2018 Ryder Cup: the numbers that really count

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  Tiger Woods tees off during practice at the Ryder Cup at Le Golf National - Guyancourt, France. Regis Duvignau / Reuters

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  Team Europe captain Thomas Bjorn during the team photo with the Ryder Cup. Paul Childs / Reuters

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  Team Europe captain Thomas Bjorn, John Rahm and Rory McIlroy during the team photo with the Ryder Cup. Paul Childs / Reuters

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  Europe's Henrik Stenson plays from a bunker near the putting green at Le Golf National in Guyancourt, outside Paris, France. Alastair Grant / AP Photo

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  General view of Team USA's Tiger Woods during practice at the Ryder Cup tournament at Le Golf National in Guyancourt, France. Regis Duvignau / Reuters

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  Team Europe's Francesco Molinari during a press conference at the Ryder cup tournament in Guyancourt, France. Paul Childs / Reuters

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  Rory McIlroy of Europe practices ahead of the 2018 Ryder Cup at Le Golf National in Paris, France. Jamie Squire / Getty Images

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  Men walk on a fairway at sunrise ahead of the 42nd Ryder Cup at Le Golf National Course at Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, south-west of Paris. Franck Fife / AFP

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  European team players (BACK L/R): Europe's Swedish golfer Henrick Stenson, Europe's English golfer Tommy Fleetwood , Europe's English golfer Paul Casey, Europe's English golfer Tyrell Hatton, Europe's Danish golfer Thorbjorn Olesen, Europe's Italian golfer Francesco Molinari, Europe's Swedish golfer Alex Noren and Europe's English golfer Justin Rose, FRONT(L/R): Europe's Spanish golfer Jon Rahm, Europe's Northern Irish golfer Rory McIlroy, Europe's Danish captain Thomas Bjorn, Europe's Spanish golfer Sergio Garcia and Europe's English golfer Ian Poulter pose for a group photograph ahead of the 42nd Ryder Cup at Le Golf National Course at Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, south-west of Paris on September 25, 2018. Eric Feferberg / AFP

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  Canon Claycomb of Team USA and team mates show their support during the singles on day two of the 2018 Junior Ryder Cup at Disneyland Paris, France. Aurelien Meunier / Getty Images

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  Lucy Li of Team USA looks on during the singles on day two of the 2018 Junior Ryder Cup at Disneyland Paris, France. Aurelien Meunier / Getty Images

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  Tommy Fleetwood of England speaks during a press conference of the Ryder Cup 2018 at The Golf National in Guyancourt, near Paris, France. Ian Langsdon / EPA

From Friday, Europe take on the United States in the Ryder Cup at Le Golf National seeking to reclaim the trophy they lost in America two years ago. John McAuley digs out some of the numbers that matter.

1 – times Tiger Woods has been on the winning team as a player (1999). This will be his eighth appearance at a Ryder Cup.

3 – members of this US team to have played a competitive round at Le Golf National. Tyrrell Hatton is the only player on Team Europe not to record a top-10 finish there, with Tommy Fleetwood and Alex Noren winning the past two French Opens.

5 – rookies on Team Europe: Tommy Fleetwood, Tyrrell Hatton, Jon Rahm, Alex Noren, Thorbjorn Olesen. The US have three: Justin Thomas, Tony Finau, Bryson DeChambeau.

10 – all members of the top 10 in the official world rankings feature this week, the first time that has happened in a Ryder Cup. American Dustin Johnson is the world No 1.

11.2 – average world ranking of the US team, as compared to 19.1 for Europe.

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12 – Ryder Cups Phil Mickelson has played in – a record. At 48, the American is the oldest competitor this week. At more than half his age, Jon Rahm is the youngest.

25 – years since the US last won in Europe. That was at the Belfry in 1993, the year Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas and Bryson DeChambeau were born.

31 – major titles won by this US team, as compared to eight for Europe.

42 – this is the 42nd Ryder Cup. The US have won 26 times, drawing twice. “Europe” played under that banner for the first time in 1979, and have won 10 of the 19 events since, with one draw.

139 – Ryder Cup matches played by this US team, as compared to 124 for Europe. Europe, though, have collected 72.5 points, 5.5 more than the US.