Last time out at the Ryder Cup in 2021, Team USA stormed to a record-breaking 19-9 victory at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin to take home the trophy under the stewardship of team captain Steve Stricker.
But having not tasted Ryder Cup victory on European soil since the Belfry in 1993, Team USA could once again find the going tough in 2023 when the tournament heads to Italy for the very first time despite likely heading into the competition as heavy favourites.
In this article, The Sporting News looks at where and when the 2023 Ryder Cup will be played, who the two team captains are and which side has won the most tournaments before amongst other topics.
What is the Ryder Cup?
The Ryder Cup is a golf event that takes place every two years between two teams, one from Europe and one from the United States.
The venue of the competition alternates every two years, with one being played in the U.S. before the following takes place on European soil.
The Ryder Cup is named after English businessman Samuel Ryder who donated the prestigious trophy to the event. Throughout history, the two sides have battled it out 43 times with the first tournament taking place in 1927.
When and where is the 2023 Ryder Cup?
The latest instalment of this historic rivalry is scheduled to begin on Friday September 29 and come to a close on Sunday October 1.
No session times have yet been announced for the event, though the tournament is likely to follow the usual timeline.
That timeline normally sees both fourball and foursome battles on the first day, the same again on the second day before finishing with 12 singles matches on the final day of action.
After Team USA's victory in Wisconsin during the 2021 Ryder Cup, next year will see the competition return to Europe with the tournament set to be hosted at the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club.
The golf course is situated on the outskirts of Rome in Italy and has undergone significant renovation work over the past year. According to the official Ryder Cup website, that work has been carried out "with the drama of match play in mind.”
Who will be the Ryder Cup 2023 captains?
With Team Europe trying to get back to winning ways at the 2023 Ryder Cup given their heavy loss at the last event, the team had opted for seasoned professional Henrik Stenson to captain the team in Rome next year, though that appointment has now changed.
Despite Stenson holding a long history of playing in this tournament after appearing in five different editions of the Ryder Cup as a player in 2006, 2008, 2014, 2016 and 2018, the Swede has been stripped of his captaincy after weeks of rumours have suggested that he'll be joining the controversial Saudi-backed LIV Golf Tour imminently.
Just a day after Stenson triumphed on his LIV Golf debut as he claimed victory in the third event of the breakaway series held in Bedminster, New Jersey, it was announced Luke Donald would step into his shoes and captain Team Europe at the 2023 Ryder Cup.
We're delighted to announce @LukeDonald as 2023 European Ryder Cup Captain 🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/76P9F8Cl10
— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) August 1, 2022
For the visitors, Zach Johnson has been announced as the captain of Team USA.
The former 2007 Masters and 2015 Open Championship victor, worked under Stricker as an assistant during Team USA's heavy win in Wisconsin.
The 46-year-old appeared in five Ryder Cups as a player in 2006, 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2016, though he only won the competition on one occasion.
On accepting his role as Team USA captain at the 2023 Ryder Cup, Johnson said; "to accept this captaincy, to lead this United States Ryder Cup Team abroad, after what we accomplished last year at Whistling Straits, is simply the greatest honour of my professional career."
Who has won the Ryder Cup the most times?
The Ryder Cup was first played for all the way back in June 1923 when the United States beat Great Britain at the Worchester Country Club in Massachusetts.
That was the original format until 1979 when the trophy was then contested between Team USA and Team Europe, mostly owing to the fact that the US dominated the competition previously against Great Britain.
Since the first instalment of the new format at the 1979 Ryder Cup in West Virginia, Team Europe have won a slight majority of the tournaments and will head into the 2023 competition with an overall scoreline advantage in terms of titles won, 12-9.
Overall, including the older format where the U.S. played Great Britain, Team USA have won 26 of the 41 previous Ryder Cup matchups.
Can LIV Golf players play at the Ryder Cup?
A hugely controversial topic of late in the golfing world, it's still yet to be officially decided if players who have moved to play on the newly-formed LIV Golf tour will be allowed to play in the 2023 Ryder Cup.
In the clearest indication yet of a decision however, it looks like LIV Golf player will not be allowed to take part.
In one of his recent interviews, Team USA captain Johnson stated; "in order to play on the Ryder Cup team whether you're top six or a pick, you must garner Ryder Cup points through the PGA of America. In order to garner Ryder Cup points through the PGA of America, you have to be a member of the PGA of America."
Before adding; "the way that we're members of the PGA of America is through the PGA Tour. I'll let you connect the dots from there."
Ryder Cup records
Which player has made the most Ryder Cup appearances?
American Phil Mickelson has made the most appearances in Ryder Cup history. The former world number two and six-time major champion, made 12 appearances in this competition between 1995 and 2018.
Which player who won the most Ryder Cup points in history?
European golfer Sergio Garcia holds the record for most Ryder Cup points won. The Spaniard took 28 1/2 points across his ten competition appearances.
Which player has won the most singles points at the Ryder Cup?
Five different players share the record for most singles points won at the Ryder Cup, with Europe's Colin Montgomerie and Neil Coles as well as Americans Lee Trevino, Billy Casper and Arnold Palmer all winning seven such points previously.
Who is the youngest player to have taken part in the Ryder Cup?
Sergio Garcia became the youngest player to ever play in a Ryder Cup when he made his first appearance for Europe in 1999 at the age of 19 years and 258 days.
Who is the oldest player to have taken part in the Ryder Cup?
Meanwhile, American golfer Raymond Floyd is the oldest player to ever feature at the Ryder Cup. He has 51 years and 20 days when he was part of the field back in 1993.
