Together with the single match, foursomes, and fourball are two familiar formats that make up the most captivating team golf tournaments in the world, such as the Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup.
Foursomes:
Foursomes, also known as alternate shot, is a team format in golf, commonly seen in match play or stroke play team competitions such as the Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup. According to Rule 22 of the Golf Rules, each team consists of two members who take turns hitting the same ball until it is holed. They also alternate tee shots at the beginning of each hole, with one player hitting the odd-numbered holes and the other the even-numbered holes.
The pairing of Brandt Snedeker and Jim Furyk in the foursomes format at the Ryder Cup 2012.
Fourball:
Fourball, another team format in golf, follows either match play or stroke play rules and is governed by Rule 23. In this format, each team comprises two members, and both players play their own balls. The team’s score for a hole is recorded as the better score of the two team members. This format is also referred to as best ball or low ball.
In the history of the Ryder Cup, which began in 1927, the pairing of Seve Ballesteros and Jose Maria Olazabal stands out as the most successful, winning 11 out of 15 matches (along with two draws). Since their initial pairing in 1987, the Spanish duo has excelled, winning six out of eight foursomes matches and five out of seven fourball matches during seven editions.
Overview of the differences between the two formats.
After a year of postponement due to the pandemic, the 43rd biennial clash between the U.S. and Europe has resumed at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin from September 24-26. The teams will play a total of 28 matches, with 16 matches split between foursomes in the morning and fourball in the afternoon on the first two days. The remaining 12 matches, featuring individual hole play, will take place on the final day. Each win earns the team one point, and ties result in 0.5 points. The first team to reach 14.5 points is crowned the champion, with the defending champion retaining the cup in the event of a 14-14 tie. Team Europe holds an advantage as the defending champion following their victory at Le Golf National in France in 2018.
In Vietnam, the VGA Union Cup, initiated by the Vietnam Golf Association (VGA) since 2016, adopts a similar format to the Ryder Cup. Two teams, representing the best players from the North and South regions, compete. Despite the disruption caused by the fourth wave of Covid-19, the VGA Union Cup and the National Middle and Senior Amateur Championship were successfully completed earlier in the year, adding to the golf season’s accomplishments.
Additionally, the fifth edition of the VGA team event marks the transition to a biennial schedule, departing from the previous annual format observed from 2016 to 2019.
