Italian Open: Tee Times, Prize Money, TV Coverage as Rory McIlroy heads field at Ryder Cup venue Marco Simone

Rory McIlroy is the star attraction as the DP World Tour heads to Rome for the Italian Open. It will be McIlroy's first appearance at the event, and as well as being in the field to win, he is in Rome to get valuable course experience ahead of next year’s Ryder Cup, which is being held at the same Marco Simone Golf and Country Club venue. Ad He arrives in Italy in excellent form, as he lost out by one shot at the BMW PGA Championship last weekend — which came on the back of his victory at the Tour Championship.

Ryder Cup'Find small margins' — Molinari details his Team Europe role ahead of Ryder Cup10 HOURS AGO Francesco Molinari will be the home favourite, and he too will be looking to bank valuable qualification points for the Ryder Cup after showing a welcome return to form at Wentworth. Ryder Cup captains past and present are also in the field, as current skipper Luke Donald and 2018 captain Thomas Bjorn will be teeing it up. Course: Marco Simone Golf and Country Club It was in 2020 that the venue was confirmed as the host for next year’s Ryder Cup, but the planning goes back to 2015.

The course opened for play in 1989, when architects Jim Fazio and David Mezzacane completed their work, and was revamped by Tom Fazio ahead of the Ryder Cup. It is an open expanse of land, with water in play on 11 holes, while there are major elevation changes. Marco Simone is spectator-friendly, think previous Ryder Cup venues Celtic Manor and Le Golf National and you will get a feel.