Ryder Cup 2012 Schedule: Players to Watch for in Historic Tournament

Team USA has struggled against Team Europe at the Ryder Cup throughout the years, winning just four times in the last 13 events.

After the Americans reclaimed the title in 2008, the Europeans stormed back to take the championship in 2010.

Team USA does have such players as the much-improved Tiger Woods on its side this year, as well as some up-and-coming competitors, but Team Europe boasts four of the top five golfers in the world.

Here's a look at the players to watch in the 2012 Ryder Cup at Medinah in Illinois, complete with the broadcast schedule, courtesy of RyderCup.com (all times Eastern). 

Broadcast Schedule

Date	Network	Time
Sept. 27	Golf Channel	5 p.m.-6 p.m.
Sept. 28	ESPN	8 a.m.-7:30 p.m.
Sept. 29	NBC	9 a.m.-7 p.m.
Sept. 30	NBC	12 p.m.-6 p.m.

Team USA

Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods has participated in the Ryder Cup six times in his career and was part of the 1999 championship team.

Woods, ranked No. 2 in the world (and the top-ranked American), has a career Ryder Cup record of 13-14-2 (4-1-1 singles). He's made 16 of 19 cuts on the PGA Tour this year, with nine top-10 finishes and three victories, but he continues to shoot himself in the foot in the final rounds.

In 2012, Woods ranks second in scoring average before the cut, 37th in the third round and 28th in the final round, per PGATour.com.

Brandt Snedeker

Brandt Snedeker has soared up the world rankings this year, moving from No. 38 to No. 10 on the back of seven top-10 finishes and two victories, including the most recent TOUR Championship.

The 31-year-old, making his first appearance in the Ryder Cup, has stepped up his game this year, ranked first in putting (strokes gained), third in birdie average, 15th in sand save percentage and 15th in scoring average, via PGATour.com.

Bubba Watson

Bubba Watson played in the 2010 Ryder Cup, registering a 1-3 record against the Europeans (0-1 singles).

He's ranked No. 7 in the world (second among Americans) with seven top-10 finishes and a victory on the year (Masters).

Watson is coming off a fifth-place finish at the TOUR Championship. His driving distance (ranked first on tour) and greens in regulation percentage (second) have been fantastic, but his putting has consistently let him down (152nd), via PGATour.com.

Team Europe

Rory McIlroy

The No. 1 golfer in the world, Rory McIlroy owns 10 top-10 finishes and four victories this year, including back-to-back wins at the Deutsche Bank Championship and BMW Championship, as well as a victory at the PGA Championship.

To say the 2011 U.S. Open champion is back after a lull this season would be an understatement.

McIlroy was part of the 2010 championship team, going 1-1-2 (0-0-1 singles). Of course, that was before he blew up in 2011.

Luke Donald

Luke Donald, along with Lee Westwood, has a long history at the Ryder Cup.

The 34-year-old was part of the 2004, 2006 and 2010 championship teams, going 8-2-1 (2-1 singles) along the way.

The No. 3 player in the world, Donald has eight top-10 finishes and a victory (Transitions Championship) this year on tour. He also won the BMW PGA Championship on the European Tour.

Donald has ranked well in putting (second), scoring average (10th), sand save percentage (19th), holes per eagle (20th) and driving accuracy (36th) this year, via PGATour.com.

Lee Westwood

Lee Westwood is certainly no stranger to the Ryder Cup.

The 39-year-old has appeared in the last seven Ryder Cups (dating all the way back to 1997) and has been part of five championship teams.

Westwood, the No. 4 player in the world, has made 14 of 15 cuts and racked up seven top-10 finishes on tour this year, but he has yet to grab a victory.

On the other hand, Westwood did win at the Nordea Masters on the European Tour and he ranks well in greens in regulation percentage (third), birdie average (12th) and sand save percentage (32nd), per PGATour.com.