2021 Ryder Cup Preview
Location: Haven, Wisconsin, USA
Golf Course: Whistling Straits – Straits Course; Superintendent, Chris Zugel
Built in 1998 by Pete Dye, the Straits Course at Whistling Straits has hosted the 2004, 2010, and 2015 PGA Championships and the 2007 U.S. Senior Open.
Dates: Friday, September 24th – Sunday, September 26th
The Ryder Cup, the biennial team match between the United States and Europe, starts a week from tomorrow. After being delayed a year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the teams are all set and ready to go.
In this post, we’ll give you all the information you’ll need to prepare to enjoy the event.
Format
Since we only get to experience this sort of event every other year, or once per year (if you consider the Presidents Cup), in men’s professional golf, the format is always a bit unfamiliar. Even if you know the rules of each, the order or names can often confuse. There are three main formats that are used; foursome, fourball, and singles.
Foursome is more commonly referred to as alternate shot. This will be the format for both Friday and Saturday morning. Each team captain will form four pairings of two players to compete against another two-man pairing from the other side. Then, the pairings play one ball and alternate hitting it until the ball is holed. Once the ball is holed, the pattern resets. Instead of continuing to alternate, each player is designated odd or even holes to tee off at the beginning of the match. The team with the lowest score on a hole wins the hole. If the scores are tied, the hole is halved.
Fourball, on the other hand, is often known as better ball or best ball. It will be played during the afternoon sessions on Friday and Saturday. Again, captains will select four pairings of two players to compete against the other team. In this format, all players play their own ball and the team’s score on a given hole is the lowest (or better) ball of the two. Just like in foursomes, the team with the lowest score on a hole wins the hole and if the scores are tied, the hole is halved.
The final format is called singles. In singles, all 12 players from each team play a match against one player from the other side. Again, just like the previous two formats, the player with the lowest score on a hole wins the hole.
Friday morning: Foursome.
Friday afternoon: Fourball.
Saturday morning: Foursome.
Saturday afternoon: Fourball.
Sunday: Singles
Over the three days of competition, there are 28 total matches. Each match is worth one point. In order to win the cup, a team needs to score 14.5 points. In the event of a 14-14 tie, the team that won the previous event, in this case Europe, would retain the cup.
History
The first Ryder Cup was held in 1927 at Worcester Country Club in Worcester, Massachusetts. At the time it was between the United States and Great Britain, but eventually grew to include all of Europe in 1979.
After 42 meetings, the United States has won 26 times, Great Britain/Europe has won 14, and there have been 2 ties. Since the last tie in 1989, Europe has been the more dominant team; winning 9 of 14 events.
Rosters
United States
Steve Stricker, captain
Jim Furyk, vice-captain
Zach Johnson, vice-captain
Davis Love III, vice-captain
Phil Mickelson, vice-captain
Fred Couples, vice-captain
Collin Morikawa (world ranking: #3)
Dustin Johnson (#2)
Bryson DeChambeau (#7)
Brooks Koepka (#9)
Justin Thomas (#6)
Patrick Cantlay (#4)
Xander Schauffele (#5)
Tony Finau (#10)
Harris English (#11)
Jordan Spieth (#14)
Daniel Berger (#16)
Scottie Scheffler (#21)
Europe
Padraig Harrington, captain
Robert Karlsson, vice-captain
Luke Donald, vice-captain
Martin Kaymer, vice-captain
Graeme McDowell, vice-captain
Jon Rahm (#1)
Tommy Fleetwood (#36)
Tyrell Hatton (#19)
Rory McIlroy (#15)
Paul Casey (#23)
Matt Fitzpatrick (#27)
Sergio Garcia (#43)
Viktor Hovland (#13)
Shane Lowry (#40)
Ian Poulter (#49)
Bernd Wiesberger (#61)
Lee Westwood (#34)
Prediction
As I said earlier, success has been on the side of the Europeans in recent years. This year, the world rankings suggest that the United States is definitely the favorite. But, we’ve thought that before. In the Ryder Cup (and Presidents Cup), world ranking doesn’t seem to matter much.
Even though golf is a very individual sport, even in “team” games, something changes in these matches. I always think that camaraderie and working together shouldn’t matter in the Ryder Cup. After all, only one player is hitting a ball at a time. Sure, there is an alternate shot component, but as long as each individual executes, the pairing should be fine. That all seems to work in my head, but not in real life.
There are two angles to watch in this event. First, how does the United States team bond and pull for each other. It’s no secret that players on the U.S. team haven’t had the friendliest of relationships in the past; see Brooks and Bryson as an example. There’s obviously tension under the surface between other players as well, like Brooks and Dustin or Bryson and Cantlay. Those dynamics make me nervous as a fan of the Americans.
The second thing to keep an eye on is how the Europeans respond to the pro-U.S.A. crowd. This isn’t an event where fans will keep fairly quiet. There will be yelling and taunting. So, do the Europeans embrace the “bad guys” title and let it fuel them? Or, do they choke when met with hostility? In the past, guys like Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood have thrived on that.
Lastly, it’s no secret that Europeans are more familiar with the match play format. The American game is very stroke-play focused. It’s an individual sport. Even in high school and college where teams are created, stroke play is the normal format. That lends itself to more of a long-game that takes more calculated risks, tries to maintain a calm presence, and isn’t forced to adapt or attack the opponent as much. It seems like this is why Europeans tend to have more success in team match play formats.
I’m still picking the United States to win, but that might be because I think the team is so strong this year…or I’m just really hoping they can pull off the win on home soil.
Go USA!