European Ryder Cup Team 2023: Player Guide, Past Form, Stats and Top Scorer Odds
GolfMagic takes a closer look at Luke Donald's European Ryder Cup side in full to see where their strengths and weaknesses lie ahead of Rome.
Luke Donald has now finalised his 2023 European Ryder Cup team so what better time to take a closer look at the lineup with three weeks and counting until they do battle with Zach Johnson's United States side at Marco Simone in Italy.
The United States might be the defending champions following their record 19-9 victory at Whistling Straits in 2021, but the stars and stripes have incredibly not won the Ryder Cup on European soil since 1993.
Will the United States finally end 30 years of hurt? The bookies certainly think it will be close with the USA narrow favourites at 4/5, Europe at 5/4 and the tie at 12/1.
Donald completed his European Ryder Cup team with his six captain's picks on Monday.
Some of his picks applauded while others were seen as somewhat controversial.
"Why on earth has Luke Donald left Adrian Meronk OUT the Ryder Cup team?!"
— Andy Roberts (@AndyRobertsGolf) September 4, 2023
Donald chose Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose, Shane Lowry, Sepp Straka, Ludvig Aberg and Nicolai Hojgaard as his picks.
They join Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Viktor Hovland, Tyrrell Hatton, Matt Fitzpatrick and Bob MacIntyre in the team.
Many fans consider that Adrian Meronk was incredibly unfortunate to miss out on the team having won three times on the DP World Tour since July 2022, and he even won the Italian Open four months ago at Marco Simone Golf Club, venue of the Ryder Cup.
In this feature, we take a closer look at each of the 12 Europeans in Donald's team to see what they all bring to the table with their past experience, latest stats and recent form.
How many points will Rory McIlroy earn at the 2023 Ryder Cup?
— GolfMagic (@GolfMagic) September 5, 2023
We also reveal each player's odds to become top points scorer at the Ryder Cup.
If you scroll to the bottom of the page, you can also check out a very interesting Team Europe vs Team USA average statistic.
Let's dive in, starting with a player you can expect to play in every match...
EUROPEAN RYDER CUP TEAM 2023: PLAYER PROFILES
Rory McIlroy
Age: 34
World Ranking: 2
PGA Tour Wins: 24
DP World Tour Wins: 16
Major Wins: 4
Previous Ryder Cup appearances: 6
Past Ryder Cup record: 12-12-4
Driving Accuracy: 53.25% (157th)
Driving Distance: 326.3 yards (1st)
Greens In Regulation: 67.88% (41st)
Scrambling: 61.35% (58th)
Strokes-Gained Putting: 0.164 (65th)
Last Five Tour Starts: 7/1/6/3/4
Top Team Points Scorer Odds: 11/2
Top Combined Points Scorer Odds: 10/1
Rory McIlroy will be the unofficial player captain of this European team as they look to wrestle the Ryder Cup out of American hands at Marco Simone Golf Club. McIlroy was reduced to tears last time out at Whistling Straits, feeling like he had let his teammates down. But there will be no excuses this time around as the World No.2 arrives in Rome off the back of some impressive recent results. Although his major winless streak will stretch into a 10th year in 2024, McIlroy won twice during the PGA Tour season with his latest victory coming at the Scottish Open in July where he closed out with back-to-back birdies on 17 and 18 to seal a one-stroke victory over Robert MacIntyre, who has also made the team. McIlroy's Ryder Cup record is pretty much split down the middle with 12 wins, 12 losses and 4 ties, but we fancy he will prove an incredibly tough man to beat with something of a chip on his shoulder in Rome this month. We can see McIlroy heading out in the fourballs and foursomes with either Viktor Hovland or Ludvig Aberg on the Friday and Saturday. Donald might choose to mix it up, but much will depend how the opening day goes in all likelihood. McIlroy at 10/1 to be top combined points scorer looks cracking value given he will be out in every game. It all just depends how many times he comes up against the all-star American partnership of Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele.
