Ryder Cup team bonding starts in Rome as Rory McIlroy and others attend dinner with captains

Rory McIlroy has revealed that Ryder Cup team bonding is already underway, with a dinner featuring many of Europe's likely selections set for this week in Rome. Qualification for next year’s match only began last week but plans already appear advanced as Team Europe look to boost camaraderie and bounce back from the record 19-9 mauling they suffered at the hands of the United States at Whistling Straits in 2021.

Ad McIlroy is one of a number of notable names teeing it up at the Italian Open this week at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club — the host course for next year’s Ryder Cup. DS Automobiles Italian OpenRyder Cup captain Donald urges young guns to create a legacy40 MINUTES AGO Fresh from a stellar year on the PGA Tour and a runner up finish at the DP World Tour’s BMW PGA Championship, the Northern Irishman is set to be a central figure once again and has an open dialogue with captain Luke Donald.

“I've had discussions with Luke and actually a few of us are meeting for dinner tonight for a little bit of team bonding and also to have a talk about the course and how we think it should be set up to favour the European team,” McIlroy said. McIlroy was not forthcoming with details as to his dining companions but he is likely to be joined by vice captains Edoardo Molinari and Thomas Bjorn and possibly Matt Fitzpatrick, Viktor Hovland, Tyrrell Hatton and Francesco Molinari who are also on show this week.