SPORTS EXTRA / RYDER CUP : Ryder Cup / The Facts

* What: 33rd Ryder Cup matches.

* When: Friday-Sunday.

* Where: The Country Club, Brookline, Mass.

* The Course: Founded in 1882, golf began 10 years later when the first six holes were built. One of the five founding courses of the USGA, and only club to be host of six USGA competitions--three U.S. Opens, five U.S. Amateurs, three U.S. Women’s Amateurs, two Walker Cup matches, a U.S. Girls’ Junior and a U.S. Junior Amateur. Site of America’s first great triumph in golf--Francis Ouimet beating British stars Harry Vardon and Ted Ray to win the 1913 U.S. Open.

* Length: 7,033 yards.

* Par: 35-36--71.

* Defending champion: Europe.

* Series: U.S. leads, 23-7-2.

* Last time: Inspired by captain Seve Ballesteros, Europe won six of eight points on the second day to build a 10 1/2-5 1/2 lead. The Americans rallied in singles, but Europe retained the cup with a 14 1/2-13 1/2 victory at Valderrama. Tiger Woods, Justin Leonard and Davis Love III, who had won three of the four majors in 1997, were a combined 1-9-3. Europe’s five rookies accounted for eight points.

* Format: Four alternate-shot matches and four best-ball matches on each of the first two days. Twelve 18-hole singles matches Sunday. One point is awarded for each victory, a half-point when the match is a draw. The U.S. needs 14 1/2 points to win the cup. Europe, as defending champion, would retain the cup if it ends in a tie.

* U.S. team: Tiger Woods, David Duval, Payne Stewart, Davis Love III, Mark O’Meara, Hal Sutton, Justin Leonard, Jim Furyk, Phil Mickelson, Jeff Maggert, Tom Lehman, Steve Pate.

* European team: Colin Montgomerie, Lee Westwood, Darren Clarke, Paul Lawrie, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Jose Maria Olazabal, Sergio Garcia, Jarmo Sandelin, Jean Van de Velde, Padraig Harrington, Andrew Coltart, Jesper Parnevik.

* Captains: U.S.--Ben Crenshaw; Europe--Mark James.

* Notable: Europe has won or retained the Ryder Cup five of the past seven matches.

* Average age: USA--34. Europe--30.4

* Youngest player: U.S.--Woods, 23; Europe--Garcia, 19

* Oldest player: U.S.--O’Meara, 42; Europe--Montgomerie, 36

* Highest-ranked player: U.S.--Woods, No. 1; Europe--Montgomerie, No. 3

* Lowest-ranked player: U.S.--Pate, No. 30; Europe--Van de Velde, No. 87

* Tour victories: U.S.--106; Europe--78

* 1999 tour victories: U.S.--13; Europe--14

* Major titles: U.S.--11; Europe--3

* Players with experience: U.S.--11; Europe--5

* Quotable: “It’s extremely important that people know what we’re playing for. We’re playing for our souls.” -- Ben Crenshaw.

* Television (all times PDT): Friday, 4:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. (USA). Saturday, 5 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Channel 4). Sunday, 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Channel 4).