The wait is finally over, as the 45th Ryder Cup begins on Friday at the Black Course in Bethpage State Park, Farmingdale, New York.
The U.S. team aims to maintain its dominance at home, having won the last five matches. The last visiting team to win the Ryder Cup was Europe, who triumphed 14½-13½ at Medinah Country Club in Illinois back in 2012.
In recent history, Europe has claimed victory in eight of the last eleven contests, including a 16½-11½ win at Marco Simone Golf Club near Rome in 2023. In contrast, the U.S. delivered a significant defeat to Europe at Whistling Straits in 2021, securing the win with a score of 19-9.
This year’s tournament will see thousands of enthusiastic fans supporting the American side, making the challenge even greater for the Europeans. The U.S. is favored to win with a lineup featuring seven of the top ten players in the Official World Golf Ranking, including world number one, Scottie Scheffler.
Rory McIlroy expressed the difficulty of winning on American soil, noting that home teams have historically been successful in the Ryder Cup. He emphasized the unique opportunity for Europe, which aims to bring the trophy back to its shores.
The competition format includes four matches of foursomes (alternate shot) and four matches of four-ball (best ball) on Friday and Saturday, followed by twelve singles matches on Sunday. Europe needs 14 points to retain the Cup while the U.S. requires 14½ to reclaim it.
Key Players to Watch
Among the players competing this weekend are Scottie Scheffler, ranked number one globally and looking to bounce back from his previous Ryder Cup performance in 2023, and Rory McIlroy, who leads the European team as an emotional figure. Other notable golfers include Justin Thomas, with a wealth of Ryder Cup experience, and rising stars like Sam Burns and Colin Morikawa, who could be pivotal for the U.S. team.
Team Europe retains eleven out of twelve players from the winning squad of 2023, featuring seasoned competitors like Jon Rahm and Tyrell Hatton, both of whom showed exceptional form in previous tournaments. Meanwhile, rookies such as Rasmus Højgaard are set to make their mark on the team.
