The Ryder Cup is finally back and promises to be just as special as ever.

This weekend, America and Europe will be playing in the ultimate golf team competition.

The anticipation is high for Friday's first Tee, especially since the 43rd Edition was delayed by Covid for a year.

It will be worth it, so prepare to wait.

After a convincing victory at Le Golf National 2018, Europe is the reigning champions. However, the US team is ready to take revenge.

SunSport guides you through everything you need to know about the 2021 Ryder Cup...

FANTASTIC FORMAT

The Ryder Cup format, which has two teams of 12, 12 Europeans and 12 Americans, is one of the best parts about it.

These are chosen based on a combination ranking points from the regular tour and captain’s picks.

Most golf tournaments are played individually. The strokeplay scoring system is used where each shot counts.

This is team golf, and the matchplay system allows players to compete for each hole.

This means that the ball may not be even put into the hole when it is clear they will win. Instead, the opposition can concede it.

It is also one of the rare instances where foursomes – pairs take alternate shots – and fourballs - where each pair plays a ball and the best score for each hole counts - are used.

On Friday, we have four foursomes as well as four fourballs.

The process is repeated again on Saturday, before the 12 players play a singles game on Sunday. This usually leads to dramatic final.

There will be 28 matches over the three days.

Each match is worth 1 point. However, if both sides are tied after 18 holes then a half-point will be awarded to each team.

You must win the Ryder Cup with 14-and-a half of the available points.

If the score is tied at 14-14 after the weekend, then the trophy would be retained by the previous winners (in this case Europe).

STRETPATH TO GLORY

The tournament will be held at Whistling Strits in Wisconsin. This links-style course is located on the western shore of Lake Michigan, the nation's largest dairy-producing state.

There are plenty of challenges on the 18-hole course for the stars, including the 603-yard Snake par 5, fifth, and tricky par 3 Pop up on 12, as well as the Grand Strand par 4, 15th.

Bryson DeChambeau, a big-hitting driver, is preparing to drive the course at full throttle.

This course is full of penalty shots and the possibility of flying into water so don't be surprised to see some drama.

STRICKER'S SQUAD Vs PAD'S PALS

There will be a lot of top players competing this weekend, with the Americans being the favorites to win the trophy with eight out of the top ten.

The two captains are Padraig Harrington, an Irishman and Steve Stricker, a Wisconsin native.

Rory McIlroy or Dustin Johnson are likely to be the headline acts for the teams.

The European side includes Jon Rahm, Lee Westwood and Tommy Fleetwood (2018), World No1 and US Open champions, and Ryder Cup legend Ian Poulter.

The Yanks will be proud to present their incredible talent, including Open winner Collin Morikawa and Justin Thomas.

DeChambeau & Brooks Koepka are the American couple who have been in a bitter dispute for some time.

Is it possible that their bust-up could boil over the weekend? Or might Stricker pull off a masterstroke and pair them up?

A LESSON FROM HISTORY

You might be asking, "Why is it called The Ryder Cup?"

Samuel Ryder, an English businessman, entrepreneur and golf promoter, was the one who invent the tournament.

He was born in Walton-le-Dale, near Preston, in 1858. He studied at Owens College in Manchester and then worked at a shipping company.

Ryder became involved in the sponsorship of the first ever American-British professional golfers match.

Tony Jacklin was a key player in the transformation of the event from a British team into a European outfit, in 1979.

The cup is made of gold and costs PS250 at the time it was first ordered. It now costs around PS15,000.

It was manufactured by Mappin & Webb and measures 17 inches in height. The figure on the top is thought to be Ryder's friend, golf instructor Abe Mitchell.

RUMBLING RIVALRIES

It isn't too hard to see that America and Europe don't have too much in common when they meet every two years.

The last Ryder Cup held in America at Hazeltine was five years ago. Team Europe received a torrent of abuse.

After hurling disgraceful insults at Rory McIlroy, a spectator was removed from the course.

Stricker asked American fans to not 'cross the line', but he expects a 'rowdy atmosphere'.

Angela Garcia, Sergio Garcia's American wife, appeared on national television to warn viewers that she will turn against them if Europe-baiting escalates after confronting ticket-holders with foul-mouthed language in 2016.

ICONIC MOMENTS

It's not surprising that there have been many memorable moments in Ryder Cup history.

1969: With scores equal on the 18th hole, Jack Nicklaus graciously conceded that Jacklin had to win the match.

Twenty years later, tensions flared between Seve and Paul Azinger when they attempted mind games citing the law of the game. Things escalated at the next event with the "War on the Shore"

The 1999 Battle of Brookline was marred by overzealous celebrations from the Americans, but they were silenced in spectacular fashion in 2012 when Europe managed to fight back from 10-4 down and win 14 / ₂-13 ¹/ ₂ at the Miracle at Medinah.

Last time out, Thomas Bjorn, European skipper, promised a tattoo if he led his side to victory in Paris in 2018.

He did it in style: 17 ¹/ ₂-10 / ₂ - and got his score and trophy inked on him backside... Harrington insists that he would not hesitate to do the same if Europe wins.

STAT ATTACK

Phil Mickelson, despite winning the PGA Championship in Mai, was not included in the team - meaning he can't add to his 12 Ryder Cup appearances.

Garcia is determined to add to his 25 ¹/ ₂ points. He also has 11 ¹/ ₂, all of which are in foursomes.

The record for the youngest competitor in competition history is also held by the Spaniard, who was 19 years old and 258 days back in 1999.

Garcia's compatriots Jose Maria Olazabal and Ballesteros teamed up to win 12 points in a pair.