What is the Snyder Cup?

 

The Snyder Cup, played every year between players from the Sussex Spitfires. against players from Rest of the World All-Stars, consists of three match-play sessions played over three days.

 

In match play, the score of the match is determined based on the number of holes won by each side, as opposed to stroke play, where the number of strokes are added up at the end to determine a winner.

 

Hypothetically, the player who takes more strokes in match play could conceivably still win his or her match.

 

Let's break it down how Snyder Cup 2016 works.

 

Points: 

The three days of the matches consist of a total of 16 matches, each with 1 point available. There are no extra holes in a Snyder Cup. Should the two sides be tied after 18 holes, each side earns a halve (1/2 point).

 

Winning point total: 

In order to achieve an outright win, a team must collect 8 1/2 points. In the case of an 8-8 tie, the winning team from the previous Snyder Cup retains the trophy.

 

How the matches work: 

The first two days of the Snyder Cup consists of two sessions -- one session of fourballs (or, "better ball") and foursomes (or, "alternate shot"). There are four matches in each session the first two days. The final day of the matches is reserved for singles play.

What does "Foursomes" mean? In this format, two players from the Spitfires. tee off against two players from Rest of the World All-Stars in the same group, but play just one ball each, alternating shots. If player A tees off on the odd-numbered holes, player B tees off on the even-numbered holes. The team with the lower score takes the hole.

 

What does "Fourballs" mean? 

Fourballs is when two players from the Spitfires tee off against two players from All-Stars in the same group. Each player plays his own ball for the entire hole. The lowest score -- or better ball -- from the two partners counts as the team score for the hole.

What does "Singles" mean? In "singles" -- the final session of the Snyder Cup -- their are 8, separate, one-on-one matches contested with one player from the Spitfires squaring off against one player from All-Stars.

 

What does it mean to "concede?"  

Unlike stroke play, players do not have to "putt-out" in match play. If a player "concedes" a putt to his opponent, the opponent is allowed to pick his ball up, taking the score he would have made on the next stroke, and move on to the next hole. A concession can be made on a hole, a putt, or a putt that closes out the match.

 

How is a line-up determined for each session? 

The captain from the Spitfires and the captain from All-Stars determine which of their players will play together in a particular session, as well as the order in which they will play. The captains submit an envelope with their respective line ups and do not know ahead of time who they'll be up against.

 

When is the line-up determined? 

The captains will announce the line-up for the first session of the Snyder Cup during the Opening Ceremony.  The line-up for the first session on Day 2 is revealed when play ends on Day 1. And, finally, the line-up for the final day singles matches are revealed after play ends on Day 2.

 

Here are the tee times for the 2016 Snyder Cup, 5th – 7th May 2016, at Fota Island Resort in Cork, Ireland. Spitfires Captain Sefton Owens alongside Rest of the World MVP Paul Coates have determined that foursomes will be the opening session on Day 1 this year.