The 44th edition of the Ryder Cup is underway at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club, near Rome, with Team USA opening their title defence following their at win at Whistling Straits in 2021.
The Americans are seeking to win in Europe for the first time in 30 years, since their triumph at the Belfry in England in 1993.
However, the previous edition of the biennial contest saw the Europeans suffer a record defeat as they went down 19-9 to the hosts in Wisconsin.
This year’s competition is being staged in Italy for the first time. The venue is the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club near Rome, which has previously hosted the Italian Open.
Telegraph Sport has produced a hole-by-hole guide to the course.
Nine of the US team made a scouting trip to the course recently as they seek to overturn the pattern of seven of the last eight contests being won by the host team.
Before the tournament started, Team USA’s Justin Thomas shone a light on the passions the Ryder Cup evokes by admitting he “hates” good friend Rory McIlroy during the matches.
Thomas and Jordan Spieth combined to beat McIlroy and Ian Poulter in a foursomes match in Paris in 2018, with Thomas then beating McIlroy in the opening singles at Le Golf National.
“I would say I would just kind of channel the things that I feel because it’s nothing personal,” said Thomas.
“Rory is a great example. I love Rory. We get along extremely well. He’s been a role model of mine. He was super nice to me when I was first starting up. He still is. We see each other a bunch.
“Yeah, we played each other in the Ryder Cup and, yeah, we hated each other for 18 holes. Again, it’s nothing personal. It’s not a dislike as a person.”
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