Format and Rules3 of 3HENRY NICHOLLS / AFP Rory McIlroyThe Ryder Cup is always intriguing because it features a variety of match variants. Friday morning will feature four alternate-shot foursome matches, while Friday afternoon will bring four fourball matches. Saturday's schedule will also bring four foursome matches in the morning and four fourball matches in the afternoon. Since the Europeans are the defending champions, they can retain the Ryder Cup by recording 14 points. The change would have allowed Bradley—who finished 11th in Ryder Cup points—to use an assistant as a de facto captain if he had picked himself to play.