Golf is an individual sport 50 weeks a year. Then the Ryder Cup comes along and suddenly grown men are crying on the 18th green. Here's why team golf hits differently.
All major team golf events use match play rather than stroke play. In match play, players or teams compete hole-by-hole. You win a hole by taking fewer strokes than your opponent on that hole. The overall score doesn't matter — only how many holes you win.
A player (or team) who wins a hole goes "1 up." Win two consecutive holes and you're "2 up." If the match is tied, it's "all square." A player who can't be caught wins — if someone is "3 up with 2 holes remaining," the match is over (they win 3&2, meaning 3 holes up with 2 remaining).
This format creates dramatic momentum swings, sudden reversals, and late-match heroics that don't exist in stroke play. A player can make a triple bogey and still win a hole if their opponent makes a 7. Every swing matters only in the context of that hole, not the overall tournament.
USA vs. Europe • Biennial • Even years • Next: September 2026
The Ryder Cup is the most emotionally charged event in golf. Twelve players represent the United States; twelve represent Europe. There is no prize money. Players compete for pride, for their country (or continent), and for the most famous trophy in golf.
The event is held every two years, alternating between a US venue and a European venue. The format consists of three days of competition:
28 total points are available. The team that wins 14.5 points first wins the Ryder Cup. In the event of a 14–14 tie, the team that currently holds the Cup retains it.
Foursomes (alternate shot): Two players form a team and take turns hitting the same ball. Player A hits the tee shot, Player B hits the second shot, Player A hits the third, and so on. Strategy and partnership chemistry are critical — one bad shot and your partner inherits a difficult lie.
Four-ball (better ball): Two players form a team, but each player plays their own ball throughout the hole. The team's score for the hole is whichever of the two partners makes the better (lower) score. More forgiving — a great shot by one partner can rescue the hole even if the other struggles.
After the United States dominated early Ryder Cups, Europe (including Great Britain and Ireland from 1973) turned the tide in 1985. Since then, Europe has won 11 of 20 Ryder Cups. The US's most recent win was in 2021 at Whistling Straits, 19–9 — the largest margin in modern history.
The Ryder Cup returns to Europe in September 2026. Get the full guide — venue, team selection, format, and history.
USA vs. International • Biennial • Odd years
The Presidents Cup was created in 1994 to give the world's best players outside of Europe a chance to compete in a team format. The United States faces an International team made up of players from any country except those in Europe — Australia, South Africa, South Korea, Japan, Canada, and others.
The format mirrors the Ryder Cup with foursomes, four-ball, and singles sessions, though the Presidents Cup plays 30 points over four days rather than 28 over three. The event is held in odd years, alternating between US and international venues.
The Presidents Cup has been dominated by the United States — the US has won 12 of 14 editions. The International team's only victories came in 1998 and 2003. This lopsidedness has led to ongoing debate about whether the format gives the International team a fair chance.
The LIV Golf situation has complicated Presidents Cup selection: several players from eligible countries (Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau) have moved to LIV, which has complicated their eligibility for the International team side of the event.
USA vs. Europe (Women) • Biennial
The Solheim Cup is the women's equivalent of the Ryder Cup — USA vs. Europe in team match play, held biennially. Named after Karsten Solheim, the founder of PING Golf who donated the trophy, it was first played in 1990 and has grown into one of the premier events in women's golf.
Like the Ryder Cup, the Solheim Cup alternates venues between the US and Europe and uses the same foursomes, four-ball, and singles format. The competitive record between the two sides is far more even than the Presidents Cup — Europe and the US have each won the Cup multiple times in recent years, with the match often decided in the final-day singles.
The Solheim Cup has consistently produced some of the most dramatic moments in women's golf, with players showing the same passion and emotion that defines the men's Ryder Cup.