SB Nation Bay Area - Ryder Cup 2012: Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson lead the way for United Stateshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48817/bayrea-fave.png2012-10-01T11:49:28-07:00http://bayarea.sbnation.com/rss/stream/31849212012-10-01T11:49:28-07:002012-10-01T11:49:28-07:00Tiger Woods doesn't impact the Ryder Cup
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<figcaption>Andy Lyons - Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The Europeans retained the Ryder Cup in dramatic fashion as the Americans were unable to close the deal after amassing a significant lead heading into the final day.</p> <p>The Ryder Cup was exciting, dramatic and emotional. The Europeans roared back from a 10-6 deficit to win 14<b style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; font-weight: normal;" id="internal-source-marker_0.145656117470935"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">½</span></b> to 13<b style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; font-weight: normal;" id="internal-source-marker_0.145656117470935"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">½</span></b> on American soil to retain the trophy.</p>
<p>But former Stanford attendee Tiger Woods didn't really make a peep. His presence wasn't really felt among all the drama that was the Ryder Cup. Yes, he was part of the losing efforts that led to the Americans' demise, but his name will not be one that resonates after this year's tournament.</p>
<p>This year's event belongs to Martin Kaymer, who sunk the final putt to put the Europeans over and bring the title back to Europe yet again.</p>
<p>It belongs to Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley, who turned into one of the best American duos in Ryder Cup history with a 3-0 record in what was Bradley's maiden voyage on the Ryder Cup scene.</p>
<p>It belongs to Jim Furyk, who along with Steve Stricker, were the final straws in the U.S. collapse as they couldn't put together the two pars apiece needed to snatch the Cup away from the Europeans.</p>
<p>But no Tiger Woods. His final round split with Francesco Molinari didn't matter due to the outcome already being decided. It was fitting, since Woods didn't have much to say about the outcome anyway.</p>
https://bayarea.sbnation.com/golf/2012/10/1/3438938/2012-ryder-cup-resultsRonald Clark2012-09-27T05:03:09-07:002012-09-27T05:03:09-07:00Your guide to the 2012 Ryder Cup format.
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<figcaption>Andy Lyons - Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Here's the format for the 2012 Ryder Cup, which involves alternate shot and better ball on Friday and Saturday and match play on Sunday.</p> <p>For those unfamiliar with the format for the 2012 Ryder Cup, there are three days of competition with three types of competition on each day.</p>
<p>Alternate shot: There will be six teams of two for the United States and Europe each and they will compete in foursomes. Each golfer in the pairing will take turns, with one golfer taking the tee shot on odd holes, the other on even holes (giving double meaning to the term alternate shot). Whoever ends up with the lower score on a hole wins the hole; if they both tie, they halve the hole.</p>
<p>Better ball: More foursome play, except all four golfers will have their own ball. The golfer with the lowest score at the end of each hole wins the hole for his pair; the same score by all four golfers results in a halving of the hole.</p>
<p>Match play: All 12 players from each team pair up against each other in singles matches. Similar to match play, the lowest score on each hole wins the hole, and the same scores result in a halving.</p>
<p>Alternate shot will take place on the Friday and Saturday morning portions of competition, better ball during the afternoon sessions of those two days, and match play will conclude the Cup on Sunday.</p>
https://bayarea.sbnation.com/2012/9/27/3415572/2012-ryder-cup-format-rulesAvinash Kunnath2012-09-26T10:17:42-07:002012-09-26T10:17:42-07:00The Europeans are stacked at the 2012 Ryder Cup
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<figcaption>David Cannon - Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The European squad at the 2012 Ryder Cup is stacked once again, looking for their second-straight victory. </p> <p><span style="line-height: 9px;">As w</span>inners of five of the last six Ryder Cups, the European squad at the 2012 Ryder Cup will once again be a formidable foe for the United States. But now that the cup is back on American soil the Europeans will have to battle a deep U.S. team with home field advantage at Medinah Country Club outside of Chicago.</p>
<p>Captain José María Olazabál's team is solid from top to bottom, including four of the top five golfers in the world in Rory McIlory, Luke Donald, Lee Westwood and Justin Rose. Graeme McDowell returns after clinching victory for Europe in 2010 at Celtic Manor, while Sergio Garcia made the grade this year after being left off the team during the 2010 cup. Nicolas Colsaerts is the lone rookie for the Europeans this year.</p>
<p>Here is the complete European team:</p>
<ul>
<li>Nicolas Colsaerts</li>
<li>Luke Donald</li>
<li>Sergio Garcia</li>
<li>Peter Hanson</li>
<li>Martin Kaymer</li>
<li>Paul Lawrie</li>
<li>Graeme McDowell</li>
<li>Rory McIlory</li>
<li>Francesco Molinari</li>
<li>Ian Poulter</li>
<li>Justin Rose</li>
<li>Lee Westwood</li>
</ul>
<p>The 2012 Ryder Cup gets underway Friday morning with the start of foursome action at Medinah.</p>
https://bayarea.sbnation.com/2012/9/26/3412362/ryder-cup-2012-team-europeErnie Pomin2012-09-26T09:14:04-07:002012-09-26T09:14:04-07:00Tiger Woods Leads American Squad At Medinah
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<figcaption>Andrew Redington - Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The United States Ryder Cup team is set with 11 of the 12 players amongst the top-20 golfers in the world. </p> <p>The 2012 Ryder Cup gets underway at Medinah this Friday, with the United States squad looking to defend their turf and claim the cup once again.</p>
<p>The United States won the Ryder Cup the last time it was held on American soil in 2008, though it fell to the Europeans in Ireland in 2010. Davis Love III will be making his debut as captain, filling his team with a nice mix of veterans and young guns this year.</p>
<p>The U.S. team consists of 11 of the top 20 golfers in the world. The first eight players qualified with their Ryder Cup points totals over the past two seasons. Steve Stricker, Dustin Johnson, Jim Furyk and Brandt Snedeker were Davis Love III's captain's picks. Furyk has played in seven Ryder Cups in his career, the most senior of all the U.S. players, while FedEx Cup champion Brandt Snedeker is playing in his first Ryder Cup.</p>
<p>Below is the complete United States team:</p>
<ul>
<li>Tiger Woods</li>
<li>Bubba Watson</li>
<li>Jason Dufner</li>
<li>Keegan Bradley</li>
<li>Webb Simpson</li>
<li>Zach Johnson</li>
<li>Matt Kuchar</li>
<li>Phil Mickelson</li>
<li>Steve Stricker</li>
<li>Jim Furyk</li>
<li>Brandt Snedeker</li>
<li>Dustin Johnson</li>
</ul>
<div><font size="2"><span style="line-height: 9.75px;">The tournament gets underway on Friday morning with the foursome portion of the event. </span></font></div>
https://bayarea.sbnation.com/2012/9/26/3411758/2012-ryder-cup-team-usaErnie Pomin