The Ryder Cup has transformed into an event that defies golf's typical characteristics. The action begins with the first shot at 7:10 a.m. on Friday, September 26, and doesn't stop (except for darkness) until one of the teams, the United States or Europe, achieves the necessary points after the individual matches on Sunday afternoon.
The rivalry intensifies when the flags are raised, creating a hostile atmosphere outside the course boundaries. Unlike other tournaments, the Ryder Cup crowd is passionate, applauding both good shots and missed putts. This tournament is personal, and home-court advantage plays a significant role. Europe has dominated the Ryder Cup for the past 30 years, although it has only won four times on American soil. Interestingly, seven players on the American team weren't born when their country last won the Ryder Cup in Europe, in 1993.
The event will be held at Bethpage Black, known as the "People's Course" as it was the first state course to host a US Open. Here's everything you need to know about the Ryder Cup:
What's at stake?
Samuel Ryder, an English seed merchant, donated a 17-inch gold chalice to the winner of the first Ryder Cup in 1927, making it one of golf's most coveted prizes. Although replicas of the trophy are available for the winning team, the original remains at the Professional Golf Association headquarters of the current holder. It's noteworthy that the golfer adorning the trophy is not Ryder, but Abe Mitchell, a prominent British golfer of the 1920s.
How to watch the Ryder Cup?
There will be continuous coverage of the Ryder Cup from the first tee shot at 7:10 a.m. on Friday through the closing ceremony on Sunday afternoon. USA Network will broadcast Friday's matches from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., while NBC will take over on Saturday and Sunday at similar times. The first singles match will begin at 12:02 p.m., with subsequent matches played every 11 minutes.
Which team is the favorite?
The Americans are the betting favorites at -140, while BetMGM Sportsbook has Europe at +155. The betting line for a tie in the Ryder Cup is +1100, with the last recorded tie occurring in 1989 at The Belfry in England, resulting in Europe retaining the cup.
Where will it be played?
The Ryder Cup will be played on Bethpage State Park's Black Course, a course dating back to 1936 and considered the finest publicly owned golf course in the country. The course was renovated to host the US Open in 2002 (won by Tiger Woods) and 2009 (won by Lucas Glover). It has also hosted a PGA Tour postseason event and, most recently, the 2019 PGA Championship (won by Brooks Koepka).
Will President Donald Trump be present?
Trump plans to attend the inaugural event on September 26, becoming the first US president to do so. Former President George H.W. Bush attended the 2008 games at Valhalla. Trump previously attended the 2017 Presidents Cup final at Liberty National in New Jersey during his first term.
How were the teams formed?
The United States and Europe established separate qualification criteria, with the top six players automatically qualifying. Each captain was able to select six wild cards. Europe retains most of the players from the winning team in Italy, with the exception of Rasmus Hojgaard, who replaces his twin brother Nicolai. The Americans, meanwhile, have six different players compared to the 2023 team, including Bryson DeChambeau and newcomer Ben Griffin.
How does the format work?
The two-player teams will play four foursomes matches (alternating strokes) and four fourballs (best ball) on Friday and Saturday. On Sunday, 12 individual matches will be played. All matches ending in a tie after 18 holes will award half a point to each team. Europe, which holds the Ryder Cup, needs 14 points to retain the trophy, while the United States requires 14.5 points to win it.
How are matches determined?
Each captain selects their two-player teams through a blind draw. This involves each captain assigning their teams to slots 1-4 for the four sessions and 1-12 for the singles matches. Ben Crenshaw, the U.S. captain, pioneered the strategy of placing his best players at the start of the Sunday lineup to build momentum. Since 1999, only once has the Ryder Cup been decided in the final match, in 2010 in Wales, when Graeme McDowell beat Hunter Mahan in the twelfth singles match, securing another home victory for Europe.
Who are the captains?
Keegan Bradley was named USA captain in July 2024, becoming the youngest captain since Arnold Palmer in 1963. Bradley, currently world No. 12, considered being a player captain, something not seen since Palmer. Luke Donald returns as Europe captain following his success in 2023 under Marco Simone, becoming the first captain to win back-to-back titles since Tony Jacklin in 1985 and 1987.
Who leads the series?
The series is in favor of the United States, which has a 27-15-2 record since the Ryder Cup's inception in 1927, when only British golfers competed. Ireland joined the British team in 1972, and the modern Ryder Cup began in 1979 with the inclusion of continental Europe, where Europe holds a 12-9-1 lead. Rory McIlroy has claimed that winning a Ryder Cup away from home is the greatest achievement in golf, and the Americans can't argue with him, as it has been 32 years since their last victory abroad.
Crowd support is crucial for the home team, often influencing the momentum of the game. Europe was the last team to win away from home, achieving what became known as the 'Miracle at Medinah' by overcoming a 10-6 deficit on the final day.
