Ryder Cup 2023 teams: How Europe and USA are shaping up ahead of Rome showdown with first qualifiers confirmed

The 2023 Ryder Cup is fast-approaching and the battle to make the teams is well and truly on.

The beautiful Marco Simone Golf Club in Rome will host the 44th edition of the famous tournament which gets underway on Friday, September 29.

Team captain Luke Donald is busy preparing his plans for the week as Europe strive to reclaim the trophy having been thrashed by the USA at Whistling Straits in 2021.

Donald’s men will be up against Zach Johnson and co with the 2007 Masters champion spearheading the American’s charge this year.

The Ryder Cup has never been held in Italy and fans are set for a thrilling week of action.

But before the first tee shot can be hit, the two captains must first pick their teams…

How the 2023 Ryder Cup teams are shaping up

Team Europe

Donald replaced Henrik Stenson as the European team captain following the Swede’s decision to join LIV Golf.

Donald has named Francesco Molinari, Edoardo Molinari, Jose Maria Olazabal, Thomas Bjorn and Nicolas Colsaerts as his vice captains.

Team Europe will made up from three qualifiers from each of the European and World points lists plus six captain’s picks.

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Big guns Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy and Viktor Hovland have already qualified and will lead the team.

And the superstar trio are currently being joined by fellow qualifiers Robert MacIntyre, Tyrrell Hatton and Tommy Fleetwood but this could change.

A host of other players are in contention to make it outright.

Former US Open winner Matt Fitzpatrick and 2019 Open Champion Shane Lowry will no doubt make the team.

Yannick Paul, Adrian Meronk, Rasmus Hojgaard, Victor Perez and Sepp Straka are all doing well on the points lists.

Other players who will be looking to catch Donald’s eye include AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am champion Justin Rose, who has played at five Ryder Cups, and Ireland’s Seamus Power.

Team Europe have decided they will not pick any LIV Golf players meaning there will be no place for Ryder Cup legends Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood.

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Team USA

Johnson will be joined by vice-captains Stewart Cink, Steve Stricker, Davis Love III, Jim Furyk and Fred Couples.

Like Europe, Team USA will have six qualifiers and six captain’s picks and will be littered with top talent including potentially three of the four majors winners this summer.

Their qualifiers have already been confirmed with the top two being World No1 Scottie Scheffler and US Open champion Wyndham Clark.

Open champion Brian Harman has also qualified as have Patrick Cantlay, Xander Schauffele and Max Homa.

It means PGA Championship winner Brooks Koepka has not made the team outright.

In contrast to their rivals, Team USA are set to include LIV Golf stars such as Koepka but he will now have to be a pick.

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Such is the quality in the American game, Johnson will have a tough task selecting just six players.

From the PGA Tour, the USA have the likes of Jordan Spieth, Collin Morikawa, Cameron Young, Justin Thomas, Keegan Bradley and Sam Burns.

There is also the in-form Lucas Glover and the resurgent Rickie Fowler.

From LIV, Johnson has even more options including previous Ryder Cup stars Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed, Bryson DeChambeau and Phil Mickelson.