After plenty of international intrigue, Fred Couples’ gaffes and a late-breaking Sergio Garcia last gasp to play this year in Rome, the Ryder Cup is finally here, and the multinational event has never had higher stakes. The Americans, led by captain Zach Johnson, will make the trek to Marco Simone in Italy and attempt to shatter a 30-year winless drought on European soil despite the odds (and playing conditions) firmly against them. Luke Donald and the European team are looking to keep the good times rolling at home and take back the Ryder Cup after a lopsided 2021 defeat at Whistling Straits.

This is the 44th iteration of the biennial event and, as always, the first team of pros to reach 14.5 points will claim victory (a 14-14 tie means the US retain the Cup, just like the Europeans did at the Solheim Cup last weekend). The opening ceremony is set for Thursday and the matches play out Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

What is the Ryder Cup?
The Ryder Cup is a biennial competition between two 12-man teams, one made up of American players and the other made up of European players. Each team has a captain who gets six captain’s picks and creates the pairings for the competition.

Has the Ryder Cup always been between Europe and America?
The first Ryder Cup, which was played in 1927, was between the United States and Great Britain. That’s the way the matches were contested until 1973, when players from Ireland were added to the Great Britain team. In 1979, all players from continental Europe began to be included on the team. Since then, it has been America versus Europe.

This year’s squads
United States
Scottie Scheffler
Wyndham Clark
Brian Harman
Patrick Cantlay
Max Homa
Xander Schauffele
Sam Burns
Rickie Fowler
Collin Morikawa
Brooks Koepka
Jordan Spieth
Justin Thomas

Europe
Rory McIlroy
Jon Rahm
Robert MacIntyre
Viktor Hovland
Tyrrell Hatton
Matt Fitzpatrick
Ludvig Aberg
Tommy Fleetwood
Nicolai Hojgaard
Shane Lowry
Justin Rose
Sepp Straka

The winners receive no prize money but monumental bragging rights for the next two years.

Marco Simone. Patrick Smith

Tee times (local)
Friday
Four foursome (alternate shot) matches in the morning and four fourball (better ball) matches in the afternoon.
Morning schedule
6.35am Foursomes match 1
6.50am Foursomes match 2
7.05am Foursomes match 3
7.20am Foursomes match 4
Afternoon schedule
11.25am Fourball match 1
11.40am Fourball match 2
11.55am Fourball match 3
12.10pm Fourball match 4
Saturday
Four foursome (alternate shot) matches in the morning and four fourball (better ball) matches in the afternoon.
Morning schedule
7.35am Foursomes match 1
7.50am Foursomes match 2
8.05am Foursomes match 3
8.20am Foursomes match 4
Afternoon schedule
12.25pm Fourball match 1
12.40pm Fourball match 2
12.55pm Fourball match 3
13.10pm Fourball match 4
Sunday
12 singles matches before closing ceremony.
11.35am 12 players tee off every 12 minutes (approximately 5pm finish).

Central Press

Previous Results
The American team leads 27-14.
Year, Site, Score, Winner
2021, Whistling Straits, 19-9, USA
2018, Le Golf National, 17.5,-10.5, Europe
2016, Hazeltine National GC, 17-11, USA
2014, Gleneagles Resort, 16.5,-11.5, Europe
2012, Medinah CC, 14.5-13.5, Europe
2010, Celtic Manor Resort, 14.5-13.5, Europe
2008, Valhalla Golf Club, 16.5-11.5, USA
2006, The K Club, Straffan, 18.5-9.5, Europe
2004, Oakland Hills CC, 18.5-9.5, Europe
2002, The Belfry, 15.5-12.5, Europe
1999, The Country Club, 14.5-13.5, USA
1997, Valderrama GC, 14.5-13.5, Europe
1995, Oak Hill CC, 14.5-13.5, Europe
1993, The Belfry, 15-13, USA
1991, The Ocean Course, 14.5-13.5, USA
1989, The Belfry, 14-14, Tie (Europe retains Cup)
1987, Muirfield Village GC, 15-13, Europe
1985, The Belfry, 16.5-11.5, Europe
1983, PGA National GC, 14.5-13.5, USA
1981, Walton Health GC, 18.5-9.5, USA
1979, The Greenbrier, 17-11, USA
1977, Royal Lytham & St. Annes, 12.5-7.5, USA
1975, Laurel Valley GC, 21-11, USA
1973, Muirfield, 19-13, USA
1971, Old Warson CC, 18.5-13.5, USA
1969, Royal Birkdale GC, 16-16, (U.S. retains the Cup)
1967, Champions GC, 23.5-8.5, USA
1965, Royal Birkdale GC, 19.5-12.5, USA
1963, East Lake CC, 23-9, USA
1961, Royal Lytham & St. Annes, 14.5-9.5, USA
1959, Eldorado CC, 8.5-3.5, USA
1957, Lindrick GC, 7.5-4.5, Great Britain
1955, Thunderbird CC, 8-4, USA
1953, Wentworth GC, 6.5-5.5, USA
1951, Pinehurst CC, 9.5-2.5, USA
1949, Ganton GC, 7-5, USA
1947, Portland Golf Club, 11-1, USA
1937, Southport & Ainsdale GC, 8-4, USA
1935, Ridgewood CC, 9-3, USA
1933, Southport & Ainsdale GC, 6.5-5.5, Great Britain
1931, Scioto CC, 9-3, USA
1929, Moortown GC, 7-5, Great Britain
1927, Worcester CC, 9.5-2.5, USA

Main image: Andrew Redington