In two weeks, the Ryder Cup will be decided at Bethpage Black outside New York. Europe will arrive as the reigning champion – and preparations to defend the trophy are now entering the final phase.
This week, the European Tour's flagship event, the PGA Championship, will be held at Wentworth. Ludvig Åberg will be there. Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy as well. In fact, Sepp Straka is the only one of Europe's twelve players who will not tee off at Wentworth.
And much of the talk is already about what's to come.
History shows that it's very difficult (to win again). There's a reason why every Ryder Cup in the last decade has been won by the home team, says Rory McIlroy at a press conference before the tournament.
Åberg with Fitzpatrick
The European team is doing its best to get the odds on its side. The week at Wentworth is being used to weld the gang together – a team dinner has already been held and on Thursday and Friday, the Ryder Cup players have been paired up to play in the same balls.
Ludvig Åberg, for example, will be accompanied by Matt Fitzpatrick during the first two rounds. And the recently appointed vice-captain Alex Norén will have plenty of time to discuss tactics with captain Luke Donald, since they will also get to play together.
When the major tournament at Wentworth is over on Sunday, the team will then travel in a chartered plane to New York to spend two days getting to know the Ryder Cup course.
"Get a feel"
The team made a similar study visit before the triumph at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club.
We'll probably do some of the small routines we did in Rome, to get the team really tight. We'll probably be pretty tired on Monday morning, but it's going to be great to spend two days together and get a feel for what the Ryder Cup week will be like, says Jon Rahm.
+ This year's Ryder Cup will be played on September 26-28 at Bethpage Black.
+ Five consecutive Ryder Cups have ended with a win for the home team.
+ The last away win was when Europe won in 2012 in the "Miracle at Medinah". Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose are the only players left from that triumph. Luke Donald, now captain of Europe's team, was also a player back then.
+ Europe is fielding almost the same team that won in Rome two years ago. The only small change: Danish Nicolai Højgaard is replaced by his twin brother Rasmus.
+ While Europe is loading up at Wentworth, ten of the USA's twelve players are playing the PGA Tour event in Napa, California this week. The only ones not participating are Xander Schauffele (new father) and LIV player Bryson DeChambeau (not allowed to play on the PGA Tour).
