Moving the goalposts?

Paul Gallagher takes a look back to discover how the format for Ryder Cup matches has chopped and changed down the years.

When Continental Europeans became available for selection to the Ryder Cup for the first time in 1979, it also denoted a modification to the playing format that stands to present day.

Since then, a total of 28 points are available over the three days of competition. Naturally enough, the magic number of 14 ½ points secures victory.

There are 16 points available over the first two days of play (eight each day). The schedule for both days is identical, a morning round of four foursomes ties followed by four fourball matches in the afternoon. Or vice-versa depending on the home captain's perogative, in this case Ian Woosnam.

On the third and final day all 12 players on each side will compete in the singles to determine the overall outcome.

In the early days - from the beginning of the series in 1927 through to 1959 - the playing format comprised of four foursomes matches on the first day and eight singles matches on the other day, each of 36 holes. That made a total of 12 points available.

That format then changed in 1961 when points available were doubled to 24. Four 18-hole foursomes matches the morning of the first day were followed by four more in the afternoon. Then eight 18-hole singles ties were contested on the morning of the second day and eight more singles that afternoon.

In 1963, two series of fourball (better-ball) matches were introduced for the first time, boosting the total number of points available to 32.

The format was altered again in 1977, this time with five foursomes on opening day, five four-ball matches on the second day, and ten singles matches on the final day. This reduced the total points to 20.

In 1979, when European stars such Seve Ballesteros first came on the scene, the format was revised to provide four fourball and four foursomes matches on each of the first two days and 12 singles matches on the third day. The total points awarded were 28 - the format which still exists today.

The Ryder Cup was interrupted for the second time in its history following the terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers in New York on September 11th, 2001. There were no Ryder Cups during the Second World War from 1939-45.

In 2001 the Ryder Cup was scheduled to be played eight days after the attacks at the Belfry in England but was rescheduled to the following year in 2002. It also meant all future competitions are conducted in even-numbered years.