Hello again, readers! Today, I'm taking a little detour from the usual tales of my golfing escapades, and diving headfirst into the thrilling world of professional golf. Why, you ask? Because throughout my journey of self-improvement, I find myself much more interestted in professional golf. Even my wife watches the tournaments with me. Well, she also says it's the perfect background noise for a nap.. Anywho, the 2023 Ryder Cup is just around the corner, and trust me, you don't want to miss out on this golfing extravaganza!
So, what's the scoop on this year's Ryder Cup, you ask? Let me be your trusty tour guide through the twists and turns of this epic golfing showdown.
First things first, the battleground: It's all happening on a Tom Fazio-designed course, the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Rome, Italy, a par72 course sprawling over 7,200 yards. This course was built with spectators in mind, offering vantage points that'll make you feel like you're in the thick of the action at every twist and turn.
The Ryder Cup pits 12 fearless golfers from the United States against 12 equally fearless golfers from Europe. Three days of golfing mayhem ensue, with a whopping 28 separate matches to keep us on the edge of our golf carts.
The goal here is simple, or so it seems: secure 14 ½ points over the three days of intense competition. Each match, regardless of its format (more on that later), is worth a single point, with ties earning both sides a respectable ½ point. Reach that magic 14 ½ number first, and you're hoisting the coveted Ryder Cup trophy. But, and here's the twist, if it's a 14-14 tie, the current cup holder—in this case, Team USA—gets to keep their precious trophy.
Now, let's talk captains! Team USA has the one and only Zach Johnson calling the shots, while Team Europe is under the wise leadership of Luke Donald. These captains don't just pick the teams; they also decide the pairings and lineups for singles play. A captain's job isn't all sunshine and birdies; they need to make sure their pairings are like a well-balanced breakfast - complementing each other perfectly.
But here's the kicker, folks: Pairings are confirmed the night before the matches kick off. It's a back-and-forth between the captains, with one picking their team first, and the other taking the lead in the next match. This strategic dance could make or break a team's chances, and believe you me, it's no cakewalk.
Now, let's get to the nitty-gritty—Team Lineups!
Team USA:
- Automatic Qualifiers: Scottie Scheffler, Wyndham Clark, Brian Harman, Xander Schauffele, Patrick Cantlay, Max Homa.
- Captain's Picks: Sam Burns, Rickie Fowler, Brooks Koepka, Collin Morikawa, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas.
Team Europe:
- Automatic Qualifiers: Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Viktor Hovland, Tyrrell Hatton, Robert MacIntyre, Matthew Fitzpatrick.
- Captain's Picks: Tommy Fleetwood, Shane Lowry, Justin Rose, Sepp Straka, Nicolai Hojgaard, Ludvig Aberg.
Now, onto the juicy bit – the formats! The first two days feature four-match sessions of fourball and foursomes. Fourball? Each player on a two-man team plays their own ball, so you've got four balls in play on every hole. The lowest score of each team on each hole wins it. Foursomes? Two-man teams share a single ball, taking turns until each hole is conquered. The team with the lower score on each hole takes the win.
The grand finale? The singles matches on the final day, with each match featuring one player from each team. The player with the lower score on each hole snags the win. If they're evenly matched, the hole gets halved. Simple, right?
Now, how to watch this Ryder Cup extravaganza? Well, if you've got cable, you're in luck, but beware of those early hours for folks in the US and Canada. Italy, where the action unfolds, is six hours ahead of New York and a whopping nine hours ahead of California!
You can catch all the action on the USA Network, NBC, and Peacock. Plus, "Live From the Ryder Cup" airs on the Golf Channel right after each day concludes, so if you hit the snooze button, you can still catch the highlights.
Here's the TV schedule, so mark those calendars:
- Friday: 1:30 AM-Noon (USA Network)
- Saturday: 1:30-3 AM (USA Network)
- Saturday: 3 AM-Noon (NBC)
- Sunday: 5:30 AM-1 PM (NBC)
If you prefer to stream it, Peacock's got your back. And keep an eye out for the Ryder Cup app for additional videos and highlights.
Hope you enjoyed my sneak peak into the 2023 Ryder Cup. May the best team win, and until next time, keep those clubs swinging!