By Matt Smith
Fresh from competing at the DP World Tour’s flagship BMW PGA Championship, major champions Matt Fitzpatrick, Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry and Francesco Molinari will line up at the Italian Open this week under the watchful eye of 2023 European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald, as scoring for the biennial competition against the cream of the US is now under way.

McIlroy, the FedEx Cup champion, narrowly missed out on the BMW PGA title at Wentworth on Sunday, finishing alongside Jon Rahm one stroke behind Ireland’s Lowry.

Defending champion Nicolai Hojgaard, Norwegian star Viktor Hovland, Lowry and past Italian Open champs Tyrrell Hatton and Thorbjorn Olesen will also be looking to impress Ryder Cup captain Donald this week as the event takes place on the same course as next year’s international showpiece — the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club.

Fitzpatrick, the reigning US Open champion, finished runner up at the 2019 Italian Open and will be hoping to go one better when the 27-year-old tees it up at Marco Simone for the first time alongside younger brother Alex, who made his professional debut earlier this year at the Irish Open following an impressive amateur career which included Walker Cup appearances in 2019 and 2021.

“I’m looking forward to returning to Rome for this year’s Italian Open and to have Alex alongside me, it will be extra special,” said Fitzpatrick, the World No. 10. “Of course it is the Ryder Cup venue, so I am intrigued to see how the golf course plays, but I have done well in the past at this tournament and have every intention to hopefully be in the mix come Sunday.”

Molinari, a two-time winner of his national open in 2006 and 2016, became Italy’s first major Champion by winning The Open Championship at Carnoustie in 2018. That historic victory was part of a stellar year that saw the six-time DP World Tour winner claim five points from five at the Ryder Cup in Paris and go on to become the first Italian to be crowned European No. 1.

Mike Ehrmann

Molinari is showing a return to form, finishing T-9 at Wentworth last week.

“There are so many reasons to be excited for the Italian Open,” said Molinari. “It is a tournament that I love and have had success at in the past, that is something everyone knows, but for myself and the other Italian players, we want to showcase Marco Simone and everything Rome has to offer.”

Donald will tee it up for a second time at Marco Simone alongside his vice-captains Thomas Bjorn and Edoardo Molinari — Francesco’s brother — as Team Europe look ahead to the biennial contest.

Former World No. 1 Donald, who in 2011 became the first player in history to top both the European and PGA Tour money lists in the same year, is excited to return to Rome as part of his preparations for the 2023 Ryder Cup.

“The Italian Open is an important part of the Team Europe journey, but it is also a tournament I have enjoyed playing in the past, and I’m excited to test my game at Marco Simone,” said Donald.

“Rome will be a fantastic host city, I have always enjoyed spending time there with my wife and friends, so I have no doubt it will provide an incredible backdrop for our great game.”

Defending champion Hojgaard and brother Rasmus, who are aiming to follow in Bjorn’s footsteps as Danish representatives at the Ryder Cup, will also tee it up at the Italian Open as they look to add to their combined five DP World Tour titles.

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