Ryder Cup Opta Stats: Those all important facts and figures

Luke Donald was one of the leading point scorers in 2010

The Ryder Cup commences on Friday and those lovely people at Opta have provided us with an in-depth stat sheet to help us finalise our wagers...

Since Europe replaced GB&I in 1979, the Old Continent has won eight editions of the Ryder Cup, one more than the USA (seven). The match in 1989 ended in a tie.

Europe have won three of the eight Ryder Cups played on American soil: in 1987, 1995 and 2004.

The last time a team won the Ryder Cup after trailing going into the singles session was back in 1999 when the USA clawed back a four-point deficit. The team leading before the singles has won each of the last four editions of the Ryder Cup.

Only two Ryder Cups have ended in a tie: 1969 (16-16) and 1989 (14-14).

USA have won 11 of the 16 singles sessions in the Ryder Cup (since 1979), a 69% rate.

Jos Mara Olazbal is the second Spaniard to captain the European team after Severiano Ballesteros in 1997. He was part of the first European team to win on American soil in 1987.

USA team captain Davis Love III has taken part in six editions of the Ryder Cup. Olazbal has been in seven.

Olazbal and Love III have played each other five times in the Ryder Cup. The Spaniard has won four of their encounters (two with Severiano Ballesteros in 1993 and two with Costantino Rocca in 1997) with only one win for the American (in 1993 with Tom Kite).

The six Ryder Cups Europe have won since 1995 have all been under non-English captains: Bernard Gallacher, Seve Ballesteros, Sam Torrance, Bernhard Langer, Ian Woosnam and Colin Montgomerie. The two Englishmen that have had the privilege of leading Europe since then have both lost: Mark James in 1999 and Nick Faldo in 2008.

Paul Lawrie is making his second appearance at the Ryder Cup, 13 years after his first (1999). He's the oldest player on the European team (43 yo).

Rory McIlroy is the youngest player at the 2012 Ryder Cup (23 yo). He played three matches with fellow northern Irishman Graeme McDowell at the last Ryder Cup, winning one, halving one and losing one. He then halved his singles match against Stewart Cink.

Steve Stricker is the oldest player on the USA team (45 yo) while Keegan Bradley (26 yo) is the youngest.

Nicolas Colsaerts is the only European making his Ryder Cup debut this year.

On the American side, four players are making their first appearance at the tournament: Jason Dufner, Keegan Bradley, Webb Simpson and Brandt Snedeker.

Stewart Cink was the only player to remain unbeaten at the last Ryder Cup, in 2010: one win and three halves.

Luke Donald, Ian Poulter, Steve Stricker and Tiger Woods won the most points at the last Ryder Cup: three each.

Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson and Bubba Watson lost the most matches at the last Ryder Cup: three each.

The Molinari brothers - Edoardo and Francesco - were the only Europeans who failed to win a match at the 2010 Ryder Cup.

Francesco Molinari and Jim Furyk picked up the fewest points at the last Ryder Cup: 0.5 each.

Lee Westwood has won six of his seven encounters with Tiger Woods at the Ryder Cup.

Only five European players have picked up more points than Lee Westwood at the Ryder Cup (19): Nick Faldo (25), Bernhard Langer (24), Colin Montgomerie (23.5), Seve Ballesteros (22.5) and Jose-Maria Olazabal (20.5).

Tiger Woods has won the last two majors played on Medinah Country Club's #3 course: USPGA Championships in 1999 and 2006.

Woods has won only one of the six Ryder Cups he's taken part in, that was in 1999. He didn't play in the USA's last victory, back in 2008.

Sergio Garcia has lost four of the five singles sessions he's taken part in, his only victory being in 2004 when he defeated Mickelson.

Garcia and Donald have won the four matches they've played in as a pair.

Phil Mickelson will take part in his ninth Ryder Cup, a new record for the USA team. On the European side, Lee Westwood will play in his eighth Ryder Cup, the most in the 2012 side.

Luke Donald has won eight of his 11 matches at the Ryder Cup, picking up an average of 0.77 point per game. It's the best ratio of the European side among players having disputed at least five matches, ahead of Ian Poulter (0.73).

Luke Donald has a 100% record in foursomes: he's won the six matches he's taken part in.

Jim Furyk has won just two points from his last seven Ryder Cup matches (one win v Miguel Angel Jimenez in 2008 and two halves). He's won only four of his 20 matches in foursomes and fourballs.

Nicolas Colsaerts is the only Belgian player to compete for Europe at a Ryder Cup. England have had the most representatives in the competition (since 1979) with 22, next on the list are Spain and Scotland with nine competitors each.

Sergio Garcia is the youngest player to ever compete in the competition, back in 1999 at Brookline when he was just 19-years-old.

Ryder Cup Winner - USA 1.774/5, Europe 2.789/5, Tie 12.5n/a