10 answers to a newbie’s 10 common questions

It’s Ryder Cup week, and if you happen to be a casual fan just dropping in for the festivities that take place for three days every two years, you might have questions. No worries, we have answers.

With the 45th Ryder Cup about to kick off at Bethpage Black, here are 10 answers to 10 questions you might have been wondering.

OK, what, exactly, is the Ryder Cup?

The Ryder Cup is an event that pits the 12 best professional U.S. players vs. the 12 best European pros in a three-day match-play showdown once every two years. It was first played in 1927 as the U.S. vs. Great Britain, took a lengthy break during World War II and, since 1979, has been the U.S. vs. Europe.

Ah, so like the top-ranked guys get to play?

Not exactly. Players earn points via their finishes throughout the two-year cycle, and the top six players earn automatic spots. The teams are filled out with six captain’s picks.

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Wait, this thing has captains?

You bet. Keegan Bradley leads the U.S. team, while Luke Donald leads Europe for the second Ryder Cup in a row. The captains can pick whomever they want, although they rarely stray too far off what the points standings tell them.

So this isn’t like a real tournament or a major, but I still should care, right?

Yes! The Ryder Cup is right up there in the major category in terms of hype or anticipation. It’s a team event, which makes it different, but it’s one of the marquee dates on the golf schedule. It’s also a unique format you don’t get to see the top players in the world compete in often, which is kind of fun. And since players are competing as members of teams and for their countries, it’s more juiced than a normal stroke-play event. Winning a major is big for a player’s career resume, but so is being a member of a Ryder Cup team (especially a winning one), and most players aren’t guaranteed to play in many of these.

OK, so when does it start?

The 45th Ryder Cup is Friday to Sunday (Sept. 26-28) at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, N.Y.

And how does it work again?

Good question. There are 28 matches total. In foursomes (alternate shot), players pair up and, well, alternate shots. Lowest score on the hole wins. In four-ball, players play their own ball but use the lowest score on a hole. You can tie, too, and then essentially nothing happens. The team with the most holes won wins their match and earns a point, and a tie in the match is a half point. Sunday, the finale, is reserved for 12 singles matches to decide the outcome. First team to 14.5 points wins the thing. Below is the rundown. All times ET.

Friday foursomes:

7:10 a.m. — Match 1
7:26 a.m. — Match 2
7:42 a.m. — Match 3
7:58 a.m. — Match 4

Friday four-ball:

12:25 p.m. — Match 5
12:41 p.m. — Match 6
12:57 p.m. — Match 7
1:13 p.m. — Match 8

Saturday foursomes:

7:10 a.m. — Match 9
7:26 a.m. — Match 10
7:42 a.m. — Match 11
7:58 a.m. — Match 12

Saturday four-ball:

12:25 p.m. — Match 13
12:41 p.m. — Match 14
12:57 p.m. — Match 15
1:13 p.m. — Match 16

Sunday singles:

12:02 p.m. — First of 12 singles match (11-minute intervals )

Great! And how do I watch it?

Friday, Sept. 26: 7 a.m.-6 p.m. ET (USA)
Saturday, Sept. 27: 7 a.m.-6 p.m. ET (NBC)
Sunday, Sept. 28: 12-6 p.m. ET (NBC)

Can those LIV guys play in the Ryder Cup?

Yes, although it’s harder for them to earn points since LIV events do not hand out World Ranking or Ryder Cup points. That said, Bryson DeChambeau still qualified for the U.S. team, while Tyrrell Hatton qualified for the Europeans and Jon Rahm was chosen as a captain’s pick.

Is Tiger Woods playing?

No.

Who will win?

Ah, a good question to end on. Here’s the thing — winning a Ryder Cup as the road team is one of the hardest things to do in all of sports. And don’t take it from me; that’s something Rory McIlroy has said. The last time the away team won was in 2012, when the Europeans came from behind on Sunday to win on U.S. soil. The five Ryder Cups since then have been won by the home team, including the last meeting, when Europe cruised to a 16.5-11.5 victory in Rome two years ago. Will the home-field advantage continue this year? We’ll find out Sunday.

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