The Ryder Cup is set to ignite old rivalries between Team USA and Team Europe in one of golf’s most popular team events.
The 43rd edition of the tournament was postponed a year due to the pandemic, which will now see it make a historic change to being held during odd-numbered years.
The Americans have six Ryder Cup rookies in the 2021 showdown, which is their most since 2008 when they won at Valhalla. Team USA will also be without Phil Mickelson for the first time since 1993, with ‘Lefty’ only there as one of the assistant captains. And Tiger Woods is still mending from a car accident.
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For Team USA, youth is the key, with their average age of 29 making them the youngest-ever American team at a Ryder Cup. Jordan Spieth, Brooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson are the only Americans who have played in more than one Ryder Cup. Key players will be Xander Schauffele, who is fresh off winning a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, and Spieth, who due to the Ryder Cup’s postponement was able to regain the form that saw him burst onto the golf scene with three majors before he turned 24.
All eyes will also be on feuding US teammates Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau. Koepka injured his left wrist again during the final round of the Tour Championship, and then he attracted the wrong kind of attention from a magazine interview that raised questions over how much he really enjoys the Ryder Cup. He has cooled his spat with DeChambeau, who has been training as much for a Long Drive competition which will be right after the Ryder Cup.
https://twitter.com/BKoepka/status/1440409403367198728
For Team Europe, they counter the Americans with ample experience. Europe has half as many rookies, and captain Padraig Harrington filled out his team with Sergio Garcia and Ian Poulter, who have combined for 15 Ryder Cups and a 42-18-9 record.
At this Ryder Cup England’s Tommy Fleetwood will lose his dream pairing with Italian Francesco Molinari – together nicknamed “Moliwood” – and will have to forge on with a new partner or two at Whistling Straits. His sidekick from the 2018 Ryder Cup, a British Open champion with three previous appearances in the Cup, failed to qualify this time around or secure a captain’s pick.
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Depending on what happens in the Ryder Cup this weekend, there might be some new tattoos sported. Thomas Bjorn famously said he would get a Ryder Cup tattoo if his European team won in 2018, and then followed through on his promise with a silhouette of the Cup and the final score tattooed on his rear end. Harrington confirmed he will be getting a tattoo if Europe are victorious.
“I will be getting a tattoo,” Harrington said. “If my team produces a winning week I will be getting a tattoo to mark the occasion.”
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WHEN
The Ryder Cup will be staged on September 24-26, 2021.
WHERE
The tournament will take place at Whistling Straits Golf Club in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, which is a par 71 course.
THE TEAMS
Team Europe
Captain: Padraig Harrington. European roster: Paul Casey, Matt Fitzpatrick, Tommy Fleetwood, Sergio Garcia, Tyrrell Hatton, Viktor Hovland, Shane Lowry, Rory McIlroy, Ian Poulter, Jon Rahm, Lee Westwood, Bernd Wiesberger.
Captain: Steve Stricker. US roster: Daniel Berger, Patrick Cantlay, Bryson DeChambeau, Harris English, Tony Finau, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Collin Morikawa, Xander Schauffele, Scottie Scheffler, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas.
https://twitter.com/XSchauffele/status/1440801085354962945
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THE FORMAT
The Ryder Cup is a match play event. Each match is worth one point. With 28 points available, a minimum total of 14 and a half points will win the Ryder Cup, and 14 will be enough for the reigning champion to retain the title. The first and second day will comprise of four foursome (alternate shot) matches and four fourball (better ball) matches, and the final day of play will be 12 singles matches.
THE HISTORY
Europe are the defending champion but the United States has won more Ryder Cup events overall (26-14-2). While the Americans lead the series dating to 1927, Europe holds an 11-8-1 advantage since 1979 when the Britain & Ireland team was expanded to include continental Europe.
HOW TO WATCH
Fox Sports and Kayo Sports will broadcast the tournament in Australia, starting at 10pm (AEST) on September 24.
THE BETTING ODDS (COURTESY OF SPORTSBET) *correct at time of publishing
USA – $1.40
Europe – $3.25
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