2006 Ryder Cup

Course

The K Club has two Arnold Palmer-designed championship courses and the 36th Ryder Cup was held on the Palmer Course (also known as the North or Old Course). The course is a parkland course located on the banks of the River Liffey, threaded through mature woodlands on the Straffan country estate.

Television

Domestically, Sky Sports provided live coverage of all sessions.

In the United States, coverage of the first day was recorded live, but presented on tape-delay by USA Network. Bill Macatee hosted from the 18th tower. On Saturday, NBC Sports presented coverage on tape, but recorded live. NBC then aired the singles live on Sunday morning. Dan Hicks and Johnny Miller hosted from the 18th tower, Gary Koch and Bob Murphy called holes, while on-course reporters were Mark Rolfing, Roger Maltbie, and Dottie Pepper. To provide a European perspective, NBC used former European team player Nick Faldo as a guest analyst on the Saturday afternoon session. Faldo had worked in the same role for NBC at the 2002 Ryder Cup, and at the time of the 2006 edition was in between jobs, having worked as an analyst for ABC Sports from 2004 to 2006, but having signed with CBS Sports for 2007 and beyond.

Format

The Ryder Cup is a match play event, with each match worth one point. The competition format used in 2004 and 2006 was as follows:

• Day 1 (Friday) – 4 fourball (better ball) matches in a morning session and 4 foursome (alternate shot) matches in an afternoon session
• Day 2 (Saturday) – 4 fourball matches in a morning session and 4 foursome matches in an afternoon session
• Day 3 (Sunday) – 12 singles matches With a total of 28 points, 14 points were required to win the Cup, and 14 points were required for the defending champion to retain the Cup. All matches were played to a maximum of 18 holes.

Team qualification and selection

Europe

The European team consisted of:

• The top five players on the Ryder Cup World Points List
  • Total points earned in Official World Golf Ranking events from 1 September 2005 to 27 August 2006 and then only in the BMW International Open, which ended on 3 September
• The five players, not qualified above, on the Ryder Cup European Points List
  • Money earned in official European Tour events from 1 September 2005 to 3 September 2006
• Two captain's picks

United States

The United States team consisted of:

• The top ten players on the Ryder Cup Points List
  • Total points earned in PGA Tour events from 22 August 2004 to 20 August 2006. Points were awarded for top-10 finishes in these events based on the following table:

• Two captain's picks

Teams

Captains picks are shown in yellow; the world rankings and records are at the start of the 2006 Ryder Cup.

As vice-captains, European captain Ian Woosnam selected Peter Baker and Des Smyth, to assist him during the tournament.

Captains picks are shown in yellow; the world rankings and records are at the start of the 2006 Ryder Cup.

As vice-captains, United States captain Tom Lehman selected Corey Pavin and Loren Roberts, to assist him during the tournament.

Friday's matches

Morning four-ball

Afternoon foursomes

Saturday's matches

Morning four-ball

Afternoon foursomes

Sunday's singles matches

Individual player records

Each entry refers to the win–loss–half record of the player.

Source:

Europe

United States

References

References

1. (24 September 2006). "Ryder Cup 2006". BBC Sport.
2. The sequence from 1985-1987-1989 included a tie in [[1989 Ryder Cup. 1989]], retaining the trophy for Europe.
3. If the '[[dormie]]' situation is taken into account, then half points can be 'virtually' added from matches still in play where Europe were guaranteed half a point. From this viewpoint, Europe's retention of the trophy was sealed when David Howell won over Brett Wetterich, and the win was certain when Donald beat Chad Campbell. However, because players in a 'dormie' situation can still be disqualified and lose their match, the scoreboard and the records of the tournament only take account of concluded matches, and so the records credit Donald with ensuring that Europe retained the trophy and Stenson with guaranteeing the victory.
4. After Europe had already won, McGinley conceded a 25-foot birdie putt to Henry on the 18th hole, halving their match. If Henry had putted and missed, Europe's final total would have been a record victory over the Americans. McGinley conceded the putt because an almost-naked spectator ran across the green and jumped into the lake as Henry was about to putt.[http://travel.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,30289-2381833,00.html]{{dead link. (September 2024). link. (28 September 2008)
5. "2014 Ryder Cup Media and Players' Guide".