Stephen Gallacher was today unveiled as the captain of Team Europe for the 2023 Junior Ryder Cup.
The Scot, who was part of winning Ryder Cup team in 2014, will lead a team of six boys and girls, half of which will be chosen by him. The remainder will earn selection via their efforts in an elite group of tournaments across Europe (see below). They were also unveiled this morning by Ryder Cup Europe and the European Golf Association.
Next year’s meeting will constitute the 12th playing of the biennial event – the 2021 contest was cancelled because of Covid – and it will be held on two courses near Rome (September 26-28). Golf Nazionale will host the first two days of fourballs and foursomes before Simone Golf & Country Club takes over for the singles.
“I am absolutely delighted to be named Junior European Ryder Cup Captain for 2023,” said Gallacher. “It’s a privilege to be able to lead a team of the best juniors in Europe against America in Rome.
“Playing the final day at Marco Simone will be a fantastic experience for our players who get the opportunity to compete in front of Ryder Cup crowds on the Ryder Cup course for the first time.
“I’m really looking forward to getting to some events during the year and working with the most exciting future talent in Europe.”
The four-time DP World Tour winner has become a major driving force behind junior golf in Scotland with his foundation staging a raft of events which attracts the best boys and girls north of the border.
And he will lead a team attempting to win the Junior Ryder Cup for the first time since 2004 when Rory McIlroy was part of the victorious line-up.
Eligible players have to be under 18 as of January 1, 2023 and also be not enrolled to play college golf in the USA during 2023.