There are few events that can produce the sporting theatre of the Ryder Cup. 12 stupidly-rich Americans, clashing with 12 equally-flush Europeans in the usually genteel surrounds of a golf course.
Feral crowds heckle and cheer from high in the grandstands, WAGS pose and posture greenside.
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But if you don’t know your foursomes from your fourballs then get up to par with a fool’s guide to this weekend’s Ryder Cup
Who's got the better team?
For the first time in Ryder Cup history, all ten players from the world’s top ten will be in action. The USA has its lowest ever average ranking of 11.7; the Europeans weighing in with an average world ranking of 19.08
So America should romp home, right?
Well, no. The US side often has the best looking side on paper but Europe has won eight of the last 11 encounters.
And you have to go all the way back to 1993 for the last time America won on European soil - 13 months before Team Europe star’s Jon ‘Rahmbo’ Rahm was born.
So why are the star-studded Yanks no good?
One theory is that American professionals have been bred with a single-minded, self-centred, egotistical attitude from the moment their fathers shoved a 7 iron in their hands as two-year-olds; meaning playing as a part of a team is a foreign concept.
European golfers, on the other hand, grow up playing and travelling with each other across the Continent as amateurs and then in their formative years on the European Tour.
But this year could be different.
For only the second time in the last two decades, Team USA has a younger average age (32.8 years) than Team Europe (and 34.3). Having American young guns like Brooks Koepka, Justin Thomas, Rickie Fowler and Jordan Spieth together, could create that European-style camaraderie, having grown up playing college golf with and against each other.
Le Golf National – sounds fancy.
More like ferocious. The course on the outskirts of Paris, which will also host the 2024 Olympics, can hold 80,000 spectators and will this weekend resemble Stade de France during a football final.
The last four holes are considered one of toughest finishing stretches in world golf; with deep rough and deeper water.
Golfers in control of their matches early will want to wrap them up before stepping onto the 16th tee, where mayhem will ensue over the final four holes.
Fourballs and Foursomes – what’s that all about?
On days one and two, the Europeans and Americans will go head-to-head in morning fourballs and afternoon foursomes. Say what? The Fourball – or better-ball - format sees teams play each other in pairs.
Each player plays their own balls as per a normal tournament and the best score from your pair on each hole is counted against the best score from the opposition’s pairing.
Foursomes are when it gets really weird. Pairings play with one ball between them, taking alternate shots.
So Justin Thomas takes the tee shot, Jordan Spieth the approach shot, and Thomas will putt, and so on.
Great if you’re childhood buddies like Jordan and Justin but if you’re arch enemies like Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson in 2004, it’s a recipe for disaster.
Speaking of Tiger and Phil...
The fourballs and foursomes format sees each team field four pairings in the morning and four in the afternoon on Friday and Saturday.
Therefore the Team Captain will 'sit’' some of their 12 players in each session. This is ideal to protect an inexperienced or out-of-form team member or to save an older player’s legs before Sunday’s singles.
So don’t expect to see 48-year-old Mickelson and 42-year-old Woods, with his creaky back, playing each session on the first two days.
The Tiger Factor.
You may be aware that Woods won a golf tournament on the weekend.
There are two schools of thought how that may affect Team USA: Woods may steal the limelight and the circus that follows his every swing will become a distraction to American harmony.
Or, a young US side that grew up idolising Woods will joyously tag along for the three-day victory lap, inspiring them to victory.
Captain America vs Mr Ryder Cup.
Patrick Reed is perhaps the most divisive character in golf; rubbing both fans and fellow pros the wrong way with his ego that up until this year’s Masters win, didn’t match his record.
But when he dons the colours of America he takes on golfing superpowers that lift his US team and enrages European galleries.
If by chance he’s selected to meet Ian Poulter - a golfer who is ten times the player in the Ryder Cup than on the normal tour - in Sunday’s singles, then it would be a fist-pumping, finger-shushing, birdie-spree that Marvel Studios couldn’t dream up.
Who meets who in Sunday's singles?
Captains Thomas Bjorn and Jim Furyk take alternate turns selecting who goes out first, second, third and so on through to their 12th picks for Sunday’s singles matches.
In that regard, it’s a guessing game. Some Captains like to top-load the order, sending their biggest names out early to get the job done as quickly as possible.
That leaves their lesser lights playing well down the order when the trophy is in the cabinet. The real Ryder Cup magic happens when those inexperienced golfers like Europe’s Tyrell Hatton or America’s Tony Finau are suddenly putting for the Ryder Cup with the eyes of the golfing globe watching them.
So who wins?
With 24 matches played over the three days, there are 24 points up for grabs. America, as the holder, only need 12 points to retain the Ryder Cup. Europe will need 12 ½ points to again triumph on home soil.
The mind says Team USA, the heart says Team Europe. The Ryder Cup is so often decided on heart, soul and emotion; not on birdies, bogeys and pars.
Newshub.