The biggest present in golf will get underway in 18 days' time when Europe attempt to win again the Ryder Cup from the USA at Rome's Marco Simone Golf & Country Club. The Americans had been dominant when the 2 groups final met at Whistling Straits two years in the past, recording an emphatic 19-9 victory to wrestle the trophy again off the Europeans.

That was a bitter capsule for the guests to swallow, however Luke Donald is captaining the workforce on house soil this time spherical and hopes are excessive that the distress of 2021 can quickly be forgotten and that the forty fourth version of the competitors will see the cup keep on the east facet of the Atlantic.

Zach Johnson took his US workforce to the everlasting metropolis on September 8 for a observe and bonding session as preparations for the adrenaline-pumping matchplay occasion begin to collect tempo.

Express Sport take a seems a among the key speaking factors from contained in the Team USA camp as anticipation begins to develop...

Tiger Woods 'on name'

A notable absentee from the USA workforce is Tiger Woods. The legendary former world No 1 could also be one of many biggest golfers of all time however damage has ravaged his season and it's tough to think about that he'll ever seem in one other Ryder Cup workforce once more.

However, his love for the event shouldn't be diminished and Zach Johnson revealed this week that though Woods won't be in Rome, he's nonetheless very a lot involved with the workforce.

Johnson advised the Associated Press: "Tiger is very much a part of Team USA and has been for years. He is, for lack of a better term, on call with us. He is very much in the know as to what we’re trying to do.

"We're going to make the most of his knowledge and he is passionate in regards to the Ryder Cup. He needs he might be right here, but it surely's simply not within the playing cards for him bodily. And that is effective. I imply, he's with us. He's simply not right here bodily."

Woods is said to have been an inspirational figure for the USA during the last Ryder Cup. After the Americans opened up a significant lead on Europe during the Sunday Singles, he sent captain Steve Stricker a text message that said: "Now step on their necks."

Koepka welcomed back into group

PGA Championship winner Brooks Koepka is the only player from the LIV Golf tour to have made it into either side. But it has emerged that the USA's six automatic Ryder Cup qualifiers demanded that the 33-year-old was included in the team, according to Johnson.

Doubts had been raised about Koepka's inclusion after he dropped out of the automatic qualification places a week before the deadline. But the likes of world No 1 Scottie Sheffler and Xander Schauffele have welcomed him back into the fold.

Johnson said: "The solely factor that was mentioned about Brooks with the blokes - particularly the highest six that made the workforce on their very own advantage - was, ’We need Brooks Koepka to play for Team USA.'"

Three players missing

Not everyone from Team USA was in Italy at the weekend. In fact, Johnson had three key players missing from his ultra-talented squad, with the US skipper citing family commitments as the reason for the absence.

As per Golf Magic, he said: "Jordan Spieth, Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay have household issues that positively supersede what we're doing."

Stewart Cink shows off incredible calves

Team USA posed for a team photo while they were in Rome, putting on a united front. But the most notable takeaway from the group snap was the size of vice-captain Stewart Cink's incredible calves.

Boasting legs that appear to be twice as broad as any of the actual team players, it's fair to say that no one will be messing with the 2009 Open champion in Rome.

Americans like Rome course

Early indicators suggest that the USA team is impressed with the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club course and are looking forward to playing on it.

Johnson said: "The frequent sentiments that I heard on the golf course was they actually preferred it, which is superior, and I knew they might as a result of Marco Simone could be very, excellent.

"The rough was very thick. That was the other nugget that we talked about a lot. The putting greens were very good, very true, very nice.

"The fairways had been superior. It's an excellent check and it is a actually, actually good matchplay golf course. So the blokes are excited in regards to the competitors."