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The Ryder Cup is a sporting showdown played every two years between Europe and America's top golfers.

For the first time, this year's tournament takes place a week after the women's equivalent - the Solheim Cup - and is being held in Rome from 29 September - 1 October.

Team USA are the current defending champions after their victory in 2021, at Whistling Straits in America.

For the event, players who usually walk the globe's golfing greens on their own have to become part of a team.

USA have won 27 times, while Europe have 14 wins, with two ties (in 1969 and 1989) when the holders retained the cup.

What is the Ryder Cup?

The Ryder Cup is named after its founder, Samuel Ryder, an English businessman from Hertfordshire.

The first official Ryder Cup was held 1927 at the Worcester Country Club, Massachusetts, America.

Back then the competition was between the US and Great Britain, but in 1979 the British team changed to include players from across Europe.

The Ryder Cup trophy is around 43cm high with a figure of Abe Mitchell, a friend and golf instructor of Samuel Ryder, on the top.

The US won 18 of the first 22 matches, with three defeats and one tied contest.

Since 1979, Europe have won 11 of the 20 matches played, with the US winning nine and one tie.

Where is the Ryder Cup taking place?

The 44th Ryder Cup will take place over three days between Friday 29 September and Sunday 1 October 2023.

It's being held at the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Rome, Italy.

The venue for each edition of the competition alternates between the USA and Europe - in 2021, the event was held in the American state of Wisconsin.

The teams

Each team uses 12 players for the three-day event. On the first two days the players play as pairs, and on the final day they play one against one.

For the US, the top eight players in the points standing of the PGA of America make the team, as well as four players who are Captain's Picks.

For Europe's team, the leading five players on the European Tour's World Points List and the leading four players on the European Points List make the team, as well as three players who are Captain's Picks.

Tom Watson, Tiger Woods, Sir Nick Faldo, Seve Ballesteros and Rory McIlroy are just some of the great golfers who've taken part.

How does it work?

There are 28 matches over three days of play. But it's a bit different to normal golf tournaments because there three different types of matches:

Foursomes

Matches are played in pairs - two against two- but each pair only gets one ball to play with.

They take turns hitting the ball, with the first player hitting the tee shot, the second the second shot, the first the third and so on.

One player hits the tee shots on odd-numbered holes and they then switch so the other one hits them on even-numbered holes.

Four-balls

Matches are played in pairs, but each player in the pair plays their own ball.

At the end of each hole the player who needed the fewest shots counts for their team.

Singles

All 12 players from each team play one round against a member of the opposing team.

If a player wins a match they earn a point for their team. If a match finishes all-square each team earns half a point.

The first team to earn 14 and a half points wins the Ryder Cup.

If the teams finish level on 14 points then the team that took the trophy last time keeps it.

How is it scored?

One point is awarded for each match won, with half a point for each tied match.

There are 28 matches across the three days so defending champions Team USA need 14 points for a tie that would see them retain the Ryder Cup.

For Europe to regain the trophy they must score at least 14½ points.

The records

Europe's Sergio Garcia is the record points scorer in Ryder Cup history, with 25 and a half points from nine appearances.

American Phil Mickelson holds the record for the most appearances with 12.