There is just one year to go until the 2023 Ryder Cup takes place at the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club, a spectacular course in Rome, Italy. The 12 best players in Europe will square off against the 12 best Americans, and several of them are in the field at this year’s Acciona Open de España presented by Madrid.
Let’s start, of course, with Jon Rahm. The Spaniard is a player who, despite only having played in two Ryder Cups, has already proved himself as one of the European side’s leaders. In 2018 in Paris, his debut, he took down none other than Tiger Woods in the singles, while in 2021 he formed a formidable partnership with Sergio Garcia, winning 3.5 points out of a possible 4 with his compatriot in the fourballs and foursomes.
Another man who is a shoe-in for the 2023 European side is Englishman Tommy Fleetwood, a player who frequents the DP World Tour and is extremely passionate about the Ryder Cup. He is particularly remembered for the 4-0 record he and Francesco Molinari produced together in 2018, prompting fans to call them ‘Moliwood’, as they laid the foundations for the European side’s victory that year. The Englishman, like Jon Rahm, has only played in two Ryder Cups, Italy will be his third, but they already form part of the group of veterans.
In light of the European team’s changing of the guard in recent years, it is difficult to say who else has already earned themselves a place in Italy next year, but there are sure to be one or two in the field at the 2022 Acciona Open de España presented by Madrid who will be there.
We cannot write off players such as Rafa Cabrera, who played for Europe in 2016, and will certainly have his sights set on the event. A successful title defence at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid would certainly be a good start. Another Spaniard is dreaming of a Ryder Cup debut. Adri Arnaus, who seems to have taken a liking to this event in Madrid and may start knocking on Luke Donald’s door soon.
The captain, although he is not playing this year, was in the field for the 2021 Acciona Open de España presented by Madrid and he will certainly be keeping a close eye on proceedings as he knows it is not an easy course to win on, and whoever does so will have gone some way to earning themselves a ticket to Rome. Thomas Bjorn and Edoardo Molinari, both European vice captains, will be Luke Donald’s eyes, and they might just ask to play with some potential team members.
