Ryder Cup 2023: Heroes, goats, controversies and who will win—our writers make their predictions

ROME — In less than 24 hours, the months of Ryder Cup hype will give way to actual Ryder Cup action, and there's nothing quite like the first tee on Friday morning in Europe. But we're not there yet! Whether you're a European gearing up to watch your team defend home soil, an American prepared to rise at 2 a.m., or just a neutral observer, we've all got one last shot to speculate wildly about what's coming down the pipeline at Marco Simone. To get our last licks in, the Golf Digest writers are sounding off on the biggest questions heading into the first session.

Who will be the hero of this Ryder Cup?

Brooks Koepka. The reigning PGA champion and the only LIV player in the field will have some motivation to excel—and we’ve seen what this guy does with any kind of a chip on his shoulder. Could be his swan song representing the U.S. in team events. Why not make a statement? —Dave Shedloski

Given Caroline Hedwall’s sudden transformation from near-passenger to pivotal team member at last week’s Solheim Cup, anything is possible. But one player who could surprisingly play the role of ultimate hero is Sam Burns. He’s good, but not that good. He was a flop at the last Presidents Cup. But this is also match play and we’re talking “Hedwall factor” here. So if Scottie Scheffler’s mate appears anything other than average, he’ll be, for me at least, a hero. —John Huggan

Jon Rahm. It’s not the most creative of answers, but it’s the right answer. Best bet to play in all five sessions, on a course built to his strengths, in formats he excels in. Rory McIlroy might be the team’s heart and soul, but Rahm is its fire. —Joel Beall

I’m a pretty hefty shareholder in Sepp Straka stock. Maybe I’m too far gone because of it, but I think he’s the kind of Swiss Army Knife player Luke Donald could deploy in a variety of ways, with a number of different players. His game is solid across the board, tending towards good ball-striking, and with so much hype around guys like Ludvig Aberg, he’s coasting in under the radar. —Luke Kerr-Dineen

I don't know if he's going to win the most points, but I just have this weird feeling that Wyndham Clark is going to do something massive in a big moment. Nobody's talking about him, but he showed in the U.S. Open that he's nails under pressure. He's also got a Buddhist-adjacent mindset going, which I think works well in a cauldron like this one. —Shane Ryan

The hero of the Ryder Cup will be sunscreen. And hats. Temperatures are forecast in the high 80s and low 90s, which is exacerbated by Rome's dry, unrelenting heat. It will be odd to see a Ryder Cup in Europe without players wearing sweaters and mitts. Inside the ropes, it will be Shane Lowry. He has that dogged look in his eye and an axe to grind with critics of his captain's pick. Coming off a T-3 and T-18 in the Irish Open and BMW PGA at Wentworth. —Evin Priest

Who's going to be the biggest flop?

Real possibility Robert MacIntyre plays just one session before Sunday. —JB

Tyrell Hatton. Brags about his extensive use of expletives. Just want to see him have a reason to prove it. —DS

I’m going with the No. 1-ranked player in the world. Scheffler has played some magnificent golf this year. Tee-to-green at least. But consistency has never been high on the list of priorities in a match-play event featuring three distinctly different formats. An ability to adapt is way more more important. As is an ability to putt. The man who misses and misses and misses only gives the opponent encouragement and is forever vulnerable over an 18-hole sprint. That sounds a lot like Scheffler. —JH

Viktor Hovland. Just a feeling, potentially biased by watching his 0-3-2 Ryder Cup in 2021, and the way he limped to the finish line at Oak Hill this year. I'm very ready to be proven wrong, but am anticipating a delta between his high-flying play at season’s end and how he fares at Marco Simone. —SR

I can’t help but wonder if Xander Schauffle and Patrick Cantlay are due for a cool-down, if only because hot streaks like that are hard to maintain over the course of multiple years. A little statistical regression to the mean makes sense. —LKD

Who's your pick for best rookie?

