The Ryder Cup is the best event in golf. Yes, there’s the Masters, Open Championship, U.S. Open, and now the Olympics, but none of those come close to the passion and atmosphere of the Ryder Cup.

For those who aren’t avid followers of the competition here’s a brief overview. The Ryder Cup is held every two years either at a golf course in Europe or the United States. The competition pits a team made up of 12 European golfers against a team made up 12 golfers from the ole’ U.S. of A. It’s a three-day event where the teams compete in three different golf formats with one point on the line per match.

Players compete in four-ball, alternate shot, and singles matches. In four-ball, each member of a two-man team plays his own ball, so four balls are in play on every hole. Each team counts the lowest of its two scores on each hole, and the team whose player has the lowest score wins the hole. In foursomes, each two-man team plays one ball per hole with the players taking turns until each hole is complete. Players alternate hitting tee shots, with one leading off on odd-numbered holes, and the other hitting first on even-numbered holes. In singles, each matches features one player from each team. The player with the lower score on each hole wins that hole.

A team needs 14.5 points to win the Ryder Cup, and in the event of a tie at 14-14, the team that won the last Ryder Cup retains the trophy.

Now for the recent history of the event, which doesn’t paint a good picture for Team USA. Over the past 10 Ryder Cups, Team USA has only two…TWO, with Europe winning three in a row. With the amount of excellent US players who’ve won multiple majors over that time frame, only winning two Ryder Cups is down right embarrassing.

The jury is still out on why the USA has struggled during recent Ryder Cups. Some think it’s because the US players hate each other, some think the US players can’t come together as a team because their too interested in their own brands, some even think its because the American’s are mentally weak, but I think its because the Europeans have NO EGOS. Every player on Team USA has a HUGE ego that needs to be massaged constantly, while the Europeans come together as a team and drop all egos, including Rory McIlroy. But that’s all about to change. This is Team USA’s year because they have a rallying call. #DOITFORARNIE.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock you’re well aware Arnold Palmer passed away earlier this week. At the age of 87, Palmer passed away after living a full life, one of the fullest life’s you could ever live. The 7-time major winner loved the Ryder Cup, probably because he never lost while being involved as a player or a captain. Palmer led the US team to victory in 1961, 1963, 1965, 1967, 1971, 1973, and 1975 as a captain. He lived for the Ryder Cup and attended the event every year in hopes of inspiring the US team. This US team needs that inspiration now more than ever, since a lot of the team has played on this losing Ryder Cup teams of the recent past. If Team USA loses this year, at home, after Palmer’s passing, then I have no hope they’ll ever win the competition again.

Team Europe

Captain: Darren Clarke, Northern Ireland

Vice-Captains: Thomas Bjorn (Denmark) Padraig Harrington (Ireland) Paul Lawrie (Scotland) Ian Poulter (England) Sam Torrance (Scotland)

Players:

Rafa Cabrera-Bello (Spain)

Age: 32

Career Wins: 5

Majors: 0

Ryder Cup Appearances: 0

World Ranking: 30th

Matthew Fitzpatrick (England)

Age: 22

Career Wins: 2

Majors: 0

Ryder Cup Appearances: 0

World Ranking: 44th

Sergio Garcia (Spain)

Age: 36

Career Wins: 29

Majors: 0 (LOL)

Ryder Cup Appearances: 8

World Ranking: 12th

Martin Kaymer (Germany)

Age: 31

Career Wins: 22

Majors: 2

Ryder Cup Appearances: 4

World Ranking: 48th

Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland)

Age: 27

Career Wins: 22

Majors: 4

Ryder Cup Appearances: 4

World Ranking: 3rd

Thomas Pieters (Belgium)

Age: 24

Career Wins: 3

Majors: 0

Ryder Cup Appearances: 0

World Ranking: 42nd

Justin Rose (England)

Age: 36

Career Wins: 20

Majors: 1

Ryder Cup Appearances: 4

World Ranking: 11th

Henrik Stenson (Sweden)

Age: 40

Career Wins: 19

Majors: 1

Ryder Cup Appearances: 4

World Ranking: 5th

Andy Sullivan (England)

Age: 29

Career Wins: 3

Majors: 0

Ryder Cup Appearances: 0

World Ranking: 50th

Lee Westwood (England)

Age: 43

Career Wins: 42

Majors: 0 (LOL)

Ryder Cup Appearances: 10

World Ranking: 46th

Danny Willett (England)

Age: 28

Career Wins: 5

Majors: 1

Ryder Cup Appearances: 0

World Ranking: 10th

Chris Wood (England)

Age: 28

Career Wins: 4

Majors: 0

Ryder Cup Appearances: 0

World Ranking: 32nd

Team USA

Captain: Davis Love III

Vice-Captains: Jim Fuyrk, Tom Lehman, Steve Striker, Bubba Watson, Tiger Woods

Players:

Rickie Fowler (Murrieta, California)

Age: 27

Career Wins: 6

Majors: 0

Ryder Cup Appearances: 2

World Ranking: 9th

J.B. Holmes (Campbellsville, Kentucky)

Age: 34

Career Wins: 7

Majors: 0

Ryder Cup Appearances: 1

World Ranking: 21st

Dustin Johnson (Columbia, South Carolina)

Age: 32

Career Wins: 14

Majors: 1

Ryder Cup Appearances: 2

World Ranking: 2nd

Zach Johnson (Iowa City, Iowa)

Age: 40

Career Wins: 28

Majors: 2

Ryder Cup Appearances: 4

World Ranking: 28th

Brooks Koepka (West Palm Beach, Florida)

Age: 26

Career Wins: 6

Majors: 0

Ryder Cup Appearances: 0

World Ranking: 22nd

Matt Kuchar (Winter Park, Florida)

Age: 38

Career Wins: 12

Majors: 0

Ryder Cup Appearances: 3

World Ranking: 17th

Phil Mickelson (San Diego, California)

Age: 46

Career Wins: 51

Majors: 5

Ryder Cup Appearances: 10

World Ranking: 15th

Ryan Moore (Tacoma, Washington)

Age: 33

Career Wins: 5

Majors: 0

Ryder Cup Appearances: 1

World Ranking: 31st

Patrick Reed (San Antonio, Texas)

Age: 26

Career Wins: 5

Majors: 0

Ryder Cup Appearances: 1

World Ranking: 8th

Brandt Snedeker (Nashville, Tennessee)

Age: 35

Career Wins: 11

Majors: 0

Ryder Cup Appearances: 1

World Ranking: 23rd

Jordan Spieth (Dallas, Texas)

Age: 23

Career Wins: 10

Majors: 2

Ryder Cup Appearances: 1

World Ranking: 4th

Jimmy Walker (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)

Age: 37

Career Wins: 10

Majors: 1

Ryder Cup Appearances: 1

World Ranking: 16th

Prediction:

With all that’s happened during this week leading up to the Ryder Cup, I see no reason why the USA won’t take home the trophy and get off the schneid. The US fans are already packing Hazeltine Golf Course a couple of days before the event even starts, and this home crowd will lift the US team to victory.

Walking the course right now — people already five-deep behind the ropes, yelling for Team USA. And it's only a practice round. On Tuesday. — Jason Sobel (@JasonSobelESPN) September 27, 2016

The US have the better team in my opinion and I think it’ll show on Friday when the event starts. I’m sure all the players will be wanting to win this one for Arnold Palmer, but I hope they don’t try too hard, because that’s when you get yourself in trouble as a golfer. The Ryder Cup usually comes down to putting and I would give the slight edge to Team USA.

I see the USA winning 16.5-11.5.