Ryder Cup 2008 The format explained
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With just days to go until the Ryder Cup 2008 gets underway we thought we’d take a quick look at the format of the matches you’ll be watching.
In total there will be 28 matches played in three different forms of match play; Foursome, Four-Ball and Singles.
On the first two days of play (Friday 19th and Saturday 20th September) the teams will play Foursomes in the morning and Four-Balls in the afternoon. And on the final day Sunday 21st September they play singles matches. So how are the matches played?…
What is a Foursomes match?
Foursome play is a match where two golfers compete on a team against two golfers from another team and each side plays one ball. The golfers play alternate shots until the hole is played out. Team members alternate playing the tee shots, with one golfer hitting the tee shot on odd-numbered holes and the other hitting the tee shot on even-numbered holes. The team with the lowest score wins the hole. Should the two teams have the same score, the hole is halved.
What is a Four-Ball match?
Four-Ball play is a match in which each member of the two-man team plays his own ball. Four balls are in play on each hole. The lowest score from each side will represent the score for the side. The side with the lowest score will win the hole. Should players from each side tie the lowest score, the hole is halved.
What is a Singles match?
Single is a match in which one player from the U.S. team competes against another player from the European team, each playing his own ball. The player with the lowest score on each hole will win the hole. A player wins this head-to-head competition when he is up by more holes than there are remaining to play. On Sunday, all 12 team members from the U.S. team will compete against the 12 team members from Europe.
Look out for our daily Ryder Cup updates with behind-the-scenes gossip from the venue of the Ryder Cup, Valhalla golf club, next week.
