Five things to know: The Ryder Cup

Five things to know about the 2020 Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits

Europe defend on U.S. soil

The 2020 Ryder Cup - which was postponed to 2021 due to Covid-19 - heads to Whistling Straits in Wisconsin for the 43rd edition of the biennial contest.

The last time the Ryder Cup was held in the United States, it was Jim Furyk's home side who prevailed at Hazeltine during a 17-11 victory to win back the Cup that Europe had held for three consecutive years from 2010-2014.

Two years later and Europe were in possession of the trophy once more, with Thomas Bjorn's side at Le Golf National claiming Ryder Cup glory with a winning margin of 17.5 points to 10.5 points.

It means that this year, for a fifth time in a row, Europe will return to the States in possession of the Cup. Now, Harrington's side will hope they can earn the 14 points required to retain the Ryder Cup.

Make it Count

The theme inside this year’s European Team Room is called Make it Count, which celebrates the history of the Ryder Cup and the 164 players who have now been a part of Team Europe – including this year’s rookies Viktor Hovland (162), Shane Lowry (163) and Bernd Wiesberger (164).

With an emphasis on the rarity of being selected for Team Europe central to that theme, Captain Harrington shared an inspirational video on Monday. Not just related to the video, it will be a big theme of the week, and each player has their own specific number (relating to the numerical order they first appeared in Team Europe), emblazoned on much of their European gear this week.

Whistling Straits

Set along the shores of Lake Michigan, the stunning Pete and Alice designed course of Whistling Straits will host the Ryder Cup for the first time in its history.

The venue, which opened in 1998, has large dunes and exceptional views, and has been completely transformed the landscape which was once flat and un-sculpted it was less than 30 years ago.

“I want the course to look like Ballybunion,” Dye recalled owner Herb Kohler telling him, before writing that he built the dunes of the course by pushing back lakeside buffs.

“We did share a love for the natural look of the celebrated golf courses of Ireland, shaped among huge sand dunes that rose like prehistoric monsters along the coastline.

Since its creation, Whistling Straits has been no stranger to the big stage, having played host to the US PGA Championship on three separate occasions: 2004, 2010, and 2015. Now, it will add itself to another impressive historic list as the site 2020 Ryder Cup.

Records set to fall in Wisconsin

From the number of appearances to points won in various categories, there are many records that could be broken or have the possibility of being equalled at this year’s Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits.

The first of these records belong to Lee Westwood, and it’s one that he will set just by teeing up. When the Englishman made his debut as a rookie in the 1997 Ryder Cup, he played his first four matches alongside Sir Nick Faldo – winning two of a four possible points. 24 years later, Westwood will tie his first partner’s record of 11 appearances for Team Europe at the 2020 Ryder Cup in Wisconsin.

And while the European Team appearance record is one Westwood is guaranteed to match, there are many other records which could possibly fall or be matched this week. For example, Sergio Garcia could extend his lead as all-time European Points scorer, or he or Westwood could overtake Faldo for total matches won.

Read more here

Wiesberger and Hovland make history for their countries

When Bernd Wiesberger and Viktor Hovland stand on the tee for the first time at Whistling Straits, it will be as history makers for their respective nations.

Both men, who automatically qualified for Team Europe, will be the first players from their countries to compete in a Ryder Cup: Hovland for Norway, and Wiesberger for Austria.

Until this year’s Ryder Cup, there had been 12 different European nations represented by golfers in the Ryder Cup. Leading the way in number of appearances since the 1979 Ryder Cup is England (80), followed by Spain (42), Scotland (35), Northern Ireland (17) and Ireland (16). Following them are Germany (14), Wales (10), Italy (7), Denmark (5), France (3) and Belgium (2) – which is made up of Nicolas Colsaerts, who represented Europe in 2012, and Thomas Pieters, who was part of the 2016 team.

With the addition of Norway and Austria’s first appearances through Hovland and Wiesberger, the total list of European nations moves up to 14.