“Italy isn’t a golf country” some said. “Europe will struggle getting fans to the Ryder Cup” others theorised. “Marco Simone was a mistake.” “The US might actually do it this year.” All of that and plenty more was said in the build up to the 2023 Ryder Cup. Yes, occasionally even by us. But now, a little over halfway through the 44th edition of golf’s most hotly contested international tourney, we can safely that all of that was, patently, wrong.
You can look at the scoreboard if you need proof, but it’s a lot more fun (especially if you’re an American golf fan) to just check out the scenes on the first tee on Saturday. Sound way the hell up.
"We're the right side of the tee!" 🔊
The current scenes in Rome 😍#TeamEurope | #RyderCup pic.twitter.com/uu9TKZghmi
— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) September 30, 2023
“USA is terrified, Europe’s on fiiiire” has truly never been more apt pic.twitter.com/zlMrOxpimZ
— No Laying Up (@NoLayingUp) September 30, 2023
Jon Rahm getting the crowd pumped ahead of the four-balls this afternoon 🙌#TeamEurope | #RyderCup pic.twitter.com/sqnPnbxeN9
— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) September 30, 2023
Seve, forever in our hearts 💙#TeamEurope #RyderCup pic.twitter.com/N7FZNSz8LU
— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) September 30, 2023
Incredible stuff. The songs. The thunder clap. The Seve tifo. It’s almost as good as a Saturday noon kickoff between Purdue and Iowa. OK, that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but you get the point: Nobody does live sports like those tracksuit-loving Euros, especially when they have the chance to remind Americans who their daddy is.
Despite those early reports, the support has made a big difference at Marco Simone. There’s a reason the scoreboard looks the way it does: Because Europe is playing with an extra man out there.
