How Many Fans Are At The Ryder Cup?

The Ryder Cup is one of the most eagerly anticipated occasions in the game, so it’s no surprise that tickets to attend the match are always in high demand.

This year’s match at Marco Simone in Italy is no different, and the size of the grandstands has already got people talking, including Team Europe captain Luke Donald, who said: “I’ve never seen stands as big as these.”

However, while plenty of work has clearly gone into ensuring as many fans as possible can watch the action, according to Golfweek’s Beth Ann Nichols, there was three times as much demand for the supply of tickets. Even with that, though, a whopping 250,000 fans are still expected to attend.

She wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “Watching the Ryder Cup Live From replay. Paul McGinley said 750,000 people applied for 250,000 tickets. Fans represent 80 counties. Wow.”

Wow, indeed. That’s significantly more than the 150,000 fans who attended the previous match at Whistling Straits as Team USA cruised to a 19-9 victory. Meanwhile, the fact that fans from 80 countries will attend is in indication of the Ryder Cup’s global appeal.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, when the decision was taken to postpone the 2020 edition by a year, Team Europe player Rory McIlroy said the match without fans “isn’t a Ryder Cup.” His teammate Jon Rahm agreed, saying: “For me, a Ryder Cup without the spectators is just not a Ryder Cup.”

In that case, the pair – who will be key figures in Team Europe’s attempt to reclaim the trophy it lost two years ago – will certainly be gratified by what they see this year.

The Europeans have not lost at home for 30 years, and, as well as factors including course set-ups favourable to the home team, the presence of big crowds largely backing the hosts has surely helped the team retain its dominance on the continent for so long.

While many who attend this year’s match will be cheering on Zach Johnson’s Team USA, too, the majority will undoubtedly be rooting for Team Europe. Donald will be hoping the huge turnout over the three days will be enough to see his team take the trophy for the seventh successive time on home soil.