Ryder Cup Facts

Thursday, Sept. 25, 1997 | 4:55 a.m.

SOTOGRANDE, Spain -- A look at the 32nd Ryder Cup. (All times EDT):

WHEN: Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

WHERE: The 6,819-yard, par-71 Valderrama Golf Club in Sotogrande, Spain.

WHAT: The biennial competition between 12-man teams from the United States and Europe.

HISTORY: The first official match was in 1927. The United States has won 23 of the 31 matches, with two ending in ties. In 1979, the team from Britain and Ireland was expanded to include all of Europe. Europe won in '85 and '87 and kept the Cup with a tie in '89. The U.S. team won in '91 and '93, and Europe took the Cup back in '95 with a 14 1/2 to 13 1/2 comeback victory.

FORMAT: Eight alternate-shot matches, eight better-ball matches and 12 singles matches, each worth one point for a total of 28 points. In a tie match, each sides gets 1/2 -point. The first team to get 14 1/2 points wins. In the event of a 14-14 tie, the defending champion keeps the cup.

PRIZE: The Ryder Cup. There is no prize money.

SCHEDULE: Four better-ball matches and four alternate-shot matches on both Friday and Saturday. Play concludes Sunday with 12 singles matches.

TELEVISION: Friday - 8 a.m.-6 p.m. (USA). Saturday - Noon-6 p.m. (NBC). Sunday - 8: 30 a.m.-12: 30 p.m. (NBC).

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "The golf course is what it is." - U.S. team captain Tom Kite.