Italy looks to women,youth for Ryder Cup

(ANSA) - Rome, February 8 - The first "Road to Rome 2022" event of 2019 took place at the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Guidonia Montecello, just outside Rome.
    The focus at the event ranged from the incredible success of Francesco Molinari to work on the field that will host the match between the US and Europe at the Ryder Cup in 2022.
    In addition, young players and women players were also featured, as well as social inclusion and golf in schools.
    The event opened with the presentation of Federgolf's presentation of the national teams in the presence, among others, of Gian Paolo Montali, general director of the Ryder Cup 2022.
    "Molinari is an icon, and this year I'm betting on Renato Paratore," Montali said.
    "It's no coincidence that this event was organised at the Marco Simone, a venue that will become one of our homes in the coming years," Montali said.
    "Work on the field is moving along rapidly and I can already see the show on the green in my mind," he said.
    One of the new developments for 2019 is that of a three-year agreement, which Montali himself announced, between the Italian Golf Federation (FIG), the Italian Education Ministry (MIUR) and the Sport Credit Union (ICS), to bring golf into schools.
    Montali said it's a "great initiative" that will last through 2022 and will allow for "spreading values such as fair play and respect for the rules".
    He also talked about a project called "Golf is Women", which will give many girls the opportunity to play.
    Another development is that of social inclusion, with the initiative "Golf4Autism".
    Starting this year for the first time ever, at the National Golf Club in Sutri, home of Italy's National Golf School, a module will be dedicated to teaching children on the autism spectrum.
    The event also also recalled the Italian players from the 2018 Ryder Cup.
    Alessandro Rogato, FIG technical director of national teams, told stories of "his" players who rode on the wave of Francesco "Chicco" Molinari's success.
    "Chicco is a source of inspiration for everyone, and for Ryder 2022 I hope to see another of our many talents on the field," Rogato said.
    "This also applies to the next Solheim Cup, the female version of the Ryder," he said.
    "We can boast of young men and women of undeniable quality, and it's due to our Federation, which makes enormous efforts for these athletes," he said.
    Just a few of these young Italian golf talents include Caterina Don, Gregorio De Leo, Lorenzo Scalise and Charlotte Cattaneo, all of whom have shown both experience and sacrifice on the green.
    Edoardo Biagi, the new director for paralympics at Federgolf, invited everyone to attend an Italian Open for Disabled tournament.
    "It's an experience that makes an impression," he said.