PGA Results: Ryder Cup Formats

The Ryder Cup is here.  Below is a description of the various formats which are contested in the Ryder Cup.  For reference, each Ryder Cup team has 12 players.  During Friday's and Saturday's matches, some players do not play and it is the captain's choice as to who that would be. Friday and Saturday Morning Fourball A "Fourball" match is a golf match which of course, involves four golf balls in the group.  In fourball there are two two-man teams.  Each player plays his own ball the entire match.  On each hole the best score of the two players per team is used as the team's score.  So if player A makes par and player B makes a birdie, player B's birdie is the score of the team.  That score is matched against the best score of the opposing team on each hole in match play format.  Winning the match outright gives the team one point while halfing or tying the match results in one half point being awarded to each team. This format is also referred to as "best ball" or "better ball." Friday and Saturday Afternoon Foursomes "Foursomes" matches are better known in the USA as "alternate shot" matches.  These are very high stress matches where each two player team plays shots alternately.  Player A tees off then player B plays the next shot.  Shots alternate until the hole is completed.  This format is tough and pressure packed because one player who makes bad shots can cause his playing partner, and thus the team, much trouble. Each match is worth one point for the winner or 1/2 point in the event that the match ends in a tie, or "halved." Sunday Singles Sunday at the Ryder Cup is all about individual match play.  All 12 players on each team play individual matches against opponents on the other team.  Each match is worth one point, or 1/2 point for halved, or tied matches. Singles matches can be tough to setup by the captains.  They must "load" the matches with their best players in what they perceive to be the most important positions.  For example let us say that one team faces a large deficit going into the Sunday singles matches.  The captain would "front load" his picks with the best players in the hopes that those players would score points quickly, and get their team back in contention.