Rory McIlroy not only has the backing of the majority of the huge crowd at St Andrews, but he is also Silver Medal winner Filippo Celli's pick to triumph at The Open.
McIlroy moved into a two-stroke lead through six holes on the final day at the 150th edition of golf's oldest major, with playing partner Viktor Hovland his nearest rival.
Already back in the clubhouse having carded a closing 71, Italian Celli is hoping when he receives his low amateur prize it will be McIlroy lifting the Claret Jug at the presentation.
"I'm feeling very happy and proud," said the 21-year-old, who finished on five under.
"Today my golf game was really good, like the last three days. And today I made a lot of stupid bogeys, I can say that, but that's okay because I'm very happy because my dream was to play here, and I won also the Silver Medal.
"I can't ask for a better thing to win the Silver Medal at the 150th Open at St Andrews.
"I hope that Rory McIlroy can win the Claret Jug because he's my favourite player. So going out for the presentation with Rory McIlroy, it will be a real dream. And I can't ask for better in this moment."
Celli revealed his dreamlike week had got off to a memorable start on Monday, when he played the back nine with his hero.
"It started on Monday. I was so lucky because I was playing the practise round with my coach and caddie, Alberto. We were on the 13th green, and the 13th green and the fifth green are the same green," he explained.
"Rory McIlroy was playing the practise round with Dustin Johnson. He's putting on the fifth green. I was alone by myself out there with Alberto putting on 13.
"And I was so happy when Rory, like he turned to the face to me and Alberto, and he asked me and Alberto, 'Hey, guys, you mind if I join you for the back nine?'
"I looked at Alberto and said 'Is he serious or not?' Rory, of course you can!
"I was so lucky and happy because it's a dream come true because I grew up watching the video of Rory and the wins of Rory, all the stuff he won. So it's amazing, unbelievable."
Ryder Cup: Luke Donald calls on Europe’s players to write their own history
Europe captain Luke Donald urged his “fearless” players to write their own Ryder Cup history after showing faith in two of his rookies for the opening session in Rome.
While the pairings of Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton and Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood came as no surprise, Donald also handed Ludvig Aberg and Sepp Straka an early taste of the action at Marco Simone.
The fiery pairing of Rahm and Hatton will face world number one Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns in the first foursomes match, with Aberg and Viktor Hovland up against Max Homa and Open champion Brian Harman.
Straka and Shane Lowry were paired in match three versus Rickie Fowler and Collin Morikawa, with McIlroy and Fleetwood up against arguably the United States’ strongest pair in Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay.
Donald would not take the bait when asked if the 12 players were his gladiators, but said: “I would say they’re very fearless.
“They’re extremely good golfers. The atmosphere in the team room is fantastic. Everyone is in good spirits.
“It’s been an amazing journey. Couldn’t be more excited and happy for these 12 guys to go out and enjoy this week because I remember I had so many fond memories playing and being a vice-captain.
“As a captain it’s a little bit more of a stressful job, but I’m excited. I’m excited for the guys just to take this all in, enjoy it, and try and write their own history this week.”
United States captain Zach Johnson sprang a surprise by leaving the successful pair of Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas on the sidelines, with two of this year’s major winners – Brooks Koepka and Wyndham Clark – also sitting out.
“The eight guys I have down on paper are the ones that we feel best put us in the position to get off to a great start obviously.
“I have the utmost confidence in these eight and the utmost confidence in Jordan and Justin. I know we’re talking about a great tandem, but it’s a situation where it’s not about their form. They’re playing great. It’s really just a matter of trying to dissect all five sessions.”
Foursomes match times (all times BST, Europe names first)
0635: Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton v Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns
0650: Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg v Max Homa and Brian Harman
0705: Shane Lowry and Sepp Straka v Rickie Fowler and Collin Morikawa
0720: Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood v Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay
What is the format?
Four foursomes matches and four fourball matches are contested on each of the first two days, with 12 singles matches taking place on Sunday.
With 28 points available, 14 and a half are required to secure outright victory but, as the holders, the United States would retain the trophy if it ended in a 14-14 tie.
Weather forecast
High pressure remains in control of the weather throughout the three days of competition, with lots of sunshine, warm temperatures and fairly light winds. No rain is expected.
Team Europe split on ‘revenge’ mission but united in quest for Ryder Cup glory
English duo Tyrrell Hatton and Matt Fitzpatrick have spoken of revenge – compatriot Tommy Fleetwood preferred the word “motivated” and Rory McIlroy went with “determined” – but Europe’s team are united in their quest to regain the Ryder Cup.
The record 19-9 defeat at Whistling Straits was a humbling experience as they lost their grip on the trophy and that quartet are among seven of the current team who experienced it.
They all have their own way of describing what is driving them this week at Marco Simone in Rome but it all points in the same direction.
“Ultimately deep down you want to get some revenge. We have a fantastic team and we will be trying our best to make that happen,” Hatton told rydercup.com.
“You don’t want to be trying too hard, so you give it 100 per cent but being aware of not trying to force the issue and be natural.
“I’m not one to usually fist pump after putts unless they have true meaning but the Ryder Cup is different so on the positive side you will see more (from me) for sure.”
Fitzpatrick may be a major champion, having won last year’s US Open, but in terms of the Ryder Cup he has yet to land a punch having lost all five matches he has played in over two editions.
And while he is keen to get off the mark he is aware the bigger picture is far more important.
“Whistling Straits was disappointing… I think it is some motivation,” he said.
“Realistically if we just won by a point I don’t think it matters; as long as we win I don’t think we are bothered but we all want to win it back regardless of what happened last time.
“I couldn’t care less what happens as long as we win, I don’t care,” adding as a joke: “As the old saying goes, ‘if you’re not cheating, you’re not trying’. Don’t use that.”
Fitzpatrick’s faith in his team-mates has also grown.
“I’ll be honest, if you look at the way the team compared to the US team nine months ago you’d think, ‘OK, there’s a bit of a gap here’ but I feel the closer we have got to this week the more it has looked in our favour.
“Looking at some of the numbers presented, it’s a lot closer than everyone thought it would be so that’s a great sign for us.”
World number two Rory McIlroy felt the defeat in Wisconsin more than most after his only point in for matches came in the Sunday singles over Xander Schauffele, which prompted a tearful television interview afterwards.
“I don’t mind being vulnerable, it’s a very natural human thing to do and I’d say Whistling Straits was probably one of the most vulnerable times of my career,” said McIlroy, who professed his love for his team-mates in an emotional outpouring on the 16th green.
“I wasn’t playing my best golf. It was a tough week for all of us and makes us more determined to put it right this time.
“There are moments of chaos and there’s a really fine balance between thriving in the chaos and getting swept up with that emotion but also being able to bring yourself back to centre and get yourself back to doing what you need to do.”
Fleetwood spoke of standing in silence on the 18th green watching the Americans celebrate as “a very motivating feeling we knew we didn’t want to happen again”.
And world number four Viktor Hovland feels they have a point to prove after that thrashing.
“I think we all have a bit of a chip on our shoulder, we want to show what we can do,” he said.
“I am sure the Americans think they can show up here and do the same thing again but we’re going to do everything we can to stop that.
“I hope we all play our asses off and show them what Team Europe is made of. I just want this week to be a huge statement.”
Viktor Hovland aces par-four fifth as Europe’s players prepare for the Ryder Cup
Norway’s Viktor Hovland warmed up for Friday’s start of the Ryder Cup by holing his tee shot at the par-four fifth hole at Marco Simone in Rome.
Unfortunately for the world number four it was only a practice round and it was his second attempt at going for the green on the 300-plus yard hole which is guarded by water.
The 24-year-old had fanned his first attempt pin-high into the right rough and reloaded with his three-wood and landed the ball on the green.
He turned away to walk back to his bag only to see the ball roll into the hole followed by loud cheers, him tossing his club away, playing partner Matt Fitzpatrick jumping on his back and fellow team-mate Tyrrell Hatton struggling to contain his laughter.
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