The biggest team golf tournament of them all returns this Friday as the 44th edition of the Ryder Cup heads to Italy. Team USA and Team Europe will face off at the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club for three days of hotly contested action. Read on for our full 2023 Ryder Cup predictions and preview, with betting picks.
The first to 14-and-a-half points will win the trophy, while defending champions USA will retain the Ryder Cup in the event of a tie.
As the PGA Tour returned two weeks ago at the Fortinet Championship, we started the new season in the best possible way as Sahith Theegala delivered as a +1600 (16/1) winner. With Theegala at +225 and Eric Cole at +375 also converting in the top ten finish betting odds markets, it was a great opening, and we hope you were all on board. Let’s see if we can keep things running as we head over to Rome.
The match result market is a close one with Team USA installed as the narrow favorites. You can back captain Zach Johnson and his men at odds-on figures with most USA-focused sportsbooks, but they are available at evens (1/1) elsewhere. Team Europe are on offer at best industry odds of 5/4, while the tie can be backed at a top price of 12/1.
The U.S. go into the competition as defending champions following a record win at Whistling Straits two years ago, but that victory went against recent trends. Of the last ten editions of the Ryder Cup, Europe have won seven, USA have won three and there have been no tied tournaments. There have only been two ties in 42 previous editions of the Ryder Cup and the last of these came in 1989. The teams look closely matched this year but before we make a betting predictions and picks verdict for this Ryder Cup preview, let’s consider some other bets for 2023.
Of the many props available for the Ryder Cup, the Correct Score option attracts plenty of interest. Those who do anticipate a close encounter in Italy could opt for a final outcome of USA 14.5, Europe 13.5 and this is listed at best odds of 11/1. The same scoreline in favor of Team Europe is available at a top price of 13/1.
There are many individual player bets including top rookie, top Scandinavian and top Englishman, but this preview will simply focus on the top scorer in each camp. For the USA, Scottie Scheffler leads the way at 9/2, followed by Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele at 6/1. Open Champion Brian Harman is a tempting outsider at 25/1, while Brooks Koepka interests us at a general 7/1.
For the Europeans, Rory McIlroy is a clear favorite at 9/2, while Jon Rahm and Viktor Hovland follow at 5/1. The 2021 US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick will earn some backers at 8/1, while Ludvig Aberg at 10/1 and Nicolai Hojgaard at 25/1 are interesting outsiders.
Format and Course
A quick recap on the two teams that will line up at Marco Simone from Friday. They are:
- Team USA: Scottie Scheffler, Wyndham Clark, Brian Harman, Patrick Cantlay, Max Homa, Xander Schauffele, Justin Thomas, Sam Burns, Brooks Koepka, Collin Morikawa, Rickie Fowler, Jordan Spieth.
- Team Europe: Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Robert McIntyre, Viktor Hovland, Tyrrell Hatton, Matt Fitzpatrick, Tommy Fleetwood, Ludvig Aberg, Nicolai Hojgaard, Sepp Straka, Justin Rose, Shane Lowry.
Over the first two days, a mix of Fourballs and Foursomes will be played. Sixteen points are available over Friday and Saturday, which gives both teams a chance to build an early advantage.
On Sunday, all 12 players from each team will compete in a series of singles matches, with one point available for a win. The first to 14-and-a-half points wins the Ryder Cup.
The Marco Simone Golf and Country Club is the location for the 43rd Ryder Cup. It is a par 71 with over 7,200 yards in play. While power hitters will have some advantage in places, there is genuine punishment for wayward shots, so accuracy stats will be important.
Since 2021, this venue has become the permanent home for the Italian Open. Most of the European side have competed here, with Nicolai Hojgaard and Robert McIntyre winning in 2021 and 2022 respectively. None of the American side has played competitively at Marco Simone, but will that have a bearing on Sunday’s result?
Our Ryder Cup Predictions, Tips & Betting Picks Verdict for this Preview
The Official World Golf Rankings tell us that the USA have far more players in the top ten, and many media outlets suggest they are a far stronger unit. However, they are not quite the team that they were two years ago.
Of course, they have lost a number of players due to LIV Golf. Brooks Koepka has been included after a strong record in the Majors this season, but the likes of Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau and Patrick Reed have been left behind.
One of Team Europe’s failings in 2021 was the fact that the captain’s picks were questionable. Padraig Harrington selected some players based on reputation rather than form, and the gamble didn’t pay off. This year, it is a younger team with some real quality right through the squad.
Based on those rankings, Team USA should still edge a tight contest and Zach Johnson’s men are our first pick. The 14.5 to 13.5 scoreline is a tempter at 11/1, but we will add two player bets to our list.
Brooks Koepka is a big game golfer and can be a pivotal player for the US. Ludvig Aberg is one of the best young Europeans of the last ten years, and he can deliver the most points for his team, if captain Luke Donald lets him loose. So these are the predictions and picks for this 2023 Ryder Cup preview, at best odds:
- Team USA to win at +100 (1/1) with Bovada.
- Brooks Koepka to be Team USA’s leading points scorer at +700 (7/1) with Bovada and EveryGame.
- Ludvig Aberg to be Team Europe’s leading points scorer at +1000 (10/1) with EveryGame.
Matt Harris is a golf and soccer expert for USA Betting. His other area of specialist knowledge is cricket. He is well known in sports journalism and contributes articles to a plethora of big-name websites and media outlets. Titles that he writes or has written for include: Betfair, BetVictor, Unibet & Just Bookies.