Ryder Cup 2023: Team Europe hint at possible pairings with Tuesday’s practice groups in Rome

Team Europe will look to regain the Ryder Cup after a record-breaking defeat to Team USA at Whistling Straits in 2021; Watch all three days of Marco Simone GC live exclusively from 6am on Sky Sports Golf

European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald gave some big hints about his possible combinations by using a number of well-known groups for Tuesday’s practice round in Rome.

Donald took all 12 of his line-up for a practice session at Marco Simone Golf Club earlier this month ahead of the BMW PGA Championship, where he also called up all Ryder Cup groups for the draw for the first two rounds of the Rolex Series event .

Many of the pairings used for the reconnaissance mission in Rome were also put together at Wentworth later that week, with some familiar match-ups again being used during Tuesday’s training.

“We have a plan in place and that plan can be adjusted in the coming days,” Donald said at the press conference on Tuesday. “The vice-captains keep an eye on the players and see how they look and how they feel and everything that comes with it. But yes, there is definitely a plan.

“I have had several conversations with everyone about possible combinations, but nothing has been finalized yet.”

Jon Rahm went out in the same group as Tyrrell Hatton, having teamed the Englishman in the Friday Fourballs at the 2021 Ryder Cup, playing together in Rome and also playing together in the first two rounds at Wentworth.

The group was completed by Norwegian Viktor Hovland and Swedish rookie Ludvig Åberg, who also played together at this month’s BMW PGA Championship and have been identified as a possible duo.

Rory McIlroy went out in a fourball that included Ireland’s Shane Lowry, with that combination also being used during the Friday fourballs in 2021, while Tommy Fleetwood and Sepp Straka – who were in a threeball with Lowy at Wentworth – were also in that group .

Straka was also in the competition group with Lowry for the Rome practice round ahead of his Ryder Cup debut this week, while Justin Rose and Robert MacIntyre – who were also together earlier this month – came together in Tuesday’s round.

Tuesday practice couples

Tommy Fleetwood (Eng), Sepp Straka (Aut), Shane Lowry (Irl), Rory McIlroy (NIrl)

Jon Rahm (Esp), Viktor Hovland (Nor), Tyrell Hatton (Eng), Ludvig Aberg (Swe)

Matt Fitzpatrick (Eng), Justin Rose (Eng), Robert MacIntyre (Sco), Nicolai Hojgaard (Den)

What about Team USA?

Jordan Spieth went out in Group A for Team USA alongside Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele, the three who missed the US’s own scouting trip to Rome early this month, with Justin Thomas completing that fourball.

Spieth and Thomas have teamed up for the past two Ryder Cups, forming an undefeated partnership in last year’s Presidents Cup, while Cantlay and Schauffele won both foursomes matches together in the 2021 Ryder Cup victory.

Collin Morikawa and Rickie Fowler went out in Group B with rookies Brian Harman and Max Homa, while world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler was joined by Brooks Koepka, Wyndham Clark and Sam Burns.

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