With the greatest rivalry in golf just around the corner, we take a look into the recent resurgence of the United States’ team after decades of European dominance.
The US team, who are strong favourites ahead of the upcoming tournament in Rome, have won two of the last three, and look to be turning the tide and becoming the current strong force in the competition.
Of the first seven Ryder Cup tournaments of the century, Team Europe were victorious in six of them, including the famous ‘Miracle at Medinah’ in 2012.
However, the United States’ dominant display at 2016 Ryder Cup at Hazeltine showed that they were a team to be reckoned with, which they followed up with the next tournament on home soil, the 19-9 victory over Europe at Whistling Straits.
And the current USA team, captained by Zach Johnson, are favourites for the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club.
The core of the victorious 2021 team return for the United States, with seven out of 12 players being named in Johnson’s squad.
The returning players from 2021 are Patrick Cantlay, Brooks Koepka, Collin Morikawa, Xander Schauffele, Scottie Scheffler, Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas.
The five newcomers for the tournament are Sam Burns, Wyndham Clark, Rickie Fowler, Brian Harman and Max Homa.
If they were victorious, it would the United States’ first Ryder Cup win in Europe in 30 years.
But Luke Donald’s European team, featuring talent such as Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm and Tommy Fleetwood, stands in their way of retaining the trophy for the first time since the 1990s.
On both sides of the Atlantic, the golf and sports industry continues to grow, with new career opportunities in sports media, business, science, marketing, coaching and all other avenues.
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