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GLENEAGLES, Scotland (AP) — Facts and figures for the Ryder Cup, which starts Friday at the PGA Centenary Course at Gleneagles:
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.
Pairings for Friday morning fourballs: Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson (U.S.) vs. Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson (Europe); Rickie Fowler and Jimmy Walker (U.S.) vs. Thomas Bjorn and Martin Kaymer (Europe); Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed (U.S.) vs. Stephen Gallacher and Ian Poulter (Europe); Keegan Bradley and Phil Mickelson (U.S.) vs. Sergio Garcia and Rory McIlroy (Europe).
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: Europe opens with four new partnerships.
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.
Quoteworthy: "The last contest, it's kind of the main event in the first round." — U.S. captain Tom Watson on the matchup between Mickelson and Bradley vs. McIlroy and Garcia.
Television: Friday, 2:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. EDT, Golf Channel.
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