Ryder Cup Tickets

Ryder Cup History & Format

The Ryder Cup officially began in 1927, a year after an exhibition between American and British Golfers took place in the United Kingdom. In the Ryder Cup’s incipient years it was only a contest between the Americans and British. However, after World War II, American dominance led to the introduction of the Irish to the British team in 1979. Since this exception was made, all of Europe has been capable of qualifying for the now “European” team. With this change the American and European matchups have become a lot more balanced. Though the format has changed over the course of the Ryder Cup history, it has currently settled into a competition of various match-play between the 2 teams of 12. The matches involve eight foursome matches (2 Americans and 2 Europeans competing against one another, alternating shots on the same ball), eight four-ball matches (2 Americans and 2 Europeans competing against each other with each team taking the best individual score for each hole), and 12 singles matches (normal golf). Winners of each match add a point to their team’s overall score with a tie resulting in ½ point attributed to each side. Whichever side has more points at the end of the tournament wins. This year the tournament takes place in America at the Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky.