Golf fans are eagerly anticipating the start of the 45th edition of the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black on Friday.
It’s fair to argue that never before has there been so much intrigue associated with a Ryder Cup as the one lying ahead of us at Bethpage Black.
US and European captains Keegan Bradley and Luke Donald kicked things off in style at the Ryder Cup opening ceremony on Wednesday night.
Bradley and Donald were praised for their Ryder Cup speeches, with both captains evoking genuine emotion and passion with their words.
The Ryder Cup will likely be a very even contest, perhaps one of the most closely-fought matches in recent history.
And with excitement having reached fever pitch, golf fans are desperate for the event to get underway now.
However, before the first players tee off on Friday, it’s worth familiarizing yourself with these lesser-known rules at the Ryder Cup.
10 Ryder Cup rules you need to know ahead of Bethpage Black showdown
Match-play is, of course, very different to strokeplay.
And the Ryder Cup has its very own set of unique rules which will be put into place during the week ahead.
Here are 10 of the most important rules to take note of ahead of the first tee shot at Bethpage Black on Friday…
Keegan Bradley cannot make any further changes to the course setup once matches are underway
Bradley had the luxury of setting up Bethpage Black in the best way possible to suit his players. However, once the first tee shot is struck on Friday, no more alterations are permitted.
Partnerships and team order must be hand-delivered before play
Donald and Bradley will already have their pairings lined up. However, both captains will have to hand-deliver their selections to a pre-specified location before announcing them to the world at 4pm Eastern Time on Thursday.
One-ball rule
Interestingly, the ‘one-ball rule’ was ditched during the 2023 Ryder Cup, but it’s back in play this year at Bethpage. During foursomes, playing partners will only be allowed to use one brand and model of golf ball, meaning that they are not allowed to switch balls between holes.
Late to the tee rule
If a player is up to five minutes late for his tee-time, a ‘loss of hole’ penalty will be handed out. Any longer than five minutes, and it’s immediate disqualification. Back in 2012 at Medinah, Rory McIlroy was incredibly close to missing his tee-time, after arriving at the golf course just 12 minutes before he was due to start his match against Keegan Bradley. History would have been completely re-written had he not received help from the local police in getting to the course on time.
The ‘secret envelope’ rule
Should a player on either side suffer an injury which prevents them from playing the singles match, a half point will be awarded to both teams. The two captains have to submit an envelope with one name inside at the start of the week, and if it comes to it, whichever player is unlucky enough to be the ’12th man’, so to speak, will be forced to sit out the singles matches.
Ryder Cup rules which become relevant during play
Injured or sick players during a round
We know that a half point is awarded to both teams if a player is forced to miss the singles matches through injury. However, what happens if a player succumbs to an injury or illness during a match? The rules differ ever so slightly. Should a player be forced to leave the golf course during a foursomes or singles match the rule is an instant forfeiture of the match. However, if this happens during four-ball play, the injured player’s partner can carry on alone against his two opponents.
Only the captain can give advice during play
Aside from caddies, of course, the only two people who are allowed to give advice to the players during competitive play are the captains. This advice can include which clubs players have hit on par threes and how fast or slow certain greens are running.
What happens if the scores are tied after all matches have been played?
Let’s say the scores are tied at 14-14 with all of the games having been played. Well, the defending champions then get to retain the trophy, so Europe would emerge victorious in this case. This is an extremely rare occurrence, though, and it has only happened twice during the previous 44 editions of the Ryder Cup.
Are ‘benched’ players allowed to practice on the course during play?
The simple answer is yes. The four players who have been left out of the foursomes and four-ball matches are allowed to go out on the course and practice, but only 40 minutes after the final group has teed off. Also, they must never get within two holes of the last match out on the course.
What happens if the matches don’t finish by Monday night due to inclement weather
Should the Ryder Cup be incomplete by the close of play on Monday due to adverse weather or any other unexpected circumstance, the results of any matches which are already complete will, of course, stand. Any match which has not been completed at the conclusion of play will be deemed a tied match.
So there you have it – 10 rules which will be worth knowing ahead of the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black this week.
What a few days of golf we have in store for us. BRING. IT. ON.
Receive exclusive golf news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
