Rarely has one tournament been so inexorably linked to The Ryder Cup as much as the 2016 Italian Open is.
With seven of Darren Clarke’s European team for Hazeltine National in the field this week, Italy hosting The 2022 Ryder Cup, and The Ryder Cup trophy itself in the country on a tour that has taken in host city Rome, as well as Milan, golf’s greatest team event is the talk of the town.
As well as seeing Ryder Cup stars Rafa Cabrera Bello, Matt Fitzpatrick, Martin Kaymer, Andy Sullivan, Lee Westwood, Danny Willett and Chris Wood in action, the large galleries this week will also have the chance to get their picture taken with the trophy when it arrives at Golf Club Milano on Thursday.
There will also be one eye on the future of Italian golf and the continued development of the likes of home talents Matteo Manassero and Renato Paratore this week, with the pair hopeful of qualifying for the team when the 2022 edition of golf’s most famous match play event arrives in Rome.
In the meantime some of the biggest names in the field this week have been observing the excitement around The Ryder Cup in this part of the world.
“The Ryder Cup logo is everywhere here with Italy hosting it in 2022 and they’re obviously very excited about it already,” said Westwood, a veteran of nine Ryder Cups.
“The Ryder Cup logo is everywhere here with Italy hosting it in 2022 and they’re obviously very exblockquoted about it already.” Lee Westwood
“But the Italian Open has always been a prestigious tournament in its own right and it’s going to be a good preparation week for me. Hopefully I can get myself in contention and get the competitive juices flowing.”
Westwood’s friend Willett echoed his compatriot’s sentiments.
“There’s a lot of excitement here about The Ryder Cup, and I’m sure the Italian Open will continue to go from strength to strength and become one of the biggest and best on the European Tour,” said the Masters champion.
The players are not the only ones excited to be in Italy, with The Ryder Cup touring party relishing visiting Rome and Milan, and even setting up the Samuel Ryder trophy for a picture in front of the capital’s iconic Colosseum.
Richard Hills, Ryder Cup Director said: “It has been wonderful to bring The Ryder Cup Trophy Tour to Italy.
"As well as the enthusiasm for golf, we’ve also seen today how beautiful Rome is. Italy will be a brilliant host for The Ryder Cup in 2022 and it is fantastic to see the excitement on the faces of the children who took part in the Ryder Cup Trophy Tour.”
We cannot predict who is going to win this week’s Italian Open, but we can say with confidence that there is a very special Ryder Cup buzz in the air at Golf Club Milano, and indeed across the whole of Italy.
