How does the Ryder Cup work?
The Ryder Cup is a team golf competition between Europe and the United States, held every two years, alternating between European and American courses. Twelve players a side, played over three days.
It is match play, not stroke play — and that distinction is the key to understanding it. In ordinary tournament golf, every stroke counts toward a total. In match play, each hole is a separate contest: whoever takes fewer strokes wins that hole, and the match is decided by holes won, not strokes taken. A disastrous hole costs you one hole, not six shots, which encourages aggressive play.
There are 28 points available, one per match.
Foursomes — two players per side alternate shots using a single ball. Difficult, because you must play from wherever your partner left it.
Fourballs — each of the four players plays their own ball, and each side counts its better score on each hole.
Singles — twelve one-on-one matches on the final day, one point each.
A win is one point, a halved match gives each side half a point. First to 14½ points wins. At 14–14 the trophy is retained by the holder rather than shared, which means the defending side needs only a tie.
No prize money is paid to players, which is unusual at this level and part of the event's identity.
Teams are chosen partly by qualification points earned over the preceding period and partly by captain's picks.
The Solheim Cup is the women's equivalent, and the Presidents Cup pits the United States against an international team excluding Europe.