Ryder Cup 2014: Match Play Format and Latest Predictions
The 2014 Ryder Cup is a rarity, both in terms of its biennial occurrence and its electric, team-oriented atmosphere in the often individualized sport of golf.
World-class squads from the USA and Europe will do battle for this year's trophy at Gleneagles in Scotland.
In the past two Ryder Cups, Team Europe has emerged victorious. Both international competitions came down to the wire, and USA is out to redeem blowing a massive lead in Sunday singles at Medinah in 2012.
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The USA's most experienced player, Phil Mickelson, believes the presence of American captain Tom Watson will help the cause:
Since many moons always pass between the times this event is held, it's worth getting reacquainted with the unique match play format that defines the Ryder Cup.
After that, we'll break down the showdown and make some predictions.
| 4 Fourball matches (morning) | 2:35 a.m. (7:35 a.m.) | Golf Channel |
| 4 Foursome matches (afternoon) | 8:15 a.m. (1:15 p.m.) | Golf Channel |
| 4 Fourball matches (morning) | 3 a.m. (8 a.m.) | NBC |
| 4 Foursome matches (afternoon) | 8:15 a.m. (1:15 p.m.) | NBC |
| 12 Singles matches | Beginning 6:36 a.m. (11:36 a.m.); 12-minute intervals thereafter | NBC |
Explaining Match Play Format
As opposed to the usual stroke play format, match play doesn't take into account cumulative score. Every hole is a chance to fight back—or lose what feels like a commanding lead.
Whether the winner of a hole bests his competitor by one or six strokes, it still counts the same. Therefore, all matches won't go the full 18 holes, because one team could win more holes than the other team has remaining to make them up.
For example, a key turning point in the 2012 event came when Rory McIlroy defeated Keegan Bradley in a singles match. McIlroy was 2-up with one hole remaining, thus winning the match 2 and 1.
The foursome format is perhaps the trickiest of the Ryder Cup, though. It has teams of two use one ball and alternate shots until the hole is completed.
One player tees off on the odd-numbered holes, while the other kicks off the even-numbered ones.
The key here is to get one's teammate into a position that suits his angle for an approach shot to the green. That can be tricky if say, on a par-four, the first player's preferred shot is right-to-left, and the hole calls for a shot to the right side of the fairway for the best angle at the pin.
Then there's the fourball format, which is a bit simpler. It's a two-on-two battle in which all four players finish the hole and the team with the best combined score wins the hole.
Sunday singles will see 12 one-on-one showdowns, where the players will go heads up in match play. That will go a long way in determining the outcome of the 2014 Ryder Cup.
Predictions
Rocking a new hairdo to go with his undeniable swagger, young American Rickie Fowler will have to step up for the USA and become a leader.
Fowler has won just once on the PGA Tour but came close at all four majors this year, only to finish in the top five every time without a victory. This is his big chance to upstage the likes of McIlroy, who beat him to the last two majors, and the heavily favored European team.
As Golf Central points out, Fowler tended to get better as any tournament in 2013-14 wore on:
But even Fowler's best efforts might not be enough, and he needs a strong start to help the U.S. get some momentum.
Mickelson and Jim Furyk, the two most seasoned Ryder Cup veterans for the U.S., have a combined record of 23-35-10. There are three rookies in Patrick Reed, Jordan Spieth and Jimmy Walker.
The former two, prodigious rising stars, have combined for four top 10s in 26 starts since the Players Championship. Golf Channel's Justin Ray included them in his analysis during the FedEx Cup finale at the Tour Championship:
Bradley brings some necessary emotional fire to the team and could pair with Mickelson as he did in 2012, when the dynamic duo went 3-0 in team play.
While the U.S. ought to be within a couple of points or so entering Sunday singles, Europe just has too much individual firepower for the Americans to hang with in the end. The home galleries and superior personnel will allow Europe to hold onto the Ryder Cup for a third straight time.
Watson is doing his best to target at least one U.S. nemesis in Ian Poulter, per Golf Channel's Todd Lewis:
Between Poulter (12-3), Sergio Garcia (16-8-4), world No. 1 McIlroy and reigning U.S. Open champion Martin Kaymer, though, that's a tough lot for the USA to overcome.
Major champion Graeme McDowell is known for his gritty style of play, as is WGC-Accenture Match Play runner-up and European rookie Victor Dubuisson.
Perhaps lowered expectations and being counted out are what this group of respectable USA stars needs to prove to the rest of the golfing world that it won't go down without a fight. Europe's recent dominance and status as host in 2014 put pressure on it to take care of business and defeat what's viewed as an outmatched opponent.
Absent a slip in form from Europe's finest, though, it will be celebrating in Scotland come Sunday evening with the Ryder Cup still in tow.
Final Score Prediction: Europe defeats USA, 15.5-12.5
Note: Statistics and information are courtesy of RyderCup.com and PGATour.com.
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