Ryder Cup 2023 format explained: What is foursomes and fourball golf?

Europe and America’s best golfers go head-to-head once again as the Ryder Cup action begins in Rome.

The biennial contest comprises of three different forms of match-play golf across three days and is broken down into five different sessions.

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Four of the sessions are spread across Friday and Saturday while Sunday is one session of 12 singles matches.

The schedule is as follows...

Friday, September 29

Morning: Foursomes, starting 6.35am

Afternoon: Fourball, starting 11.25am

Saturday, September 30

Morning: Foursomes, starting 6.35am

Afternoon: Fourball, starting 11.25am

Sunday, October 1

12 singles matches, starting 11.35am

What is fourball golf?

The fourball format consists of a pair of players from each side playing in one group, each player playing their own ball.

At the end of each hole the best score from each pair is counted towards whether the hole goes to Europe, the USA or is halved.

How does it differ from foursomes?

In foursomes there are the same number of golfers but instead of playing their own ball the pairs take alternate shots with the same ball.

Complications can arise here as to whose ball is used, as each playing will be accustom to the particular ball they use on Tour.