Ryder Cup Teams Confirmed: Do Europe or the USA Have the Edge?

The countdown to the 44th Ryder Cup is on and all roads lead to Rome! The Marco Simone Golf and Country Club will host this year’s edition of the highly coveted event, as the USA looks to retain their title following a dominant 19-9 victory at Whistling Straits in 2021. The final Ryder Cup teams have been announced, but which side looks strongest going into the contest?

🚨 PSA: It's officially Ryder Cup month 🚨 pic.twitter.com/3dOknJYiWO

— Ryder Cup USA (@RyderCupUSA) September 1, 2023

USA Slight Favourites

USA is leading the latest golf betting odds with Europe trailing behind as the slight underdog. American captain Zach Jonson came under much scrutiny when it was announced he would consider LIV Golf members, but he opted to include just one, five-time major champion Brooks Koekpa. 

Those looking to bet on Ryder Cup will find that the USA is priced at 10/11 as the favourite to win, followed by Europe at odds of 5/4.

The addition of 2023 PGA champion Koepka strengthened an already impressive lineup consisting of US Open winner Wyndham Clark and Open Championship victor Brian Harman, not to mention world number one Scottie Scheffler and Ryder Cup veterans Rickie Fowler and Jordan Spieth. The US team includes three of this year’s four major winners and six of the current world top 10.

Here is the full US team that will be looking to retain the Ryder Cup for the first time since 1993, which also happens to be the last time they won on European soil.

USA: Scottie Scheffler (1), Patrick Cantlay (5), Xander Schauffele (6), Max Homa (7), Brian Harman (9), Wyndham Clark (10), Jordan Spieth (12), Brooks Koepka (15), Collin Morikawa (19), Sam Burns (20), Justin Thomas (25), Rickie Fowler (26).

Hope for Europe on Home Soil

As well as winning seven of the previous 10 Cups since the turn of the millennium, Europe has won six consecutive competitions in their home continent. That narrow 15-13 defeat at the Belfry in 1993 remains their only defeat in Europe since 1981.

Luke Donald turned some heads with his wildcard selections, most notably with the inclusion of Shane Lowry, who has been nowhere near his best in 2023. However, form often goes out the window in the Ryder Cup, and Lowry has repeatedly shown that he can hold his nerve on the biggest stage. The 36-year-old Irishman joins a star-studded European team featuring three of the world’s top five players, one of whom is 2023 Masters champion Jon Rahm.

Below are the key players in the final European team hoping to assert their home dominance in Rome.

Europe: Rory McIlroy (2), Jon Rahm (3), Viktor Hovland (4), Matt Fitzpatrick (8), Tyrrell Hatton (13), Tommy Fleetwood (14), Sepp Straka (23), Justin Rose (34), Shane Lowry (37), Robert MacIntyre (54).

Can't wait to play my first home Ryder Cup @RyderCupEurope 🇪🇺💪🏻 pic.twitter.com/NiatjDbTN2

— Shane Lowry (@ShaneLowryGolf) September 4, 2023

History of the Ryder Cup in Numbers

Since the Ryder Cup debuted at the Worcester Country Club, Massachusetts in 1927, the United States has won 27 of their 43 appearances, losing 14 and drawing twice. They enjoyed 50 years of dominance over Great Britain and Ireland, who won just three times before transitioning to team Europe after the 1977 edition.

Following the transformation, Europe has a slightly superior record with 11 wins, nine defeats, and one draw from their 21 appearances.  Europe has lost just twice on home soil during that time, an 18½  – 9½ loss in 1981 and a 15-13 defeat in 1993.

Although the USA has won 18 of the 22 Ryder Cups in the states, they have not fared so well across the pond. Europe’s team might consist of some intriguing wildcard picks and four players making their debuts, but it is also packed with some of the most experienced Ryder Cup players – McIlroy and Justin Rose have 11 appearances between them.

 It is set to be a cracking weekend of action in Italy, with the action taking place from Friday 29th September to Sunday 1st October.