Ryder Cup Schedule 2014: TV Coverage, Live Stream Info for Match Play Pairings
Golf fans initially think of the four major tournaments when talking about the biggest events in the sport, but the 2014 Ryder Cup from Perthshire, Scotland, could be the most interesting event of the year.
With 12 representatives for the United States and 12 members of the European roster, the two sides will do battle in the match play event to determine which will claim internationally supremacy.
Here is all the vital viewing information for the 2014 Ryder Cup.
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Where: Gleneagles Hotel, Perthshire, Scotland
When: Friday, Sept. 26 through Sunday, Sept. 28
Watch: NBC and Golf Channel
Live Stream: NBC Sports Live Extra
| Friday | 2:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. | Golf Channel | 4 Foursome Matches and 4 Fourball Matches |
| Saturday | 3 a.m. - 1 p.m. | NBC | 4 Foursome Matches and 4 Fourball Matches |
| Sunday | 7 a.m. - 1 p.m. | NBC | 12 Singles Matches |
Players to Watch
The 40th edition of the Ryder Cup is one of the biggest events in golf. The international appeal of the sport has grown since the last time this event was held in 2012, and fans in the United States and across the world will be tuning in to the intense action.
One of the key players to watch is Rory McIlroy of Team Europe.
McIlroy had one of the best years a golfer could imagine. Not only did he win both the British Open and the PGA Championship, but he also won the WGC Bridgestone Invitational and finished in the top 10 on 12 separate occasions in 2014.
The Irish star is also coming off a second-place finish in the TOUR Championship and has as much momentum on his side as any golfer in the world. With a talented European roster around him that includes Martin Kaymer, Justin Rose, Henrik Stenson, Sergio Garcia and more, the Europeans will be tough to beat with the home-field advantage.
While McIlroy is clearly the top European player right now, there is some underlying tension amongst the teammates. Graeme McDowell spoke at a press conference, via RyderCup.com, about the relationship between the two men:
"Tactically, you know, [our] golf dynamic has changed significantly from the first time we ever played together back in 2009...when perhaps the older brother/kind of younger brother leadership role that maybe I had with him, that's changed. He's the world's No. 1 player. He's a four-time Major Champion. The dynamic between him and [me] is changed forever. He would now be the leader of the two of us and perhaps the dynamic doesn't work as well as it did in the past.
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On the American side, the player to watch this week is Rickie Fowler.
While bigger names like Phil Mickelson, Bubba Watson and Matt Kuchar are stealing more headlines, Fowler has been the most consistent player on tour in 2014; even more so than McIlroy.
To celebrate the occasion, Fowler got a patriotic haircut, via ESPN’s SportsCenter:
Fowler was unable to capture the major victories that McIlroy racked up, but the 25-year-old star finished in the top five in each of the year’s four majors. That consistency on the biggest stages shows just how bright Fowler’s future is and just how well he can perform in the Ryder Cup.
With the pressure of Team USA partially on his shoulders, expect Fowler to step up and perform well under the scrutiny of the international event. After finishing fourth at the BMW Championship and eighth at the TOUR Championship (both in September), Fowler is carrying as much momentum as anyone in the Ryder Cup not named McIlroy.
Both the United States and Europe have stacked rosters for the Ryder Cup, but how the top players from each team play will be the determining factor regarding who walks away with the trophy.
*Stats via PGATour.com.
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