Jon Rahm
Age: 28
World Ranking: 3
PGA Tour Wins: 11
DP World Tour Wins: 10
Major Wins: 2
Previous Ryder Cup appearances: 2
Past Ryder Cup record: 4-3-1
Driving Accuracy: 57.68% (112th)
Driving Distance: 314.0 yards (8th)
Greens In Regulation: 70.50% (5th)
Scrambling: 61.54% (56th)
Strokes-Gained Putting: 0.337 (35th)
Last Five Tour Starts: 10/MC/2/37/31
Top Team Points Scorer Odds: 5/1
Top Combined Points Scorer Odds: 9/1
Jon Rahm is heading into the Ryder Cup in some fair form, but you would have to say he has not looked his former World No.1 best of late and that could prove something of a worry for Donald. Rahm started the year on fire rattling off wins left, right and centre, and he of course memorably won his second major title at The Masters. But things have certainly dried up for him of late. One thing you can count on though is that Rahm will be up for the fight at the Ryder Cup. Although Rahm won't have his good friend and Spanish compatriot Sergio Garcia alongside him this time around in Rome, we can see Donald potentially setting him alight with Tyrrell Hatton in what could prove one of the most fiery Ryder Cup partnerships of all time. I think we would all love to see that one?! Rahm's Ryder Cup record is fairly solid with four wins, three losses and one tie but given his recent form you would have to say he offers very little value in the betting market for top combined points scorer. We fully expect Rahm to turn up full guns blazing, but we just think his game is a long way off where it was at the start of the season. But if that changes in Rome then watch out USA.
Viktor Hovland
Age: 25
World Ranking: 4
PGA Tour Wins: 6
DP World Tour Wins: 2
Major Wins: -
Previous Ryder Cup appearances: 1
Past Ryder Cup record: 0-3-2
Driving Accuracy: 63.70% (31st)
Driving Distance: 307.6 yards (42nd)
Greens In Regulation: 68.18% (31st)
Scrambling: 62.10% (41st)
Strokes-Gained Putting: 0.236 (51st)
Last Five Tour Starts: 29/25/13/13/1
Top Team Points Scorer Odds: 6/1
Top Combined Points Scorer Odds: 11/1
Viktor Hovland is without question the hottest European player right now following his incredible FedEx Cup triumph last month. Hovland will be making just his second Ryder Cup appearance and it's fair to say he will definitely do better than the first as he failed to register a win in five matches. He did, however, pick up half a point in one of his matches. But let's be honest, the entire week was something of a write-off for the Europeans at Whistling Straits as they ran into a red-hot American team. Hovland is arguably the most in-form man on both Ryder Cup teams right now, and we would be stunned if Donald doesn't send him out in all five matches. We could see Hovland heading out alongside Fleetwood or McIlroy, or perhaps even Aberg in an all-Scandinavian partnership. Either way, whoever gets to play with Hovland will certainly be chuffed to bits. Europe's star man Hovland could prove the key to victory at Marco Simone. You would have to say his top scorer odds look decent value.
Tyrrell Hatton
Age: 31
World Ranking: 13
PGA Tour Wins: 1
DP World Tour Wins: 6
Major Wins: -
Previous Ryder Cup appearances: 2
Past Ryder Cup record: 2-4-1
Driving Accuracy: 59.41% (91st)
Driving Distance: 306.5 yards (46th)
Greens In Regulation: 66.38% (89th)
Scrambling: 63.98% (19th)
Strokes-Gained Putting: 0.597 (9th)
Last Five Tour Starts: 27/6/20/43/34
Top Team Points Scorer Odds: 8/1
Top Combined Points Scorer Odds: 16/1
Tyrrell Hatton has not had his best stuff out there this season but we think the Ryder Cup could bring out the best in him to round out his season. Maybe we are just dreaming about this pairing but we think he is match made in heaven to play alongside Rahm. Both of them are extremely passionate players, and it does not get more passionate and fiery than at a Ryder Cup so what better time to put them together? Donald may have other ideas, but we think it makes a lot of sense. It could be amazing, but it could also end in tears if they don't bring their best stuff. Either way, it would be blockbuster viewing for both European and American fans at Marco Simone. Hatton's strength lies in his putting so you can expect plenty of fist-pumps from the Englishman at the Ryder Cup. If he does head out with Rahm more often than not at the Ryder Cup, you could argue his 16/1 price tag for top combined points scorer looks fairly tempting. We're just not convinced he will play a full five matches.
