfer Eduardo Romero.
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