how does Ryder cup work? do they add the scores of 2 on 2 or what?

There are a total of 28 matches between the two sides.

On Friday and Saturday (each day) there are 8 team matches, or a total of 16 matches. On each day, there are 4 fourball matches and 4 foursome matches. In fourball, each player plays his own ball throughout the hole, and the lowest score for the team of two players counts as their score for the hole. In foursome, players on each team alternate shots on the ball for the team. For each hole, if the two teams get the same score (birdie, par, bogey, etc.) then no score is registered. If one team scores better, then they will have won the hole. The match is over when one team is up more holes than there are left to play (e.g. winning 3 and 2 means a team is up 3 holes with 2 to play). For each match won, the side receives one point. If neither side wins the match, then it is halved.

On Sunday, there are 12 head-to-head matches with the same match play format (players win a hole when they shoot better than their opponent, and win the match when they're up more holes than there are left to play).

Add the number of points or halves for all 28 matches up and that is the final score. For the US to win the Cup, they must get 14 1/2 points or better. For Europe to retain it, they must get 14 points or better.

Currently, after Friday, Europe leads 5-3, which is actually a moral victory for the US as they tend not to do as well in the team events and do better in the head-to-head matches.

Today and tomorrow they play 2 rounds of fourball and foursome play. On the basic level 2 players from U.S. form a team and play 2 players from the UK. Thus there were 8 matches today. This will repeat tomorrow. There is a few differences in how the match is played, but overall the winning team of each match scores a point for their team. If they tie they score 1/2 points for their team.

On Sunday they have match play where 1 player takes on another for a point.

And don't we suck, 1 more time.

I would have thought, after being told how superior US golf was (vs. world/European circuit), that we'd clobber 'em.

But I hope we never see Tiger in the opening round again - he just can't play these early Ryder cup rounds.

i wanted to see what the answers are cuz it's confusing,

and go tiger!