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The Ryder Cup 2018: Tournament coverage, rules, schedule and analysis

PGA Tour, Golf

The 42nd Ryder Cup, pitting the top American players against Europe's best, is underway. Here is everything you need to follow the event at Le Golf National in Paris.

Ryder Cup: Important details

Dates: Sept. 28-30
Location: Le Golf National (Paris)
Team captains: Jim Furyk, United States; Thomas Bjorn, Europe.
History: The U.S. holds the Cup after winning 17-11 in 2016 at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Minnesota to break a three-match winning streak by Europe.
Key fact: The U.S. has not won the event when held in Europe since 1993 at the Belfry in England.

Starting times (all times ET):

  • Friday and Saturday morning four-ball matches: 2:10 a.m. ET, 2:25 a.m., 2:40 a.m. and 2:55 a.m. (afternoon pairings will be submitted by 7:05 a.m.)

  • Friday and Saturday afternoon foursomes matches: 7:50 a.m., 8:05 a.m., 8:20 a.m., 8:35 a.m. (next day's morning pairings will be submitted within one hour after play has ended for the day.)

  • Sunday singles: 6:05 a.m., 6:17 a.m., 6:29 a.m., 6:41 a.m., 6:53 a.m., 7:05 a.m., 7:17 a.m., 7:29 a.m., 7:41 a.m., 7:53 a.m., 8:05 a.m. and 8:17 a.m.

  • Trophy presentation: 12:45-1 p.m.

Europe wins the Ryder Cup

  • VAN VALKENBURG: Tiger, Phil and the possible end of an era. READ

  • HARIG: Tiger had a big year, now it's time to rest. READ

  • HAMILTON: How Europe, led by Thomas Bjorn, pummeled Team USA. READ

  • ESPN STAFF: How the final day of the Ryder Cup played out. READ

  • HAMILTON: Bjorn headed for a tattoo. READ

Saturday recap: U.S. left trailing by four

A record-setting display from Francesco Molinari and Tommy Fleetwood puts Europe firmly in command, though the U.S. claim the last two points of the day to salvage some hope for Sunday.

Friday recap: Europe rallies to take 5-3 lead

After a solid start from the Americans, Team Europe swept the afternoon foursomes to take the overall lead after Day 1.

The teams

United States

Brooks Koepka
Dustin Johnson
Justin Thomas
Patrick Reed
Bubba Watson
Jordan Spieth
Rickie Fowler
Webb Simpson
Tiger Woods
Phil Mickelson
Tony Finau
Bryson DeChambeau

Europe

Francesco Molinari
Justin Rose
Tyrrell Hatton
Tommy Fleetwood
Jon Rahm
Rory McIlroy
Alex Noren
Thorbjorn Olesen
Henrik Stenson
Sergio Garcia
Ian Poulter
Paul Casey

The rules

  • Pairing-by-pairing recap: Europe take full command. READ

  • Kevin van Valkenburg: Why the U.S. fails miserably in Europe. READ

  • Bob Harig: The U.S. had a plan... then abandoned it. READ

  • Tom Hamilton: Welcome to MoliWood! READ

  • Michael Collins: Predicting the singles matches. READ

  • Pairing-by-pairing recap: Europe roars back to take lead. READ

  • Kevin Van Valkenburg: If the U.S. wants to win the Ryder Cup, it needs to bench Phil Mickelson. READ

  • Tom Hamilton: From dejection to da man, Rory McIlroy had quite a turnaround Friday. READ

  • Hamilton: Quiet, please? Pffft. This is the Ryder Cup! READ

  • Bob Harig: Tiger Woods struggles early, sits out afternoon on Day 1. READ

  • Matt Cooper: Spectator hurt by Koepka tee shot. READ

  • Formats: The first two days include split sessions of action. Golfers from both teams take part in four-ball action early and foursomes later in the day. On Sunday, golfers will compete in one-on-one singles matches.

    Four-ball: Both the United States and Europe pair two players together. Each player plays his own ball the entire hole. The lowest score among the two Americans is matched against the lowest score among the two Europeans. For example, if Tiger Woods is paired with Phil Mickelson and Woods makes a birdie and Mickelson makes a par, the Americans get credit for a birdie. If they are competing against Justin Rose and Rory McIlroy, and Rose makes par and McIlroy makes par, Europe is credited with a par. The Americans win the hole.

    Foursomes: Both the United States and Europe pair two players together. In this format, the players switch off hitting shots. So if Woods tees off, Mickelson hits the next shot, Woods the next and so on until they complete the hole. If Rose tees off, McIlroy hits the second shot, Rose the next and so on until they complete the hole. Whichever team has the lowest score wins the hole. If both teams make the same score, the hole is tied, or halved.

    Scoring: When a match is won, that team gets a point for its team total. If a match is tied, or halved, each team gets ½.

    Previewing the Ryder Cup, teams, players

    Will the United States be able to end its drought on European soil? We preview which players could lead both the Americans and Team Europe to Ryder Cup glory:

    • Kevin Van Valkenberg: The most and least important players on each 2018 team. READ

    • Roundtable: The most important questions at this Ryder Cup. READ

    • Van Valkenberg: Why Brooks Koepka is the forgotten man on Team USA. READ

    • Tom Hamilton: Francesco Molinari is ready for the Ryder Cup pressure. READ

    • Collins: America's caddie is in France ... what could go wrong? READ

    • Collins: What's in the bag? A look inside. READ

    • Matt Cooper: What to expect from Le Golf National. READ

    • Cooper: Why is this Ryder Cup in Paris? READ

    Tiger at the Ryder Cup

    Fresh off his first tour win in five years, Tiger Woods shifts gears and represents the United States at Le Golf National:

    • Bob Harig: Has Tiger finally embraced Team USA? READ

    • Tom Hamilton: Rory says it's "silly" to focus on Tiger. READ

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