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U.S. vs. Europe

Where: Valhalla Golf Club, Louisville, Ky.

Schedule: Friday, four morning foursomes matches (alternate shot), four afternoon fourball matches (best ball); Saturday, four morning foursomes matches; four afternoon fourball matches; Sunday, 12 singles matches

Azinger journey inspires a most faithful follower

Meet the Ryder Cup players

TV: Thursday, opening ceremonies, noon-2 p.m., ESPN; Friday, Day One competition, 5 a.m.-3 p.m., ESPN; Saturday, Day Two competition, 5 a.m.-3 p.m., NBC; Sunday, Day Three competition, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., NBC

The competition: Each team has 12 players, and one point is earned for a victory in each match. A half-point is recorded for a tie. The first two days are composed of foursome and fourball matches pitting two players from each team against each other. In foursomes, two-man teams play alternate shot with one ball. In fourball, two players from each team play their own ball, and the best score from each team is recorded on each hole. In match play, holes are won or halved. When a team leads by more holes than remain to be played, it is declared the winner. For example, if the U.S. wins a match 3 and 2, it means it had a three-hole advantage with two holes to play.

The history: Englishman Samuel Ryder, who made his fortune selling penny seed packets, provided the seed money for the first official meeting between the U.S. and Great Britain in 1927 at Worcester Country Club in Massachusetts. The Americans won 14 of the first 17 Matches played, and Jack Nicklaus proposed in 1977 that the Great Britain team be expanded to all of Europe to make for a more lively competition. Since 1985, Europe has posted a 7-3-1 record, and it has won the past three meetings by a combined count of 52½ -31½.

The course: Designed by Jack Nicklaus, Valhalla opened in 1986 to mixed reviews, but it rose quickly in stature when it got the 1996 PGA Championship. A Mark Brooks victory in that major didn't enhance Valhalla's rep, but Tiger Woods took care of that with his wonderfully dramatic playoff win over Bob May in the 2000 PGA. Those who like Valhalla are fans of its variety – the links-like front nine followed by the more traditional inward nine among the trees. Nicklaus has lengthened it by 330 yards, added bunkers, and there are two possibly drivable par-4s and the reachable par-5 finishing hole. U.S. captain Paul Azinger has said the rough will be short; Phil Mickelson should be thrilled.

U.S. outlook: Azinger tries to snap Europe's string of lopsided wins with six Ryder Cup rookies and without the skills of the world's best player. Maybe Woods' absence isn't such a bad thing, considering he has only a 10-13-2 overall record in the Cup, and it quite possibly might loosen up the squad. With Kentucky native Kenny Perry having cooled off considerably of late, the Americans don't have a single hot player.

Europe outlook: Everyone figured the Euros might fold when they were favorites two years ago in Ireland, and instead they matched the record nine-point rout from the previous meeting in Detroit. Captain Nick Faldo's team is in transition, however, without the services of stalwarts Colin Montgomerie and Darren Clarke. Newcomers Oliver Wilson, Soren Hansen and Graeme McDowell shouldn't strike fear in the Americans, but Padraig Harrington, Sergio Garcia and Robert Karlsson can boast better current seasons than any American except Woods and Perry.

– TOD LEONARD

U.S. vs. Europe

EUROPE