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Ryder Cup Primer

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 18, 2008

WHEN: Friday-Sunday

WHERE: Valhalla Golf Club; Louisville, Ky.

THE COURSE: It was designed by Jack Nicklaus, who recently refurbished the private club that is owned by the PGA of America. Valhalla hosted the PGA Championship in 1996 and 2000, and both times it ended in a playoff, with Mark Brooks defeating Kenny Perry in '96 and Tiger Woods beating Bob May in '00.

YARDAGE/PAR: 7,496 yards/71

FORMAT: Four matches of four-balls (better ball) and foursomes (alternate shot) on Friday and Saturday, followed by 12 singles matches on Sunday.

POINTS: Europe needs 14 points to retain the cup, the United States needs 141/2 to win the cup.

SERIES: United States leads 24-10-2.

LAST TIME: Led by the inspirational play of Darren Clarke, competing for the first time since his wife died of cancer, Europe won all five sessions and matched its record for margin of victory, 181/2-91/2, to win at The K Club in Ireland for its third straight outright victory. Clarke went 3-0, while the other captain's pick, Lee Westwood, was 3-0-2.

CAPTAINS: Nick Faldo (Europe), Paul Azinger (U.S.)

EUROPEAN ROSTER: Paul Casey, Sergio Garcia, Soren Hansen, Padraig Harrington, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Robert Karlsson, Graeme McDowell, Ian Poulter, Justin Rose, Henrik Stenson, Lee Westwood, Oliver Wilson.

U.S. ROSTER: Chad Campbell, Stewart Cink, Ben Curtis, Jim Furyk, J.B. Holmes, Anthony Kim, Justin Leonard, Hunter Mahan, Phil Mickelson, Kenny Perry, Steve Stricker, Boo Weekley.

MISSING: Tiger Woods is out for the rest of the year after reconstructive knee surgery. Colin Montgomerie did not qualify for Europe's team and will not play for the first time since 1989.

KEY STATISTIC: The United States has not had the lead after any session since winning at Brookline, Mass., in 1999.

NOTEWORTHY: For the first time since the Ryder Cup began in 1927, the United States does not have a current major champion on its team.

QUOTEWORTHY: "If you're going to represent the United States, you'd better be ready to win. And if you don't win, you'd better be ready to take the heat." - Stewart Cink.

TV: Friday - ESPN, 8 a.m.-6 p.m; Saturday - WFLA, Channel 8, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday - WFLA, Channel 8, noon-6 p.m.

Tribune wires

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