How Does The Ryder Cup Work?

Want to know how the Ryder Cup works? We’ve got you covered.

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Every two years, 24 of the best players from Europe and the United States go head-to-head in match play competition. The European Team are the reigning champions after winning at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in 2023. Drama, tension, incredible golf, camaraderie and sportsmanship are served in equal measure, captivating an audience of millions around the world. It’s an event that transcends sport, yet remains true to the spirit of its founder, Samuel Ryder. The 2025 Ryder Cup is set to take place at Bethpage Black in New York.

Keep up to date with the Ryder Cup:
Website: www.rydercup.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RyderCupEurope
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therydercup/?hl=en
Facebook: Ryder Cup European Team and Ryder Cup USA

How does the RDER Cup work? From formats and pairings to point scoring and how to win. This is the science behind golf’s greatest team contest. Give it up for our contestants, team Europe and the USA. It’s 12 golfers per side with each player earning their spot through qualification or a captain’s pick. Shameless plug, but hit up our other videos to learn more about that. The teams battle it out for 3 days every 2 years at alternating venues in Europe and the USA. And it’s all for one reason, to lift the RDER Cup trophy. Unlike regular stroke play golf where you compete as an individual and win by completing four rounds in the fewest shots, the RDER Cup is a match play competition where you compete in teams to finish each hole in the fewest shots. And whoever wins more holes wins the match. On the first two days, we have two different formats of golf on show across the morning and afternoon sessions, four balls and foresomes. They are both played in pairs, and it is the responsibility of each team’s captain to confirm the pairings and order in which they play without knowing who they will be facing from the opposition. Golfers may play both formats in one day if the captain decides. In four balls, each player plays their own ball for the hole, and the lowest score wins that hole. If the teams finish the hole in the same amount of shots, it’s tied. It’s where you might see a risk taker paired with a more conservative golfer. Because if one teammate’s hole doesn’t go to plan, they can rely on their partner hopefully. Besomes are even more reliant on chemistry because each twoman team plays one ball per hole with the pair taking alternate shots until the ball is in the hole. Players alternate hitting T-shots with one leading on oddnumbered holes and the other hitting first on evenumbered holes. This is where you often see players with complimentary styles paired together as teamwork and ability comes to the four. After 2 days of 16 matches in pairs, it’s all down to the singles. One player from each team pitted against each other for 18 holes. The captain decides the order again and is often influenced by the first two days results. Do they need to chase points early with their informed players or should they save them for the end when the pressure could mount? Throughout the 18 holes in each match, you might see team Europe or the USA described as up, down, or tied. This is to reflect who’s leading the match while it’s happening. For example, let’s say the USA finished the first hole in three shots while team Europe completed in four. The USA would be one up because they won that hole. On the second hole, team Europe need just two shots while the USA take three. The scores are now tied. Team Europe then sink the third hole in four shots and the USA match their score. The hole is tied and the score remains tied with 15 holes remaining. If one team leads the match by more than the number of holes remaining, the match ends. For example, if team Europe are three up with two holes left, they win the match and do not have to play the remaining holes. There are 28 matches across the three days and each match is worth one point. If a match is tied, each team gets half a point. The first team to 14 1/2 points wins the RDER Cup. But if it ends in a 1414 draw, then the previous winner retains the trophy. If the winners are confirmed with matches to spare, play continues until they’re all complete, giving us a score line that adds up to 28. Then all that’s left is for the victors to lift the RDER Cup. And two years later, we do it all again. To watch another RDER Cup video, click here and subscribe here.