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.