Most of the time, professional golf is played as an individual sport, with each player out for themself. But that’s not the case during the Ryder Cup. Every other year, two teams of top players – one from the United States and one from Europe – compete for the coveted international trophy. There’s no prize money involved, only pride.
The championship is played alternately at courses in the U.S. and Europe. In earlier years (1927-1977), the competition pitted the U.S. against Britain, or Britain and Ireland. The U.S. dominated those Ryder Cups, with a 18-3-1 record.
Watch: Ryder Cup 2023 Live Stream
In 1979, the Britain-Ireland team was expanded to include all of Europe, and wins became harder for the U.S. to grab. Since then, Team Europe has posted a 11-9-1 record, and the U.S. has failed to win on European soil since 1993.
That’s 30 years without bringing a trophy home from across the Atlantic. Can the Americans put an end to that sorry run this weekend in Italy?
How to watch Ryder Cup 2023
Dates: Friday to Sunday.
Location: Marco Simone Golf & Country Club, outside Rome.
Current record: U.S. 27 wins, Britain/Ireland/Europe 14 wins, 2 ties
