Almost a Century Old Tournament and One of Its Kind: Dive Deeper Into the Holistic Format of Ryder Cup

The Ryder Cup is one of the highly coveted events that golfers from Europe and the USA look forward to every two years. It is an event that players from both countries compete in at courses varying between the two countries. The Ryder Cup is truly a one-of-a-kind tournament that keeps the fans hooked till the end.

The Ryder Cup was established in 1927 with the aim of bringing golfers together to compete in holistic and healthy competition. Earlier, the competition was between Team USA and Team Great Britain, but in later years, European golfers were added to the mix. Let us get to know how this prestigious tournament works and how the teams are selected.

What is the Ryder Cup format?

There are primarily three types of matches played in the Ryder Cup. On Friday and Saturday, there are 16 matches in total: four fourball matches and four foursomes matches each day. The sessions are divided into an equal number of matches for the morning and evening. On Sunday, there are 12 singles matches, when all team members play.

It is not important for all the players to compete on the first two days of the tournament. The captain selects the eight players who will compete in each session during the course of Friday and Saturday.

• Four-Ball

In four-ball matches, each member of the two-member team comes forward to play their own ball. It is called a fourball because, at one single hole, 4 balls are played. The score of all four players is compared at each hole, and the team whose player has the lowest score wins. If the low scores are tied, the hole is halved.

• Foursomes

In foursome matches, every hole is played by a two-man team. Members play alternative holes by taking turns. Players alternate hitting tee shots, with one leading off on odd-numbered holes and the other hitting first on even-numbered holes. The team with the lowest score on each hole wins that particular hole. In the case of a tied score, the hole is halved.

• Singles

As the name suggests, every hole is played by a single member of the team that is selected. The player with the lowest score wins the hole. In the case of a tied score, the hole is halved.

How does scoring work in the Ryder Cup?

Every match played is worth a single point. Tied matches give 0.5 points to every team. The first team to reach 14 ½ points wins the Ryder Cup. If the matches end in a 14-14 tie, the team holding the Ryder Cup retains it.

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• Points

Every single match in the Ryder Cup, all 28 of them, is worth one point. No extra hotels are played in the Ryder Cup, and every tied hole accounts for half the point.

• Claiming the cup

Out of the 28 points, either one of the teams has to collect 14.5 points, and the first team to do so wins. In the case of a 14-14 tie, the winning team from the previous Ryder Cup retains the trophy.

• Concession

How are teams selected for the Ryder Cup?

The USA and Europe follow distinctive qualification criteria to finalize their teams for the prominent event. Let us take a look at the qualification process:

• USA

The American golfers earned points for the 2023 Ryder Cup from the season’s beginning in 2022 and did so until the FedEx Cup’s penultimate event, the BMW Championship. The top six players on the list will automatically qualify for the US team. The remaining six will be selected by the team’s captain and will be done after the FedEx Cup’s conclusion.

• Europe

The first six players of the European team would be selected on the basis of the European Points List and the World Points List. The first three will be the top-ranked players on the European list, followed by the next three on the World Points list. Afterward, the team’s skipper will pick the remaining six and complete the team.

The Ryder Cup is indeed a beautiful event with an intrinsic format and quite a lineup of events. Tune in to find out all the exciting updates about this one-of-a-kind event that brings golf fans from two continents together.

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