Matt Fitzpatrick
Age: 29
World Ranking: 8
PGA Tour Wins: 2
DP World Tour Wins: 8
Major Wins: 1
Previous Ryder Cup appearances: 2
Past Ryder Cup record: 0-5-0
Driving Accuracy: 56.61% (128th)
Driving Distance: 304.1 yards (59th)
Greens In Regulation: 65.14% (123rd)
Scrambling: 64.63% (13th)
Strokes-Gained Putting: 0.525 (13th)
Last Five Tour Starts: MC/41/66/2/3
Top Team Points Scorer Odds: 7/1
Top Combined Points Scorer Odds: 14/1
How Matt Fitzpatrick has failed to register even half a point in the Ryder Cup yet is anyone's guess, but that changes at Marco Simone, and fast. Fitzpatrick should prove a huge thorn in the United States this time around, especially given he arrives in Rome off the back of some solid form, the highlight of which was a runner-up finish at the BMW Championship. Fitzpatrick played with Lee Westwood last time out so it's difficult to gauge who Donald may send him out with this time around, but you would like to think it will be someone like Tommy Fleetwood or Justin Rose, in what would likely prove a very solid European partnership. Maybe Donald will have other ideas and send him out with a rookie such as Sepp Straka, Nicolai Hojgaard or maybe even Aberg, we will just have to wait and see. Similarly to Hatton, we are not 100% certain Fitzpatrick will play every single match at the Ryder Cup, so his 14/1 combined price tag could look a tad short.
Robert MacIntyre
Age: 27
World Ranking: 54
PGA Tour Wins: -
DP World Tour Wins: 2
Major Wins: -
Previous Ryder Cup appearances: -
Past Ryder Cup record: -
Driving Accuracy: 54.34% (123rd)
Driving Distance: 311.4 yards (28th)
Greens In Regulation: 68.65% (43rd)
Scrambling: 64.0% (5th)
Strokes-Gained Putting: 0.14 (54th)
Last Five Tour Starts: 2/71/MC/4/55
Top Team Points Scorer Odds: 25/1
Top Combined Points Scorer Odds: 55/1
Bob MacIntyre is one of four rookies in the European Ryder Cup team, and to his credit he was the only one to make it in automatically. Some will say a little fortunately as he stumbled his way over the line in Switzerland last week following a tie for 55th, but the Scot made it nevertheless and fair play to him. With all due respect, we can't see Donald using MacIntyre a great deal during the week. He will likely get two or three matches in total, but we will have to see how Donald views it. A lot will depend how certain players perform in the opening Friday Foursomes. You could probably name your price on MacIntyre being top combined points scorer as it will require something of a miracle when a lot of players on both sides will be competing in four or five matches.
Tommy Fleetwood
Age: 32
World Ranking: 14
PGA Tour Wins: -
DP World Tour Wins: 6
Major Wins: -
Previous Ryder Cup appearances: 2
Past Ryder Cup record: 4-2-2
Driving Accuracy: 61.82% (56th)
Driving Distance: 302.3 yards (77th)
Greens In Regulation: 64.56% (130th)
Scrambling: 65.47% (5th)
Strokes-Gained Putting: 0.493 (15th)
Last Five Tour Starts: MC/6/10/3/25
Top Team Points Scorer Odds: 7/1
Top Combined Points Scorer Odds: 14/1
Tommy Fleetwood is a fan's favourite and he will certainly help get the crowd fired up at Marco Simone. It is a huge shame he won't be out with Francesco Molinari this time around, just like he was in 2018 at Le Golf National, but nevertheless Donald will no doubt find him a suitable partner. Perhaps it will be another Englishman in Fitzpatrick or Rose, but we will have to wait and see. Fleetwood is good pals with Rose and also Shane Lowry, so those pairings will likely be of interest. Fleetwood should play at least four games so 14/1 could offer some decent value, and 7/1 looks reasonable for top scorer in the European team. But it all really depends who becomes hi partner.
