Ryder Cup 2014: Things You Have To Know, Teams, Venue, Potential Pairings
The 2014 Ryder Cup will be held from Sept. 26 to Sept. 28. It will be the second time that the competition will be hosted by Scotland. The 2014 Ryder Cup will be played at the Gleneagles' PGA Centenary Course, one of the three courses at the Gleneagles Hotel. With the tournament just upon us, here are some things you have to know.
Europe Gets a Half Point Lead
In 2012, Europe defeated the U.S.A. in a cup held at the Medinah Country Club in Medinah, Illinois. Having won the previous cup, Europe instantly gets an edge because they get a half point head start on Friday. Europe only needs 14 points to win the cup, while the U.S.A needs 14.5 to emerge victorious.
The last time that the U.S.A. won the cup was in 2008 at the Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky. The last time that the US team won a Ryder Cup in Europe was at The Belfry in Sutton Coldfield, England in 1993.
Teams
Team Europe
Paul McGinley - Captain (Ireland); Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland); Henrik Stenson (Sweden); Victor Dubuisson (France); Jamie Donaldson (Wales); Sergio Garcia (Spain); Justin Rose (England); Martin Kaymer (Germany); Thomas Bjorn (Denmark); Graeme McDowell (Northern Ireland); Stephen Gallacher (Scotland); Ian Poulter (England); Lee Westwood (England)
Team USA
Tom Watson - Captain; Bubba Watson; Rickie Fowler; Jim Furyk; Jimmy Walker; Phil Mickelson; Matt Kuchar; Jordan Spieth; Patrick Reed; Zach Johnson; Keegan Bradley; Webb Simpson; Hunter Mahan
Potential Pairings
Potential pairings for the matches are shaping up from recent practice rounds. Below are the practice rounds pairings as reported by CBS Sports.
EUROPE: McIlroy and Kaymer; McDowell and Dubuisson; Poulter and Rose; Garcia and Stenson; Gallacher and Donladson; Bjorn and Westwood.
U.S.A.: Mickelson and Bradley; B.Watson and Simpson; Kuchar and Spieth; Furyk and Reed; Walker and Fowler; Mahan and Johnson.
Weather could play a huge factor when the matches begin on Sept. 26. According to USA Today's For The Win, there were early forecasts call for rain, and wind speed is expected to be more than 15 miles per hour.
No Prize Money
Ryder Cup has no prize money for its participants. The Telegraph reported that the players from the United States only get to receive $200,000, which they can donate to the charitable organisation of their choice. The European team, on the other hand, are only give cash for their daily expenses.