Max Homa. Somehow is coming in under the radar. First-class debut in Presidents Cup last fall, likely will play in four sessions. Could easily grab three points. —JB

My previous answer suggests Straka, but on the American side, I’ll go with Wyndham Clark. The course is a decent fit for him, and he seems like the kind of edgy player that could thrive against an away crowd. —LKD

Nicolai Hojgaard’s selection has perhaps been the most underrated story in the run-up to this Ryder Cup. The youngest player on either side won an Italian Open at Marco Simone and earlier this year was again in the top-five here. That’s a lot of good memories to fall back on and a strong foundation for this week. —JH

Brian Harman. Just wrote about the Champion Golfer of the Year being ready for his debut, and his experience at Hoylake should serve him well in handling the tense moments ahead. He loves the challenge of match play and won't shrink from the challenge. —DS

One hundred percent on Harman. Is this partly because Harman's press conferences are the sneaky best in the entire sport? PARTLY. But mostly because of the grit he showed in front of a hostile crowd at Hoylake. Everyone says they're ready for the fans, but “Brian the Butcher” actually is. —SR

Which player is most likely to cause some kind of "controversy"?

Shane Lowry’s primal yells could rub some Americans the wrong way; Justin Thomas could question the entire manhood of the Italian gallery. —JB

Patrick Cantlay. It’s going to happen early. The opening session is foursomes, and you just have to think that Cantlay, who is the hardest of the several hard-asses in the field, might not be inclined to generosity with a rudimentary two-footer. Bonus if Rahm is on the receiving end. Or better yet, Tyrell Hatton, for reasons already stated. —DS

It's definitely going to be an American. We know this. I'm not choosing Cantlay because people chide him about slow play; I'm picking him because of his incident with Lowry in singles at Whistling Straits. "I was lining up my putt [on No. 8] and he was riling up the crowd, which I didn’t think was great. It pissed me off a little bit ... to be honest." —EP

Straka, when he purposefully drills a ball OB at a crucial moment, strips off his shirt to reveal American flag body paint, and flexes in front of a stunned crowd. —SR

To me, this basically means "which American player is most likely to react negatively to something said by a member of the crowd?" Step forward Brooks Koepka. —JH

Just for the story, which player would be best to clinch the winning point?

Lowry. And after he does, he’ll whip off his shirt and begin tomahawking it over his head. It will become so iconic, so much so it’ll spark a movement to replace the little golfer on top of the Ryder Cup with a golden miniature replica of bearded Irishman. —LKD

Ask any American fan and they’ll say “any American.” Ask any European fan and they’ll say “any European.” But you’re asking me, so it has to be Thomas. For a man many would not have selected for this match, it would be the ultimate vindication. —JH

Rory McIlroy. After his poor performance at Whistling Straits and his tear-filled apology for said effort, Rory being the hero for Europe would be serendipitous. —DS

Tommy Fleetwood wins the clinching point for Europe, and his beloved partner and vice captain, Francesco Molinari, runs onto the green and they hug while Celine Dion's “My Heart Will Go On” plays in the background. —EP

Thomas, given all the nonsense (gestures to social media) he received for his selection. Runner-up is Rory, given all the nonsense (gestures to past two years) he’s dealt with. —JB

Who's going to win (and by what score)?

14-14 TIE. There have only been two ties in the history of the matches, both coming in Europe, in 1969 and ’89. It’s been a topic of conversation after the Solheim Cup outcome, so the timing is right to make everyone crazy. Europe is in better form. America is deeper. The odds are even. Europe keeps its unbeaten home streak alive, but America keeps the Ryder Cup. Tyrrell Hatton will hate it and swear some more. —DS

Europe to win by a lot, followed by lots of analysis from American golf fans about how the biased course setup and home-course advantage are to blame, rather than looking inward. —LKD

I'm on record here—U.S. wins 14½-13½. But whether I'm right or wrong, please, please, please, golf gods, give us a close Ryder Cup. —SR

Europe 15, United States 13. (Editor's note: Joel is also on record.) Because history, and because homefield advantage has become borderline unfair. —JB

This Ryder Cup will be so much tighter than most are predicting. But I think ultimately the might of the Europeans will be too much and they'll win 15-13 in a thriller. If the Americans win, it should be called The Italian Job. —EP

I’m going with a 14-14 tie. If only because I’d like to see and hear a continuation of the debate over whether the Ryder Cup (and Solheim Cup) should finish in a draw. Why is that? I need help with my insomnia. —JH