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The greatest show in golf gets underway in 18 days’ time when Europe try to win back the Ryder Cup from the USA at Rome’s Marco Simone Golf & Country Club. The Americans were dominant when the two teams last met at Whistling Straits two years ago, recording an emphatic 19-9 victory to wrestle the trophy back off the Europeans.<\/p>\n
That was a bitter pill for the visitors to swallow, but Luke Donald is captaining the team on home soil this time round and hopes are high that the misery of 2021 can soon be forgotten and that the 44th edition of the competition will see the cup stay on the east side of the Atlantic.<\/p>\n
Zach Johnson took his US team to the eternal city on September 8 for a practice and bonding session as preparations for the adrenaline-pumping matchplay event start to gather pace.<\/p>\n
Express Sport take a looks a some of the key talking points from inside the Team USA camp as anticipation begins to grow…<\/p>\n
Tiger Woods ‘on call’<\/strong><\/p>\n A notable absentee from the USA team is Tiger Woods. The legendary former world No 1 may be one of the greatest golfers of all time but injury has ravaged his season and it is difficult to imagine that he will ever appear in another Ryder Cup team again.<\/p>\n However, his love for the tournament is not diminished and Zach Johnson revealed this week that although Woods will not be in Rome, he is still very much in contact with the team.<\/p>\n Johnson told 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\u2019re trying to do.<\/p>\n “We’re going to utilize his wisdom and he’s passionate about the Ryder Cup. He wishes he could be here, but it’s just not in the cards for him physically. And that’s fine. I mean, he is with us. He’s just not here physically.”<\/p>\n 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.”<\/p>\n Koepka welcomed back into group<\/strong><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Johnson said: “The only thing that was said about Brooks with the guys – specifically the top six that made the team on their own merit – was, \u2019We want Brooks Koepka to play for Team USA.'”<\/p>\n Three players missing<\/strong><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n As per Golf Magic, he said: “Jordan Spieth, Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay have family matters that definitely supersede what we’re doing.”<\/p>\n Don’t miss… <\/strong> We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info<\/p>\n Stewart Cink shows off incredible calves<\/strong><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/71\/590x\/secondary\/4954285.jpg?r=1694460597737\")
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Meet the Ryder Cup’s 2023 Team USA and Team Europe as 6 LIV Golf rebels snubbed[TEAM NEWS] <\/strong>
Ryder Cup star Tommy Fleetwood forces BBC to apologise after Luke Donald joke[BLUNDER] <\/strong>
Paige Spiranac demands PGA Tour make rule change to make it more like LIV Golf[DEMAND] <\/strong><\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/71\/590x\/secondary\/4954289.jpg?r=1694460597788\")
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