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
(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?
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
(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.
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