When is the Ryder Cup 2016? Format, tee times, odds, course guide, how to watch on TV
EUROPE take on the USA with the aim of retaining the Ryder Cup for a fourth time in a row later today - and here’s everything you need to know about the competition.
Darren Clarke is tasked with bringing the Ryder Cup home again as he comes up against Davis Love III
Paul McGinley guided his side to victory in 2014 at Gleneagles in Scotland by 16 1/2 points to 11 1/2 making it three wins in a row for Europe.
This year Darren Clarke is tasked with bringing it home again as he comes up against Davis Love III.
What is the Ryder Cup?
The Ryder Cup is a biennial (every other year) golf competition between teams of players from Europe and the USA.
Each Ryder Cup alternates between the US and Europe.
The Ryder Cup is named after English businessman Samuel Ryder.
The first Ryder Cup took place in 1927 at Worcester Country Club, in Massachusetts, US.
When is the 2016 Ryder Cup?
The Ryder Cup stars on Friday September 30 at 1.35pm Uk time.
It runs until Sunday October 2.
Butch Harmon, Rich Beem, Colin Montgomerie will join David Livingstone on Sky Sports
Where is the Ryder Cup?
The 2016 Ryder Cup takes place at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Minnesota, USA.
Where and when is it on TV in the UK?
Sky Sports will broadcast live coverage of this year's Ryder Cup and will deliver 240 hours of coverage on a channel dedicated to the tournament at Hazeltine National.
Sky Sports 4 will become Sky Sports Ryder Cup from Monday September 26 and run for 10 days, with three days of Ryder Cup competition shown exclusively live on Sky Sports in the UK.
Who are the captains?
Europe will be led by Darren Clarke.
The 2011 Open winner is 48 and from Northern Ireland. He has recorded three wins on the PGA tour and 14 on the European Tour.
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE MEMBERS OF TEAM EUROPE
The USA are under the stewardship of another one-time major winner in Davis Love III.
Love captained the USA in 2012 but is back again this year.
The 52-year-old won the PGA Championship in 1997.
How to be a Ryder Cup champion
Who do the bookies fancy?
The USA are favourite with the best price at 4/7 being offered by Betfair.
Europe are priced 6/4.
How does the Ryder Cup work?
On the first two days of competition there will be one morning sesssion and one afternoon session (both afternoon UK time), with foursomes kick-starting proceedings and fourball concluding each day.
The competition will finish on Sunday with 12 singles matches.
Hazeltine National Golf Club will host the Ryder Cup this year
Foursomes
Foursomes competition sees two European players compete against two members of the United States party with one ball shared between each team. This format is sometimes referred to as 'alternate shot' as players take it in turns to strike the ball until it is holed.
Before a shot is played, both teams nominate a player who will tee off from even holes, while the other will play the opening shot on each odd hole.
The winning team is the pairing which has taken the fewest number of shots after 18 holes and will be awarded one point. There are eight points to be won in this format across the opening two days.
Fourball
Fourball competition again sees two European players compete against two members of the United States squad, but in this format each player has their own ball. All four players complete every hole to its conclusion and the lowest score for each side is used as the score for each hole.
The winning team is the pairing which has taken the fewest number of shots after 18 holes and will be awarded one point. There are eight points to be won in this format across the opening two days.
Singles
The final day of competition sees 12 one-on-one singles matches with the winner awarded one point.
There are 12 points to be won in this format on the final day.
If the scores are equal after 18 holes in any format, both teams are awarded half a point. There are 28 points up for grabs across three days and the holders will retain the Ryder Cup if the scores are level at 14-14 at the close.
When do the players tee-off?
Friday and Saturday
Foursomes
1.35pm
1.50pm
2.05pm
2.20pm
Fourball
6.30pm
6.45pm
7.00pm
7.15pm
Sunday
Singles
5.04pm - 7.05pm (11 minute intervals). Finish at approximately 9:55pm