The Captain Luke Donald and Zach Johnson closed the celebrations Ryder Cup Year To Go in Rome in meeting with Pope Francis.
The two captains held a private meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican, bringing down the curtain on three days of events in the Eternal City to mark 12 months until Italy hosts its first Ryder Cup in Marco Simone Golf & Country Club from September 26 to October 1, 2023.
The European captain and the American captain presented the Pontiff with a commemorative Ryder Cup inscribed: “Presented to His Holiness the Pope by Ryder Cup Captains Luke Donald and Zach Johnson.”
The captains were joined by their respective wives, Diane and Kim, and officials from Ryder Cup Europe, PGA of America and Federazione Italiana Golf.
“As Ryder Cup captain, I’ve been lucky enough to do a lot of special things, but having a private audience with Pope Francis is definitely a memory that Diane and I will always remember and cherish,” said Luke Donald.
“It was an unforgettable experience and clearly a once in a lifetime opportunity. Pope Francis was beyond gracious, warm and welcoming. Kim and I will never forget our morning at the Vatican,” said Zach Johnson.
The captains’ visit to Vatican City on Wednesday was followed by a busy schedule of activities to celebrate the Year To Go this week.
On Monday there was a Ryder-type exhibition at Marco Simone himself, followed by a gala dinner at the Palazzo Colonna with 200 guests. On Tuesday, Donald and Johnson took the Ryder Cup to one of Rome’s most iconic venues, the Colosseum, hitting shots from a purpose-built platform. In the afternoon, the two attended their first joint press conference and met the Italian and international media.
Source: La Verdad
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