2008 Ryder Cup - Valhalla Kentucky USA

The Ryder Cup 2008

Valhalla Golf Club
Louisville, Kentucky, USA
September 19-21, 2008

USA vs. Europe
or PGA Tour vs European Tours

Team USA
Captain: Paul Azinger
Team Members
Phil Mickelson, Stewart Cink, Kenny Perry, Jim Furyk, Anthony Kim, Justin Leonard,Ben Curtis, Boo Weekley, Chad Campbell, J.B. Holmes, Hunter Mahan, Steve Stricker

Team Europe
Captain: Nicholas Alexander Faldo (Nick Faldo)
Team Members
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

Ryder Cup Schedule (ET)
September 19, 2008
8:05 a.m. Foursomes Start
12:45 p.m. Fourball Start

September 20, 2008
8:05 a.m. Foursomes
12:45 p.m. Fourball---------

TV Coverage: NBC, ESPN, Starsport, CCTV5, ThiaTV7

Other Information

• Boooo Weekly
• First Day Results and Standings
• 2008 Ryder Cup Singles Pairings (Sunday Pairings)
  

Background
The Ryder Cup is a golf trophy, donated by Samuel Ryder, which is awarded biennially in an event called the "Ryder Cup Matches" between teams from Europe and the United States. The Matches are jointly administered by the PGA of America and the PGA European Tour.

The competition began following an exhibition match in 1926 of a team representing American professionals against a similar one representing the British PGA on the East Course, Wentworth Club, Virginia Water, Surrey, UK, with the first competition taking place in 1927.

Early matches between the two sides were fairly even, but after the Second World War, repeated US dominance led to a decision to extend the representation of the British & Irish team to Europe in 1979. This change was partly prompted by the success of a new generation of Spanish golfers of the time, including Severiano Ballesteros. He and Antonio Garrido were the first Spaniards to play in the event in 1979. Europe has also been represented since then by players from Denmark, France, Germany, Italy and Sweden.

As a result of this change the event has enjoyed more competitive matches, with Europe winning seven times and retaining the Cup once, compared to six American wins.

Credit Background: Wikipedia