Ryder Cup Match Scoring Explanation

The Ryder Cup is a three-day tournament between the best professional golfers from the United States and Europe. The tournament alternates between the U.S. and Europe and is held every two years. Each competition consists of 28 matches, with one point awarded for each match. A win results in a full point to the winner, a tie (or "halve") results in each team receiving one-half point. he Ryder Cup is awarded to the team that wins the most points out of the 28 matches. In case of a 14-14 tie, the team that won the previous Ryder Cup retains it.

  1. Foursomes Matches

    • Each Ryder Cup competition includes eight foursomes matches, with four foursomes played on each of the first two days of the competition. In foursomes, teams of two players compete by alternating shots of the same ball. Each hole is won by the team that finishes the hole in the fewest shots, and the team winning the most holes wins the match and a full point. Any match that ends in a tie after 18 holes results in each team being awarded one-half point.

    Fourball Matches

    • Each Ryder Cup also consists of eight fourball matches, with four fourballs played on each of the first two days of the competition. In fourball, teams of two players compete,with each player playing his own ball on every hole instead of alternating shots as in foursomes play. Each hole is won by the team that has the player with the lowest score on the hole. The team winning the most holes wins the match and a full point. Any match that ends in a tie after 18 holes results in each team being awarded one-half point.

    Singles Matches

    • The third and final day of the competition is comprised of 12 singles matches in which individual players participate in standard match play. The player with the lowest score on a hole wins the hole. The player winning the most holes wins the match and is awarded a full point, while any match that ends in a tie after 18 holes results in both players being awarded one-half point.

    Match Scoring

    • In match scoring a hole is won by the team or individual with the lowest score on a hole. Any hole that ends in a tie is considered a "halve" with no winner and the match is won by the team or individual that wins the most holes. Matches are stopped once one team is ahead by more holes than are remaining in the match. For example, if one team has won four more holes than the other and there are only three holes remaining, the match is stopped and the winning team is said to have won "4 and 3" (four holes ahead with three holes remaining). A match is considered "dormie" when one team is ahead by the number of holes remaining.

    Winning and Retaining the Cup

    • The Ryder Cup is awarded to the team that wins the most points out of the 28 matches that are played during the tournament. If the 28 matches end in a 14-14 tie, then the cup is considered to be "retained" by the squad that had won it in the previous Ryder Cup matches.