Djoker will be joined by celeb golf extraordinaire (and football great) Gareth Bale as well as fellow footballer Andriy Shevchenko, Marvel star Kathryn Newton, Super Bowl winner Victor Cruz, Formula One driver Carlos Sainz, Italian professional surfer Leonardo Fioravanti and one of the dudes from Dude Perfect for some reason.

Ryder Cup

In years past, this match-up would be a clash between the US and Europe stars, but they will be mixed together this go-around and captained by Ryder Cup royalty in Colin Montgomerie and Corey Pavin. The two went head-to-head at the 2010 Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor and will be playing in this year’s matches for a rematch of sorts.

Two recent winners of the G4D (golfers with a disability) Tour — Kipp Popert from England and Tomasso Perrino from Italy — will be teeing it up alongside the celebs as well.

“I can’t wait to tee it up in Rome and experience the incredible atmosphere of a Ryder Cup, which has become legendary,” Djokovic said. “The course looks like a fantastic test of golf and my playing partner Kipp, a seasoned pro, has won a lot on the G4D Tour recently so I’m confident we can get a point for the team. It’s going to be a great spectacle for the fans.”

“We have athletes proven at the highest level in Novak, Gareth, Leonardo and Kipp,” Montgomerie added. “And Garrett from Dude Perfect is a strong golfer who’ll be bringing some comedic light relief in the heat of battle.”

The post Who needs golfers? Novak Djokovic, Gareth Bale and more to compete in Ryder Cup All-Star Match at Marco Simone appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The event will feature a number of sporting superstars which include England football internationals Jordan Pickford and Jermaine Jenas, NFL champion Victor Cruz, world-title-winning boxer Tony Bellew and Indian international cricketer, Yuvraj Singh.  

They will be joined by Hollywood actress Kathryn Newton, pop star Ronan Keating, actor and presenter of ITV’s ‘The Chase’, Bradley Walsh, and renowned influencers that include Blake Gray, Calfreezy, Margaux Brooke and Marques Brownlee, who boast millions of followers on social media.  

The Open Invitational is being streamed live to a global audience via YouTube and TikTok, while lucky ticketholders for Sunday’s practice round will relish the chance to witness the action on-course and experience the atmosphere first-hand. 

Everton and England goalkeeper, Jordan Pickford, shared his excitement by saying, “This is going to be a lot of fun and having the opportunity to play Royal Liverpool just days before The Open gets underway is really exciting. We’ll get to see the course in the same condition as the professionals do, which is a real honour. It will be a real challenge but one I’m looking forward to.”  

Expressing her passion for golf, Kathryn Newton, said, “Golf has always been a passion of mine from a young age and I can’t wait to play Royal Liverpool alongside such incredible and talented people. 

“This event promises to be a unique experience for all involved and Team Newton will be out to do all that we can to get the win.” 

Looking to draw on his cricket experience, former Indian cricketer, Yuvraj Singh, said, “The chance to play at a prestigious Open venue is a real privilege and I’m excited to witness the challenges that the players face first-hand. I will try and draw on all my cricket experience to perform at my best and help my team get the win.” 

The players will compete in three teams, led by Bellew, Cruz, and Newton, using a four-person scramble format over the back nine holes of Hoylake. The team with the lowest score will claim victory.  

Additionally, spectators can anticipate an enthralling closest-to-the-pin contest on the new Championship par-3 17th hole, followed by a gripping longest-drive competition on the par-5 Championship 18th hole.

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