It’s almost that time again, the excitement is building, and we’re a little under a month away from golf’s biggest head-to-head, the Ryder Cup.
With such strong prospective teams in this year’s matches, picking a winner is a bit like betting on red or black at a UK online casino, you just don’t know who will win.
When is the Ryder Cup being played?
This will be the 43rd iteration of the Ryder Cup, and it will tee off on September 24 and will come to a close on September 26. The Ryder Cup was set to be played in September 2020, however, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was postponed and will now be played next month.
Where is the Ryder Cup being hosted this year?
The 43rd Ryder Cup will be played at Whistling Straits. The course is located in Kohler, Wisconsin. It will be the first time this course has hosted the Ryder Cup. Whistling Straits has hosted other events on the PGA Tour in the past, the PGA Championship in 2004, 2010 and 2015. The US Senior Open was also played here in 2007. So this course is no stranger to top level competition.
Where can I watch the Ryder Cup in the UK?
In the UK, Sky Sports is the home of golf on TV. You can catch the whole tournament on Sky Sports Main Event, and on Sky Sports Golf, meaning you won’t miss any of the action.
What is the format of the Ryder Cup?
The Ryder Cup teams are made up of the top 12 players, and the Ryder Cup is played over three days. Play in the first two days consists of a four-ball session and a foursome session. One the third and final day, 12 singles matches are played.
Each match has 1 point up for grabs, and any matches that end in a tie is worth ½ point for each team. Any team to reach 14½ points over the course of the competition wins the Ryder Cup. In the event of a draw by the end of the three days, the team who previously won the Ryder Cup retains the trophy. The last team to win the Ryder Cup was Team Europe in 2018, at Le Golf National in Paris, with a score of 17.5-10.5.
Who are the team captains?
A new captain is picked ahead of the Ryder Cup, this year Steve Stricker has been selected as captain of Team USA and Padraig Harrington is the captain for Team Europe in 2021.
How does a player qualify for Team Europe and Team USA?
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, qualification had been extended for both US and European competitors. Both teams are made up of 12 players, and players have to earn Ryder Cup points during the qualifying period. The top six players in each qualifying team’s standings automatically qualify for each of the team. The remaining six positions are filled with each team captain’s picks. The final teams will be selected after the BMW Championship’s conclusion.