Event: 40th Ryder Cup matches.
Date: Sept. 26-28.
The course: The PGA Centenary Course at Gleneagles Resort was designed by Jack Nicklaus and opened in 1993 as The Monarch’s Course. It has been revamped and renamed ahead of the Ryder Cup. It has hosted a European Tour event since 1999. The course plays as a par 72 at 7,243 yards. The 16th and 18th holes are par 5s that are easily reachable in two shots.
Format: Four matches of fourballs (better ball) and foursomes (alternate shot) on Friday and Saturday, 12 singles matches on Sunday.
Points: Europe needs 14 points to retain the cup. The United States needs 14½ points to win the cup.
Series: United States leads 25-12-2.
Last time: In what has been called the “Miracle at Medinah,” Europe produced the greatest comeback for a visiting team when it rallied from a 10-6 deficit to win, 14½-13½. Ian Poulter began the rally Saturday night with birdies on his last five holes to win a fourballs match and cut the U.S. lead to four points. In Sunday singles, Justin Rose, Sergio Garcia and Poulter each won the last two holes of their matches for 1-up victories to lead the rally. Poulter went 4-0 for the week.
Captains: Tom Watson (United States), Paul McGinley (Europe).
European roster: Thomas Bjorn, Jamie Donaldson, Victor Dubuisson, Stephen Gallacher, Sergio Garcia, Martin Kaymer, Graeme McDowell, Rory McIlroy, Ian Poulter, Justin Rose, Henrik Stenson, Lee Westwood.
U.S. roster: Keegan Bradley, Rickie Fowler, Jim Furyk, Zach Johnson, Matt Kuchar, Hunter Mahan, Phil Mickelson, Patrick Reed, Webb Simpson, Jordan Spieth, Jimmy Walker, Bubba Watson.
Key statistic: The Americans have three Ryder Cup rookies, their fewest since 2002.
Noteworthy: The United States has not won the Ryder Cup in Europe since 1993, the last time Tom Watson was the captain. Watson (65) will be the oldest captain in Ryder Cup history.
PenneyVanderbilt 