The 2023 Ryder Cup takes place at Marco Simone for the 44th edition of the biennial match between Team USA and Team Europe.
In total, 28 matches are contested over three days of action with each worth one point.
But what is the format? Let’s take a look at how the Ryder Cup works, and what each team needs to do to be declared the winner.
Ryder Cup Format Explained – How The Ryder Cup Works
There are a total of five sessions over the three days of play- a set of foursomes and fourball sessions on each of the first two days and a Sunday singles session to conclude.
The Ryder Cup format is head-to-head match play, unlike the usual stroke play format seen on the PGA and DP World Tours.
Each team has 12 players, with eight from both taking part in each foursomes and fourball sessions. Meanwhile, there are four points on offer in each of the sessions of foursomes and fourball.
That means after day one, 8 points will be played for. After two days, 16 points will be contested, with the final 12 points decided on Sunday where all 24 players compete in the 12 singles matches
The home captain dictates which order the foursomes and fourball sessions are played. This year, Luke Donald opted for foursomes in the morning followed by the fourball session in the afternoon. That schedule holds for both Friday and Saturday.
On Sunday, there are 12 singles matches during which everyone plays an opponent drawn at random. Each captain picks their own 12-man line-up without knowing which order the other team are playing in.
Luke Donald chose foursomes to begin the Ryder Cup at Marco Simone
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Foursomes is an alternate shot format, where teams in pairs take turns on each hole using the same ball. So, one player hits the tee shot and the other will play the next shot from where the ball finishes and so on. This continues until the ball is holed. It’s a match play competition against the other team, too, so whichever duo takes the fewest shots wins the hole.
Players on each team take turns to tee off, so one will tee it up from the even-numbered holes and the other from the odd-numbered holes.
In fourball, both players from each team play their own ball, so there…
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