What time does the Ryder Cup start? Day 1 schedule, UK tee times, 2021 teams - and how to watch golf on TV

Golf fans are eagerly anticipating the 2021 Ryder Cup.

Postponed in 2020 due to the Covid pandemic, the 43rd Ryder Cup returns to the golfing calendar this year.

The best golfers from across Europe and the United States are set to contest the iconic team tournament in the USA.

Team Europe, led by Francesco Molinari and Tommy Fleetwood, romped to victory in the last instalment of the Ryder Cup in 2018.

Held in France, the Europeans defeated Team US - but the Americans will be confident of holding their own on home turf this time around.

Here’s all you need to know about the Ryder Cup 2021 - from when it’s happening and where to this year’s format and how to watch the action unfold live on TV.

When is the Ryder Cup 2021?

In 2021, the Ryder Cup will begin on Friday 24 September over three days of golf action and finish on Sunday 26 September.

This year’s Ryder Cup will be held at Whistling Straits, in Wisconsin, USA.

The course is 7,790 yards in length and plays to a par 72 with four par 5s and four par 3s for the golfers to negotiate in the pressure cooker.

Europe lost on their last trip to the States in 2016, at Hazeltine, but the memories of the ‘Miracle at Medinah’ remain fresh from 2012.

Who are the Europe and USA captains?

Europe will be captained by Padraig Harrington at the Ryder Cup in 2021, with Steve Stricker named as captain for the US team.

Harrington has played in six Ryder Cup teams, winning four in 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2010 but won’t play on the European team in 2021.

He has decided to make three captain’s picks with nine players due to qualify by right.

Wisconsin native Stricker has opted to make six picks with the other six making the team by Ryder Cup rankings.

Latest Europe team news

Robert Karlsson was selected as Harrington’s first vice captain. He will be joined by Luke Donald, Martin Kaymer and Graeme McDowell in the backroom staff.

Jon Rahm, Fleetwood, Tyrrell Hatton, Rory McIlroy, Paul Casey, Viktor Hovland, Matt Fitzpatrick, Lee Westwood and Shane Lowry are all in contention for a place in the team.

The team will be picked and confirmed after the final qualification event - the BMW Championship - which is due to finish on 12 September.

European team

• Captain: Padraig Harrington
• Vice captains: Luke Donald, Robert Karlsson, Martin Kaymer, Graeme McDowell, Henrik Stenson
• Qualifiers: Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Paul Casey, Matt Fitzpatrick, Tyrrell Hatton, Tommy Fleetwood, Viktor Hovland, Lee Westwood, Bernd Wiesberger
• Captain’s picks: Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter, Shane Lowry

Latest USA team news

Jim Furyk, Zach Johnson, and Davis Love III have been selected as vice captains to join Stricker among the backroom staff for Team US.

Collin Morikawa, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Justin Thomas and Xander Schaufelle are among the golfers in contention.

US team:

• Captain: Steve Stricker
• Vice captains: Fred Couples, Jim Furyk, Zach Johnson, Davis Love III, Phil Mickelson
• Qualifiers: Collin Morikawa, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Justin Thomas, Patrick Cantlay
• Captain's picks: Tony Finau, Xander Schauffele, Jordan Spieth, Harris English, Daniel Berger, Scottie Scheffler

Tee times (UK)

Friday

Foursomes tee times:

• Match 1: 1.05pm
• Match 2: 1.21pm
• Match 3: 1.37pm
• Match 4: 1.53pm

Fourballs tee times:

• Match 1: 6.10pm
• Match 2: 6.26pm
• Match 3: 6.42pm
• Match 4: 6.58pm

Saturday

Foursomes tee times:

• Match 1: 1.05pm
• Match 2: 1.21pm
• Match 3: 1.37pm
• Match 4: 1.53pm

Fourballs tee times:

• Match 1: 6.10pm
• Match 2: 6.26pm
• Match 3: 6.42pm
• Match 4: 6.58pm

Sunday

Singles tee times:

• Match 1: 5.04pm
• Match 2: 5.15pm
• Match 3: 5.26pm
• Match 4: 5.37pm
• Match 5: 5.48pm
• Match 6: 5.59pm
• Match 7: 6.10pm
• Match 8: 6.21pm
• Match 9: 6.32pm
• Match 10: 6.43pm
• Match 11: 6.54pm
• Match 12: 7.05pm

How to watch Ryder Cup 2021 on TV

Golf fans can watch all three days - the foursomes, the fourballs and the singles - and all 28 points on offer at the Ryder Cup live on TV.

This year’s Ryder Cup will be shown live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Golf through the week, with plenty of build up and analysis expected.

The anticipation is slowly building as spectators await to see which team will be able to hit the magic 14.5 points first to claim 2021 Ryder Cup victory.

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