CHASKA, Minn. (AP) - Facts and figures for the Ryder Cup:
Event: 41st Ryder Cup matches.
Date: Sept. 30-Oct. 2.
The course: Hazeltine National, which opened in 1962, was designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. and later enhanced by his son, Rees Jones. It has hosted the U.S. Open twice, the PGA Championship twice, the U.S. Women’s Open twice, the U.S. Amateur, the U.S. Senior Open and the NCAA championship.
The routing: For the Ryder Cup, the front nine will be Nos. 1-4 and 14-18, while the back nine will be Nos. 10-13 and Nos. 5-9 to allow for better viewing on the back nine and the finish closer to the new 50,000-square-foot clubhouse.
Format: Four matches of fourballs (better ball) and foursomes (alternate shot) on Friday and Saturday, 12 singles matches on Sunday.
Points: Europe needs 14 points to retain the cup. The United States needs 14½ points to win the cup.
Series: United States leads 25-13-2.
Last time: A strong and united European team built a 10-6 lead going into Sunday singles at Gleneagles and overcame a few early deficits to win the singles sessions for a 16½-11½ victory. Europe won for the third straight time and eighth time in the last 10 Ryder Cups. Justin Rose was unbeaten in five matches. Phil Mickelson, benched all of Saturday, called out Tom Watson’s captaincy during the Americans’ closing news conference.
Captains: Darren Clarke (Europe), Davis Love III (United States).
European roster: Rafa Cabrera Bello, Matt Fitzpatrick, Sergio Garcia, Martin Kaymer, Rory McIlroy, Thomas Pieters, Justin Rose, Henrik Stenson, Andy Sullivan, Lee Westwood, Danny Willett, Chris Wood.
U.S. roster: Dustin Johnson, Zach Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson, Patrick Reed, Brandt Snedeker, Jordan Spieth, Jimmy Walker, Rickie Fowler, J.B. Holmes, Matt Kuchar, x-TBD.
Key statistic: Phil Mickelson and J.B. Holmes are the only U.S. players at Hazeltine who have played on a winning Ryder Cup team.
Noteworthy: Europe is going for its fourth straight victory, its longest streak in the Ryder Cup.
Quoteworthy: “What we’ll ultimately look at is, are we playing our best golf the week of the Ryder Cup. That’s what we have to do to be successful, to win. We’re not going to get it handed to us.” - Phil Mickelson, on how to measure whether the Ryder Cup task force worked.
Television (all times EDT): Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. (NBC Sports); Sunday, noon to 6 p.m. (NBC Sports).
___
x-Final U.S. pick to be announced Sunday.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.