The 44th Ryder Cup has arrived, with 12 of the best Americans looking to retain the trophy against 12 of the best golfers Europe has to offer.
The biennial matches between the U.S. and Europe officially begin Friday at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Rome, Italy.
The first staging of the event was in 1927 and it featured a team of Americans taking on a group from Great Britain. In 1973, that team grew to include golfers from Ireland. In 1979, it expanded again to include players from across Europe.
The U.S. has not won the Ryder Cup away from home since 1993. Check out some of the best photos from the competition.