Golf Nazionale and Marco Simone to host the 2023 Junior Ryder Cup
Marco Simone Golf & Country Club. Picture: Getty Images
Ryder Cup Europe today announced that the final day of the 2023 Junior Ryder Cup will be played at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club, in Rome, on the eve of the Ryder Cup.
In a change to the previous format, the Junior Ryder Cup will now take place over three days instead of two, with the Ryder Cup venue hosting the decisive singles matches for the first time.
Golf Nazionale, which hosted the Italian Challenge Open earlier this year, will be the venue for the first two days of foursomes and fourballs between male and female juniors from Europe and the United States on Tuesday September 26 and Wednesday September 27.
The competition will then move to Marco Simone Golf & Country Club on Thursday September 28, the day before the venue hosts the Ryder Cup itself, providing an exciting curtain-raiser to golf’s greatest team contest.
Edward Kitson, the Ryder Cup Match Director, said: “Playing the Junior Ryder Cup singles matches at Marco Simone will be a fantastic experience for the 24 players who get the opportunity to compete in front of Ryder Cup crowds on the Ryder Cup course.
“These matches will form part of an exciting Thursday during Ryder Cup week, with ticket applications open until October 16 via the Ryder Cup ballot. It will be another great spectacle for the fans who will be able to see some of the most exciting future talent in action, alongside the final practice day for the Ryder Cup followed by the opening ceremony which includes the announcement of the first day pairings.
The Junior Ryder Cup features the best male and female junior amateurs from Europe and the United States in a head-to-head mixed event, with both teams comprising of six boys and six girls.
Past Junior Ryder Cup players include Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas – all of whom have gone on to become World Number One and Major Champions in the men’s game – as well as women’s Major winners Suzann Pettersen and Lexi Thompson. In all, 23 Junior Ryder Cup participants have subsequently represented their continents in either the Ryder Cup or Solheim Cup.
Both the European and United States Junior Ryder Cup teams will feature six boys and six girls who must not have turned 18 before January 1, 2023 and must not be enrolled to play college golf in the USA during 2023.
In 2018 at Golf Disneyland Paris, Europe narrowly missed out on a first victory since 2006, as Team USA triumphed 12 ½ - 11 ½. The 2020 edition of the Junior Ryder Cup was cancelled due to the global Covid-19 pandemic.
The Qualification process and Captains for both the European and American Junior Ryder Cup teams will be announced shortly.