USA plays host at Hazeltine National Golf Course

America plays host to the Ryder Cup this year in what promises to be another exciting and dramatic spectacle of golf. The 41st biennial contest between Europe and the United States of America takes place at the Hazeltine National Golf Course in Chaska, Minnesota from 30th September to 2nd October.

 

The Ryder Cup at a glance …

 

Venue:  Hazeltine National Golf Course, Chaska, Minnesota, USA

 

Date:  Friday, 30 September to Sunday, 2 October 2016

 

Ryder Cup Captains:  Europe:  Darren Clarke (Northern Ireland); USA: Davis Love III

 

Vice Captains:  Europe:  Not yet known.  (Clarke is expected to announce his Vice-Captains after the US Masters which takes place at Augusta National from 7-10 April 2016.)  USA: Tom Lehman, Jim Furyk, Steve Stricker and Tiger Woods. (Love will name his fifth and final Vice Captain at a later date).

 

The Ryder Cup Format

The first official Ryder Cup match took place in 1927. In those days it was a two-day contest of foursomes and singles matches between Great Britain and the United States of America. Now it is a Match Play Competition between two teams of 12 Players representing Europe and the United States over three days. On both the 1st and 2nd days there is a series of 4 foursomes matches and a series of 4 four-ball matches played which is followed by a full team turn-out of 12 singles matches on the final day.

 

How can Europe retain the trophy?

Irishman Paul McGinley led the European team to a stunning 16½ – 11½ victory in the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles in Scotland. In order to retain the Ryder Cup trophy, Europe will need to win 14 of the 28 available match points at Hazeltine in September.  For America to win, they will need to secure 14½ points.

 

 

PICTURED:  Golf legend Seve Ballesteros with the Ryder Cup trophy at Valderrama, Spain in 1997.  It was the first time that the match was held in Continental Europe and proved to be an historic and epic edition.  Seve made his debut as Ryder Cup Captain here.   On Spanish soil, he passionately led Europe to a thrilling 14½ – 13½ victory over Tom Kite’s American team.