2021 Ryder Cup schedule: Daily format, how it works, team rosters, start times and more

The 2021 Ryder Cup begins this week at Whistling Straits in Sheboygan, Wis. It’s the first time the storied course has hosted the biennial event, and American fans are hungry for their team to reclaim the Cup. The last Ryder Cup held in the United States was in 2016, and it was also the last time the U.S. won the event. In 2018, Europe came out on top 17.5-10.5.

The Ryder Cup is far from your typical PGA Tour stroke-play event. So we’ve compiled some of the basic information about how it works, when it’s happening and who is playing to help you enjoy the event. Here’s what you need to know.

Ryder Cup basics

What: 2021 Ryder Cup
Where: Whistling Straits, Sheboygan, Wisc.
When: Friday-Sunday, September 24-26
Reigning champion: Team Europe (2018)

Ryder Cup format

The matches are contested over a three-day period from Friday, Sept. 24, through Sunday, Sept. 26, with the Opening Ceremony preceding the golf on Thursday night.

The action on Friday and Saturday consists of two four-match sessions per day.

The morning session on Friday and Saturday will be foursomes (also known as alternate shot). Players on each two-man team play one ball and alternate hitting shots. The team with the lower score wins the hole. If both teams make the same score, the hole is halved. The winning pair earns one point for their team. A halved match means a half point for each team.

The afternoon session for Friday and Saturday will be four-ball. In the four-ball format, each member of a two-man team plays his own ball. Each team counts the lowest of its two scores on each hole, and the team whose player has the lowest score wins the hole. If both teams have the same low score, the hole is halved. The winning pair earns one point for their team. A halved match means a half point for each team.

On Sunday, the third and final day of competition, all 24 players on each team will face off in 12 singles matches, all worth one team point.

The first team to 14.5 points wins the Ryder Cup.

2021 U.S. Ryder Cup roster

2021 European Ryder Cup Roster

2021 Ryder Cup TV schedule

Thursday, September 23: 5-8 p.m. ET (Opening Ceremony on Golf Channel)
Friday, September 24: 8 a.m-7 p.m. ET (Golf Channel)
Saturday, September 25: 8-9 a.m. ET (Golf Channel); 9 a.m.-7 p.m. ET (NBC)
Sunday, September 26: 12-6 p.m. ET (NBC)

2021 Ryder Cup streaming schedule

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23
Golf Channel Opening Ceremony Coverage: 5-8 p.m. ET (Golfchannel.com)

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24
Golf Channel Day 1 Coverage: 8 a.m.-7 p.m. ET (Golfchannel.com, Peacock Premium)
Featured Match Coverage: 8 a.m.-7 p.m. (Peacock)

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25
Golf Channel Day 2 Coverage: 8-9 a.m. ET (Golfchannel.com, Peacock Premium)
NBC Day 2 Coverage: 9 a.m.-7 p.m. ET (NBC.com, Peacock Premium)
Featured Match Coverage: 8 a.m.-7 p.m. (Peacock)

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 26
NBC Day 3 Coverage: 12-6 p.m. ET (NBC.com, Peacock Premium)
Featured Match Coverage: 12-6 p.m. (Peacock)

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2021 Ryder Cup Day 1 matches (ET)

Morning Foursomes: 8:05 a.m., 8:21 a.m., 8:37 a.m., 8:53 a.m.

Afternoon Four-Ball: 1:10 p.m., 1:26 p.m., 1:42 p.m., 1:58 p.m.

2021 Ryder Cup Day 2 matches (ET)

Morning Foursomes: 8:05 a.m., 8:21 a.m., 8:37 a.m., 8:53 a.m.

Afternoon Four-Ball: 1:10 p.m., 1:26 p.m., 1:42 p.m., 1:58 p.m.

2021 Ryder Cup Day 3 matches (ET)

(TBD)

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