ANTALYA, Turkey – Recent reports have suggested that the ongoing economic and political instability in Italy could jeopardize the 2022 Ryder Cup which is scheduled to be played outside of Rome. On Saturday at the Turkish Airlines Open, European Tour chief executive Keith Pelley dismissed those concerns.
“I’ve said all along the Ryder Cup in 2022 is going to Italy,” said Pelley, who added that the tour’s Ryder Cup support team is in Italy this week meeting with local officials. “Italy in 2022 is a story that people talk about but we had conversations this week about the opening ceremony being in the Colosseum. These are serious conversations with Italian decision makers and officials.”
Much of the concern over Italy as the ’22 host has been focused on the course, Marco Simone, which Pelley described as a “construction zone.”
The European Tour’s golf course design team is currently in Italy assisting with the project, but Pelley conceded the construction is behind schedule.
“The fact is that the government has funded Marco Simone, the money has been transferred,” Pelley said. “The only thing we have a concern with is we were late getting the golf course started and we want to have at least one Italian Open at Marco Simone prior to the Ryder Cup. Our timelines are tight.”
In other Ryder Cup news, Pelley said that after this year’s matches at Le Golf National, which drew record crowds, the tour received “three or four calls” from parties interested in hosting the 2026 event.
“I think 2026 [Ryder Cup venue] will be announced in the next three to four months,” Pelley said.
