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The Viewer's Guide

Everything you need to know about the 2008 Ryder Cup matches

The players: Photos By Getty Images September 2008; Who's Who: Detailed profiles on all the players, rankings, grades and their cup histories.; • European Team; • United States Team; • The Captains: Faldo & Azinger; • More on the Ryder Cup

The Course: Photo By J.D. Cuban; The Course That Jack Built: With a Jack Nicklaus redesign Valhalla GC is a lot more golf course than it once was.; • Hole-by-Hole Course Tour; • Valhalla GC Map (PDF); • Valhalla GC: Kentucky Wild Card; • VIDEO: Jack on the Valhalla Redesign; • 2008 Ryder Cup Coverage

The Ryder Cup Survey: Illustration By John Ueland; Twenty current and former U.S. Ryder Cup players and captains have their say in our mosr recent survey: Robin Williams, anyone?; • The Survey Results; • Take the Survey Online

THE SCORECARD

Photo By Jim Herity

The United States still leads the Ryder Cup all-time results with 24 victories, 10 losses and two ties, but you wouldn't know it from the most recent matches: The Europeans have left with the cup eight times in the past 11 competitions.

TELEVISION
(All times Eastern)
Thursday, Sept. 18
Preview, 1-2 p.m. (ESPN "SportsCenter"); opening ceremonies, 3-5 p.m. (ESPNews)

Friday, Sept. 19
Preview, 7-8 a.m. (ESPN "SportsCenter"); Day 1 competition, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (ESPN); replay, 6-11 p.m. (ESPN Classic)

Saturday, Sept. 20
Highlights, midnight to 1 a.m. (ESPN "SportsCenter"); Day 2 competition, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (NBC); replay, 7 p.m. to midnight (ESPN Classic)

Sunday, Sept. 21
Highlights, midnight to 1 a.m. (ESPN "SportsCenter"); Day 3 competition, noon to 6 p.m. (NBC); closing ceremonies, 6-6:30 p.m. (ESPNews)

THE FORMAT

From Sept. 19-21, the two 12-man teams will compete in 28 matches, each decided by match play. Each match winner earns one point. If a match is tied after 18 holes, each team gets half a point. In the event of a 14-14 tie, the Cup remains with the defender. (Europe can retain the Cup with 14 points, but the United States needs to get 14½ to win it back.) There are three types of matches:

> Foursomes (alternate shot): Four matches on Friday and four on Saturday. In foursomes, partners play one ball and alternate hitting shots from the tee until the ball is holed.

> Four-ball (better ball): Four matches on Friday and four on Saturday. In four-ball, each partner plays his ball into the hole. The best ball of their two counts against the best of their opponents.

> Singles: 12 matches on Sunday.

ELIGIBILITY: The top-eight players on the U.S. team will be determined through a points system that concludes with the PGA Championship Aug. 10. Captain Paul Azinger will select the final four players on Sept. 2. The European team includes the leading five players on the World Ranking; five more earn places based on European tour money earned through Aug. 31, when captain Nick Faldo will name the final two players.