The format for the Ryder Cup consists of 28 total matches played over three days between two teams of 12 players each from the United States and Europe.
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Day 1 (Friday) and Day 2 (Saturday): Each day features two sessions of team matches:
- Morning session: 4 foursomes matches (alternate shot format)
- Afternoon session: 4 four-ball matches (best ball format)
Eight players from each team participate in these matches each session, with the team captains selecting the players and order of play.
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Day 3 (Sunday): 12 singles matches where each player from one team competes head-to-head against a player from the opposing team.
Match details:
- In foursomes, two players on a team alternate hitting the same ball.
- In four-ball, each player plays their own ball, and the best score on each hole counts for the team.
- In singles, each player plays their own ball head-to-head.
Scoring:
- Each match is worth one point.
- The team winning more holes in a match wins the point.
- If a match is tied after 18 holes, both teams get 0.5 points.
- The first team to reach at least 14.5 points out of 28 wins the Ryder Cup.
- If the overall score is 14-14, the defending champion retains the trophy.
This format has been used in recent Ryder Cups, including the 2025 Ryder Cup held at Bethpage Black, New York.
