Day 2 at the Ryder Cup is a massive one with one more chance for both USA and Europe to gain momentum — and build a lead — in team play ahead of Sunday singles.
Team Europe carried a commanding lead into Day 2 after shocking the Americans with a dominant performance on Friday. The two sides will run it back with the same exact format for Day 2.
Here’s the format for Day 2 at the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black:
Morning foursomes
How it works: Groupings of two players square off against their opponent in which each team uses one ball. One player hits the tee shot, and regardless of what happens with that shot, his teammate hits the next shot. This continues all the way until the ball is in the hole. This format is also called alternate shot.
The players also alternate who tees off on each hole. So, if Scottie Scheffler tees off on No. 1, then no matter what happens on the first hole, Russell Henley hits the tee shot on No. 2 and on that goes.
Scoring is simple. Whichever team gets the ball in the hole with the fewest strokes win the hole, and standard match play scoring decides the winner. As there was on Day 1, there are four matches in the morning, with four points up for grabs.
Captains tend to pair their steadiest players, especially if those groupings have solid chemistry. Having to hit a shot that’s a result of someone else’s previous swing is a difficult proposition, especially for some pros who spent the entire season locked in on their own games. The Europeans have seemed better suited for this format, but until Day 1 of this Ryder Cup, the home team had dominated the format over the last decade or so.
Afternoon four balls
How it works: Similarly, groupings of two players for each team go out in each match. In four balls, though, the play is exactly what the name says: All four players in the group play their own ball and their own shots throughout the hole.
Each team uses the best score on the hole. For example, if Jon Rahm records a three, and Sepp Straka records a four, the Europeans would put down a three for the hole. From there, the scoring is exactly the same as foursomes and any other match play situation.
There’s a little more freedom for captains in building their groupings for four balls. It’s OK to play some of the more volatile players, especially if paired with a steady player. If your partner is already in the middle of the green for at worst a two-putt par, it frees you up to go right at a pin. You’re not going to win many four ball matches at the Ryder Cup if you’re not making birdies.
In total, there are eight points up for grabs on Saturday across foursomes and four ball. Team USA needs 14 1/2 points to win the Ryder Cup, while Europe only needs 14 to retain the Cup, even if it’s a tie, as the defending champions.
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