Shane Lowry
Age: 36
World Ranking: 37
PGA Tour Wins: 2
DP World Tour Wins: 6
Major Wins: 1
Previous Ryder Cup appearances: 1
Past Ryder Cup record: 1-2-0
Driving Accuracy: 63.99% (30th)
Driving Distance: 303.3 yards (70th)
Greens In Regulation: 65.42% (115th)
Scrambling: 57.06% (152nd)
Strokes-Gained Putting: -0.080 (117th)
Last Five Tour Starts: 19/12/MC/51/MC
Top Team Points Scorer Odds: 12/1
Top Combined Points Scorer Odds: 22/1
Shane Lowry has really caused something of a divide with European fans since he received a pick in the team this week. Some are all for it, while others think Donald has just picked another member of the 'Boys Club'. But whatever you think of Lowry's selection, one thing you can count on is the Irishman will be up for the fight. It's fair to say Lowry's game is some way off the pace where it needs to be right now, but he still has three weeks to get everything ironed out and he will no doubt be working hard on that at both the Irish Open and BMW PGA Championship, two events he has historically played well in through the years. Donald may have taken something of a risk with Lowry, but he will also be great in the team room and has a number of close bonds with just about half the team. Perhaps Donald will send Lowry out in an all-Irish pairing with McIlroy, or maybe he will pair him with Hatton or Fleetwood, two players he gets on well with. Given his current form though, we don't imagine Lowry will play any more than three matches at the Ryder Cup, so the 22/1 on offer does not excite us a great deal.
Justin Rose
Age: 43
World Ranking: 34
PGA Tour Wins: 11
DP World Tour Wins: 11
Major Wins: 1
Previous Ryder Cup appearances: 5
Past Ryder Cup record: 13-8-2
Driving Accuracy: 62.67% (43rd)
Driving Distance: 295.2 yards (132nd)
Greens In Regulation: 65.85% (101st)
Scrambling: 61.96% (46th)
Strokes-Gained Putting: 0.405 (26th)
Last Five Tour Starts: 4/MC/MC/20/22
Top Team Points Scorer Odds: 11/1
Top Combined Points Scorer Odds: 20/1
Justin Rose has been the backbone of the European Ryder Cup team since 2008. Although he missed out in 2010 and also last time out in 2021, Rose has proven a huge thorn in the American side through the years taking 14 points from a possible 23. Rose used to be sent out with Henrik Stenson so it will be intriguing to see who Donald partners his English compatriot up with this time around in Rome. Rose is one of Europe's most experienced heads so you could see him go out with one of the rookies, but we will have to wait and see. Rose has played some steady golf this season, returning to the winners' circle earlier this season with victory at Pebble Beach. His form has dipped a little recently, but similarly to Lowry he still has three weeks to knuckle down and get his game back on track ahead of the Ryder Cup. Rose knows how to get the job done and we think he's a very wise captain's pick from Donald. He likely won't play in all the matches, so again like Lowry, we would be surprised if he did finish the week as top combined points scorer. I could see Rose heading out there with Fleetwood, especially given their close bond.
Sepp Straka
Age: 30
World Ranking: 23
PGA Tour Wins: 2
DP World Tour Wins: -
Major Wins: -
Previous Ryder Cup appearances: -
Past Ryder Cup record: -
Driving Accuracy: 64.49% (24th)
Driving Distance: 299.5 yards (97th)
Greens In Regulation: 68.24% (28th)
Scrambling: 54.75% (164th)
Strokes-Gained Putting: 0.216 (54th)
Last Five Tour Starts: 1/2/MC/63/37
Top Team Points Scorer Odds: 20/1
Top Combined Points Scorer Odds: 40/1
We finish this feature with a look at three of the four rookies in the team. Straka has thoroughly deserved his call up to the European Ryder Cup team having landed his second PGA Tour title recently at the John Deere Classic, a week before he went on to finish T2 at The Open Championship, which marked his best ever result in a major. The Austrian has dipped in form since then but he did go on to register a T15 in the season-long FedEx Cup. Straka has vaulted up to 23rd in the world rankings this season and he was a must-pick from Donald as a result of his season. It remains to be seen how many games Straka will play at the Ryder Cup, but we don't imagine it will be any more than three with all due respect to him. We could easily see him playing just the two matches. While the 40/1 might look a tempter for some of you, we would be stunned if he finished the week as top points scorer.
