2021 Ryder Cup: players, tee times, format, scoring, UK TV coverage

Golf’s match-play event takes place at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin

The opening ceremony for the 43rd Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits
The opening ceremony for the 43rd Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits
(Image credit: Warren Little/Getty Images)

Team USA and Team Europe will go head-to-head this week in the 43rd Ryder Cup. Taking place at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisconsin, golf’s match-play tournament will see the European squad aim to defend the trophy they won in France in 2018.

Europe captain Padraig Harrington believes his team is well “balanced” to take on Steve Stricker’s Americans in the biennial contest. “I have a nice, strong, balanced team,” the Irishman told Sky Sports. “It’s very balanced. Good for foursomes and fourballs. We are well prepared at this stage, certainly in my head. It’s the Ryder Cup so I’m sure there will be a few things that happen that throw up a few complications, but we are well prepared and whatever comes at us we should be able to deal with.”

No fewer than 11 of the US team are ranked in the top 16 in the latest world rankings, The Irish Times reported. Half of Stricker’s squad are Ryder Cup rookies, but among them are two-time major champion Collin Morikawa, Olympic champion Xander Schauffele and FedEx Cup winner Patrick Cantlay.

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“They are extremely excited and happy and fired up to be a part of this team,” Stricker said. “They all told me they can’t wait to get [to Whistling Straits] and to do one thing, and that’s to bring the cup back where it belongs.”

1. Teams, captains and players

USA captain Steve Stricker and Europe captain Padraig Harrington

USA captain Steve Stricker and Europe captain Padraig Harrington
(Image credit: Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

Team USA squad

  • Captain: Steve Stricker
  • Vice-captains (five): Fred Couples, Jim Furyk, Zach Johnson, Davis Love III, Phil Mickelson
  • Players (12): Daniel Berger, Patrick Cantlay, Bryson Dechambeau, Harris English, Tony Finau, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Collin Morikawa, Xander Schauffele, Scottie Scheffler, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas

Team Europe squad

  • Captain: Padraig Harrington
  • Vice-captains (five): Luke Donald, Robert Karlsson, Martin Kaymer, Graeme McDowell, Henrik Stenson
  • Players (12): Paul Casey, Matt Fitzpatrick, Tommy Fleetwood, Sergio Garcia, Tyrrell Hatton, Viktor Hovland, Shane Lowry, Rory McIlroy, Ian Poulter, Jon Rahm, Bernd Wiesberger, Lee Westwood

2. What is the format?

The Ryder Cup has always been decided by match-play, pitting the players against each other rather than the scoreboard. There are 28 matches, each worth one point to the winners. The first two days see foursomes in the morning, followed by fourballs in the afternoon. Fourball matches involve four players, two from each side, and the player with the lowest score wins the hole for his team. Foursomes is more like doubles, with two players from each team taking it in turns to take a shot. Sunday, the third and final day, will see 12 singles matches take place.

  • Friday: foursomes (four matches) and fourballs (four matches)
  • Saturday: foursomes (four matches) and fourballs (four matches)
  • Sunday: 12 singles matches

3. How does the scoring system work?

2018 Ryder Cup Team Europe Thomas Bjorn

Team Europe celebrate their victory at the 2018 Ryder Cup
(Image credit: Getty Images)

There are a total 28 points up for grabs. The winner of each match gets one point, with half points for drawn games. Europe, the defending champions, require 14 points to retain the trophy, while the USA will need 14½ points to win it back.

4. Schedule and tee times

All times are BST - Wisconsin is six hours behind the UK.

Friday 24 September

Friday foursomes (US vs. Europe)

  • 1.05pm: Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth vs. Jon Rahm and Sergio Garcia
  • 1.21pm: Dustin Johnson and Collin Morikawa vs. Paul Casey and Viktor Hovland
  • 1.37pm: Brooks Koepka and Daniel Berger vs. Lee Westwood and Matt Fitzpatrick
  • 1.53pm: Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele vs. Rory McIlroy and Ian Poulter

Friday fourballs

  • Match 1: 6.10pm
  • Match 2: 6.26pm
  • Match 3: 6.42pm
  • Match 4: 6.58pm

Saturday 25 September

Saturday foursomes

  • Match 1: 1.05pm
  • Match 2: 1.21pm
  • Match 3: 1.37pm
  • Match 4: 1.53pm

Saturday fourballs

  • Match 1: 6.10pm
  • Match 2: 6.26pm
  • Match 3: 6.42pm
  • Match 4: 6.58pm

Sunday 26 September

Singles tee times

  • Match 1: 5.04pm
  • Match 2: 5.15pm
  • Match 3: 5.26pm
  • Match 4: 5.37pm
  • Match 5: 5.48pm
  • Match 6: 5.59pm
  • Match 7: 6.10pm
  • Match 8: 6.21pm
  • Match 9: 6.32pm
  • Match 10: 6.43pm
  • Match 11: 6.54pm
  • Match 12: 7.05pm

5. How to watch the Ryder Cup on TV

Ryder Cup

(Image credit: Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images)

Sky Sports has the exclusive UK TV rights for the 43rd Ryder Cup. As well as live action from Whistling Straits, the broadcaster will have round-the-clock coverage and documentaries on its dedicated Sky Sports Ryder Cup channel. All times BST.

Friday 24 September

  • 11am-12.45pm: Live from the Ryder Cup
  • 12.45pm-12.30am: Ryder Cup Live!

Saturday 25 September

  • 8am-11am: Ryder Cup Brunch
  • 11am-12.45pm: Live from the Ryder Cup
  • 12.45pm-12.30am: Ryder Cup Live!

Sunday 26 September

  • 11am-2pm: Ryder Cup Brunch
  • 2pm-4.45pm: Live from the Ryder Cup
  • 4.45pm-1am: Ryder Cup Live!

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