Ryder Cup format: Breaking down fourball, foursomes and scoring for non-golf fans (2024)

FAQs

How does the Ryder Cup foursome scoring work? ›

Four ball: In four-ball, each member of a two-man team plays his own ball, so four balls are in play on every hole. Each team counts the lowest of its two scores on each hole, and the team whose player has the lowest score wins the hole. If the low scores are tied, the hole is halved.

The fourball format consists of a pair of players from each side playing in one group, each player playing their own ball. At the end of each hole the best score from each pair is counted towards whether the hole goes to Europe, the USA or is halved.

The Ryder Cup format is head-to-head match play, unlike the usual stroke play format seen on the PGA and DP World Tours. Each team has 12 players, with eight from both taking part in each foursomes and fourball sessions. Meanwhile, there are four points on offer in each of the sessions of foursomes and fourball.

The Ryder Cup has always been about putting the team over the individual, and in the case of the foursomes format (alternate shot) it also means potentially switching golf balls to accommodate your partner — but not anymore.

Both players on each team play their own ball, so four balls are in play every hole. Each team takes the lowest of its two scores on each hole, and the team with the lowest score per hole wins that hole. If the scores are tied, the hole is halved.

Cantlay said “The hat doesn't fit” when asked why he isn't wearing a cap at the Ryder Cup. “It didn't fit at Whistling Straits, and didn't fit this week,” Cantlay said. “Everyone knows that.”

Each golfer plays their own ball; the team's score on each hole is the lower of the two players' scores. Only one of a pair is required to complete each hole. The winners are the team with the lowest aggregate score over a set number of holes.

Handicaps are played off the low player in the group.

All other players are reduced the same amount. If the 15 handicap, playing as a 14 in this event (example above), is the low player, he will be moved to a 0. His partner and the other players on the opposite team are all 20 handicaps/18 for the event (20 x .

Foursomes (also known as Alternate Shot) is a form of play involving partners (in either match play or stroke play) where two partners compete as a side by playing one ball in alternating order on each hole.

Ryder Cup matches are competed over three days in a format called match play. Team captains decide which players will compete in each match. Formats include foursomes, four-ball and singles. Scores on each hole are reported as all square or even when the players tie.

What does 9 & 7 mean in the Ryder Cup? ›

The largest margin of victory in the history of the Ryder Cup is 9&7, which was achieved by Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Åberg in the Saturday foursomes session of the 2023 contest at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club. The Scandinavian duo, who did not lose a hole, beat World Number One Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka.

The Ryder Cup is a biennial men's golf competition between teams from Europe and the United States. The competition is contested every two years with the venue alternating between courses in the United States and Europe. The Ryder Cup is named after the English businessman Samuel Ryder who donated the trophy.

Four-Ball is a form of play (in either match play or stroke play) involving partners where: Two partners compete together as a side, with each player playing their own ball, and. A side's score for a hole is the lower score of the two partners on that hole.

Foursomes, also known as alternate shot, is a pairs playing format in the sport of golf. Golfers compete in teams of two, using only one ball per team, and taking alternate shots until the hole is completed.

Players are not paid for participating in the Ryder Cup, even if they play on the winning team. They are, however, compensated in a different way. The PGA of America gives each U.S. player $200,000, which they can donate to a charity of their choice.

How to Win Foursome Golf. Similarly to a four ball format (and other match play types), the team with the lowest score on each hole is said to have won the hole. A team is declared the winner when its lead is such that the opposing team can no longer close the gap mathematically.