Nicolai Hojgaard
Age: 22
World Ranking: 78
PGA Tour Wins: -
DP World Tour Wins: 2
Major Wins: -
Previous Ryder Cup appearances: -
Past Ryder Cup record: -
Driving Accuracy: 56.57% (101st)
Driving Distance: 316.97 yards (10th)
Greens In Regulation: 73.08% (4th)
Scrambling: 56.42% (80th)
Strokes-Gained Putting: -0.11 (92nd)
Last Five Tour Starts: 23/MC/14/3/5
Top Team Points Scorer Odds: 20/1
Top Combined Points Scorer Odds: 40/1
Similarly to Lowry, the pick of Nicolai Hojgaard was another controversial one for many, especially us here at GolfMagic. If truth be told, we think vice-captain Thomas Bjorn had something to do with the pick of fellow Dane Hojgaard. While we certainly rate his game, we cannot help but feel Adrian Meronk deserved his shot in the team a whole lot more than Hojgaard. But we aren't the captain and Luke Donald is, so here we are and the 22-year-old Dane makes up one of the four rookies in the team. Hojgaard has played some solid golf recently, highlighted with a third in Czech Republic followed by a T5 in Switzerland. Fair play to him for earning a pick, but we don't see him playing any more than two matches during the week, which just about sums up why he's priced at 40/1 to be top combined scorer.
Ludvig Aberg
Age: 23
World Ranking: 90
PGA Tour Wins: -
DP World Tour Wins: 1
Major Wins: -
Previous Ryder Cup appearances: -
Past Ryder Cup record: N/A
Driving Accuracy: -
Driving Distance: -
Greens In Regulation: -
Scrambling: -
Strokes-Gained Putting: -
Last Five Tour Starts: MC/64/14/4/1
Top Team Points Scorer Odds: 16/1
Top Combined Points Scorer Odds: 30/1
The final pick in the European Ryder Cup team went to someone nobody was sure about a month ago to someone everyone was calling for with 24 hours to go following Ludvig Aberg's incredible back-nine surge to win his maiden Tour title at the Omega European Masters on Sunday. It very much sounded like Donald was going to pick him regardless of what the 23-year-old Swede did in Switzerland last week, but the win in just his sixth DP World Tour appearance made the decision so much easier. In case you are wondering why there are no stats for Aberg above, that's because he has not been playing long enough on the PGA Tour. He only turned pro just before the summer. In fact Aberg now becomes the very first player to compete in a Ryder Cup without having played in a major championship. Aberg has very quickly gone up in my estimations, and he will certainly have already struck fear into the US Ryder Cup side. We could see Aberg potentially joining McIlroy in a juicy fourballs pairing but we will have to wait and see. If Aberg does play a lot of matches, and there is a good chance he will do given Donald's admiration for him, then the 16/1 for top European points scorer could look fairly big, as too the 30/1 for top combined. A certain Thomas Pieters springs to mind when he top scored at the Ryder Cup on debut, and that week he was sent out with McIlroy all week. Perhaps history could repeat itself with another bomber excelling at the Ryder Cup?
Here's the moment Luke Donald tells Ludvig Aberg he's in the Ryder Cup team
— GolfMagic (@GolfMagic) September 4, 2023
So how do Europe compare to USA?
Check out the below stat:
TEAM EUROPE AVERAGE TOTAL
Age: 30
World Ranking: 30
Total Ryder Cups Played: 21
Combined Ryder Cup Record: 36-39-12
Major Wins: 9
TEAM USA AVERAGE TOTAL
Age: 30
World Ranking: 13
Total Ryder Cups Played: 17
Past Ryder Cup Record: 34-22-13
Major Wins: 15
Will Europe win back the Ryder Cup? What do you think the score will be at Marco Simone? Who will be the top points scorer? Which pairings do you like most? Share your thoughts and comments over on the GolfMagic social media channels.
