Mullets, LIV, and the Visigoths: The Ryder Cup is here

The entire course at Marco Simone Golf Club and its surrounding roads, still devoid of markings, feel recently constructed. That’s because it is

ALL SMILES: European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald (right) and US Ryder Cup captain Zach Johnson pose with the Ryder Cup after a press conference at Marco Simone Golf Club in Rome. Pic: Cian O'Regan

This is how it starts. Two captains sitting on either side of the Ryder Cup at a little-known course half an hour outside of Rome, peppered by questions about mullet haircuts, absent LIV golfers, and the Visigoths’ invasion of the Roman Empire.

Outside Justin Thomas chips onto a practice green while posing for selfies. Nearby world number one Scottie Scheffler is working with putting guru Phil Kenyon, the man Rory McIlroy famously hired after missing the cut at the 2016 PGA Championship. The amphitheatre-like grandstand around the first tee at the Marco Simone Golf Club looms in the background. It is recently constructed and capable of containing 5,000 odd spectators.

The entire course and its surrounding roads, still devoid of markings, feel recently constructed. That’s because it is. Part of the ancient estate’s successful bid was a promise to redesign the entire course specifically with match play in mind while avoiding any pinch points or crossovers to cater for the sellout crowd. Marco Simone has hosted just three professional golf tournaments. The hilly terrain will provide ample viewpoints for patrons and significant challenges for caddies. Tight fairways, brutal roughs. European captain Luke Donald is naturally content with its layout.

“I think everyone at Marco Simone, everyone involved with the Ryder Cup have done an amazing job. I've never seen stands as big as these,” says the Englishman. Despite a historic defeat in 2021, Donald is upbeat. Four wins from four as a player will do that to a captain.

“As captain, you have to be confident. I certainly have a lot of belief in my team. I know it's going to be a difficult few days, it really is. The US are very strong. We know that.

“We are coming off our worst defeat ever in a Ryder Cup. US players are strong, high up in the World Rankings and they have some great partnerships and have had a lot of success. We have our work cut out but as I said, you have to have belief in your team.” 

His US opponent Zach Johnson is also complimentary of the course’s condition while stressing that the rough is penal. This is his seventh time around, five as a player and two as a vice-captain. He is in no doubt about what is more challenging.

“Definitely a captain. When you're playing, you've just got to get ready, be prepared, ideally have your A game, be a decent cheerleader for your teammates, that kind of thing. But this is a lot more difficult.

“My role is to give them access to anything and everything they need, whether it's personnel or specifically a gym or recovery, their bed, whatever it may be. That's my role. To remove the clutter so they can go be who they are. That's what Steve (Stricker) did.

“That is what we tried to do within Team USA is to lay everything out so that they can go be who they are and with that comes a natural or almost an organic team building, if you will.” 

Simply cordial and pleasant so far. At the same time, this is the Ryder Cup. Ridiculous is hardwired into its makeup. Last weekend, captain’s pick Sam Burns unveiled his new hair-style, a mullet with 'USA' inscribed on the side. “More power to them,” shrugs Johnson. “If they are more comfortable, that's what it's about.” 

Later he frowns and shakes his head at a suggestion Europe’s recent success stems from their ability to ‘practice their putting better’. On Bryson DeChambeau’s recent complaints that he should have received a call after his latest LIV success, Johnson is indifferent.

“Yeah, I can answer in a very simple manner. We kept a tally. We have a points system within The PGA of America, within the Ryder Cup USA. It's pretty evident that of how you garner points and which tournaments can accumulate points.” 

One interesting subplot this week is the influence of European vice-captain Edoardo Molinari. An engineering graduate from the University of Torino, he has become a trail-blazer in the use of data analytics in golf. Viktor Hovland and 2022 US Open winner Matt Fitzpatrick have already utilised his expertise prior to this tournament.

When asked about the decision to start with foursomes rather than fourballs on Friday, Donald’s explanation was plain: it was down to the stats.

“Pretty simple really. We feel like as a team, statistically we are stronger in foursomes than we would be in four-balls. Why not get off to a fast start? That's it.” 

Johnson was keen to point out they use analytics too and have done so since 2015, but they deal in the “objective and subjective.” Time for one last question. Rome. The site of a famous historical empire that never lost at home until some serious internal divisions weakened them and the barbarians at the gates took over. Are you the last Roman emperor, Luke? Inspired by the Visigoths, Zach?

Donald is bemused and deflects. Johnson has a go.

“Wow. I mean, Luke and I had the pleasure, I would even say distinct honour of walking the streets of Rome in Europe a year ago and actually hitting a ball by the Colosseum and the ruins and whatnot. I don't take that for granted, whether you're talking empires, biblical importance, whatever it may be, the history of Rome, the eternal city.

“All that being said, this is golf. I mean, this is sport. I'm going to keep it pretty simple. That's the way I operate. Whatever drama you're trying to get into, I'm going to let that happen inside the ropes with our golf balls. Cheers.” 

Let the games begin.