As we gear-up for the biggest team golf event in the world, many fans will be asking – What is the Ryder Cup format 2023 over the three days of action? With the terms ‘Fourball’ and ‘Foursomes’ being thrown around.
Best 2023 Ryder Cup Free Bets
Ryder Cup Format: Foursomes, Fourballs and Singles Explained
Europe and the USA lock horns this week in the 44th edition of the Ryder Cup – the best team golf event on the planet – but just what is the Ryder Cup format?
We take a look at how this year’s two captains – Luke Donald (Europe) and Zach Johnson (USA) – will have to navigate their teams through the three days of action and, for the golfing novices, explain just what a fourball and a foursome is.
The captains will have to decide which players in their 12-man team will play together in the first day’s fourballs and foursomes, then decide on what order to put them out.
While as the action moves into Sunday – it’s the singles, where all 12 players (from both sides) will face-off in a matchplay format, with the captains only decision here being on the tee-off order.
2023 Ryder Cup – Event Info
- ⛳ Golf Event: 2023 Ryder Cup
- 📅 Date: Friday 29th September – Sunday 1st October 2023
- 🕛 Time: Approx. 6:35AM BST
- 📺 TV Channel: UK: Sky Sports Golf
- 🏟 Venue: Marco Simone Golf Club | Rome, Italy
- 🎲 Odds: USA 11/10 | Europe Evs | Tie 11/1
Ryder Cup Format 2023 Schedule
Day One (Friday, 29th September 2023)
- Morning: Foursomes (07:35am – 08:20am)
- Afternoon: Four-ball (12:25pm-13:10pm)
Day Two (Saturday, 30th September 2023)
- Morning: Foursomes (07:35am – 08:20am)
- Afternoon: Four-ball (12:25pm-13:10pm)
Day Three (Saturday, 1st October 2023)
- Morning: Singles (11:35pm)
Note: All tee-off times (in brackets) shown a local times and subject to change
RELATED: Are There Any LIV Golfers Playing In The 2023 Ryder Cup?
Ryder Cup Format Foursomes Explained
The Ryder Cup action on the first two days (Friday & Saturday) starts with ‘Foursomes’, which is made up of a two-man team that will play one ball per hole between them.
The players will then hit alternate shots until the ball is holed – playing against another two-man team, with the side with the lowest score on each hole winning that hole.
So, there are four players (2 in each team), but only 2 balls in play during each hole.
Then the team with the best score over the 18 holes will win a point for their sides (USA or Europe) or share 1/2 a point each if they are tied.
The teeing off works with one player (from each side) teeing off on the even-numbered holes and the other on the odd-numbered.
There are four ‘foursomes’ matches each morning, so a total of 4 points up for grabs each day.
Total Foursome Points On Offer: 8
Ryder Cup Format Four-Balls Explained
The Ryder Cup format on the afternoon for the first two days (Friday & Saturday) sees the ‘Four-ball’ arrangement come into play.
A four-ball consists of each member of a two-man team playing their own ball on every hole – meaning there are always four balls in-play on each hole.
The player with the lowest score on each hole will win that hole for their team. Or if two players (from different teams) have the same score, that hole is then halved.
Then the team with the most holes won over the 18 holes will win a point for their team (USA or Europe) – if the match is tied, they will each get 1/2 a point to add to their overall team’s tally.
There are four ‘four-ball’ matches each morning, so a total of 4 points to be won for each side every day.
Total Four-Ball Points On Offer: 8
RELATED: Who Are The 2023 Ryder Cup Team Captains For USA & Europe?
Ryder Cup Singles Explained
We end the three-day Ryder Cup action on the Sunday with ALL 12 players from each side on the Marco Simone course in the ‘singles’.
The Ryder Cup format for the singles has each player drawn against another from the other sides in a head-to-head matchplay arrangement.
Then, the player with the lowest score on each hole will win that hole. The player that has then won the most holes over the 18 will win a point for their team (USA or Europe), which will be added to their overall points tally.
If the two players are tied after the 18 holes are played, the match is halved, and each player is awarded 1/2 a point for their team.
Total Singles Points On Offer: 12
Ryder Cup 2023 Betting Odds
See below the best UK sports betting sites and claim the best bookmaker free bets ahead of this week’s action from the Marco Simone Golf Course and Country Club:
- USA to lift trophy – 4/6
- Europe to lift trophy – 11/10
- USA to win outright – 1/1
- Europe to win outright – 11/10
- Tie – 12/1
Note: Odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change
RELATED: Ryder Cup Top Event Points Scorer Odds | Ryder Cup Correct Score Odds
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