Date announced for 2022 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone

The 2022 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club, in Italy, will take place from September 30 - October 2, 2022.

An artist's impression of the new 10th hole at Marco Simone, whose 18-hole course is undergoing a major reconstruction at the hands of European Golf Design

The dates for the 2022 contest were confirmed by Ryder Cup Europe at the start of the Italian Open week, with six players from Europe's victorious 2018 Ryder Cup team - Paul Casey, Tyrrell Hatton, Francesco Molinari, Alex Noren, Ian Poulter and Justin Rose - in the field for the Rolex Series event, alongside the winning 2018 captain Thomas Bjørn and the 2020 captain Padraig Harrington.

Marco Simone, which is on the outskirts of the Italian capital Rome, is currently undergoing an extensive renovation programme by European Golf Design in preparation for hosting the matches in three year's time. Nine new hole have been constructed since last September and they are now in the growing-in phase, with the overall project set to enter its second phase this week.

This second phase comprises the construction of the remaining nine holes with work due to be completed by May 2020, allowing growing to take place over that summer. Alongside the work to the course, the clubhouse and practice facilities will also be fully refurbished, to allow Marco Simone to host the Italian Open in autumn 2021.

Guy Kinnings, European Ryder Cup Director, said: "The success of Francesco Molinari at last year's Ryder Cup, alongside his Open Championship and Race to Dubai victories, has been a huge boost for golf in Italy. Interest continues to build and today's announcement of the dates is another significant milestone in the country's journey to hosting its first Ryder Cup."

Gian Paolo Montali, General Director of the Ryder Cup 2022 Project, said: "Our commitment for the Ryder Cup 2022 project is not only to host an iconic sport event, but also to leave a legacy for Italy and the Italian people. With the work being carried out at Marco Simone, the 2022 Ryder Cup course will become a sporting site that will continue to attract golfers for many years and will help develop to economic income through golf tourism."

He added: "Today marks another important step in our journey towards hosting Italy's first Ryder Cup with the announcement of the dates, and we must say thank you once again to Franco Chimenti. He is the one who had the vision and the courage to bring this fascinating competition to Italy."

Lavinia Biagiotti, President of Marco Simone Golf & Country Club, said: "We are very proud to be the host venue of the 2022 Ryder Cup and the announcement of the dates makes today an exciting one for everyone involved at Marco Simone. We have been working closely with Ryder Cup Europe and the Italian Golf Federation, along with European Golf Design and Tom Fazio II, to use the natural environment around the millenary tower of the Marco Simone Castle to create a top class venue designed to host The Ryder Cup, one of the world's biggest sporting events."