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We’re now just a couple of hours away from the most anticipated Presidents Cup ever, and I don’t think that would be hyperbolic to say.

In the 17-year history of the Presidents Cup, there hasn’t been a more talked-about edition of the series. A competition that pits the United States against the rest of the world, excluding Europe, has been downplayed by media and talking heads alike for decades because it doesn’t have the history or prestige of its big brother, the Ryder Cup.

However, this year has been different. We’ve been talking about the possibilities for nearly a year straight. When the Ryder Cup wrapped up last year in Wales, players’ attention gravitated to the next international event.

Mix in the uncertainty that has befallen the world’s most popular player over the past 12 months, never mind the last two years, the anticipation, excitement and water cooler fodder has been unmatched in any Presidents Cup before.

So, now that we are only minutes from the first balls being hit at Royal Melbourne, allow me to take you on a complete guide of the Presidents Cup. Feel free to print this out, take it to your friends’ house and keep it in your pocket so you can act like you know all there is to know about the event.

Broadcast Schedule

The whole preview would be rendered useless if you didn’t know when to watch, right? Well thanks to the great Neil Sagebiel over at ArmchairGolf, we have the full viewing schedule so you won’t miss a shot. All the live coverage will be played on the Golf Channel (GOLF) as well as the Thursday and Friday matches on tape-delay. The tape-delayed national coverage on the weekend will be broadcast on NBC (NBC).

Wednesday, November 16 
Opening Ceremony
9 p.m.-2 a.m. (GOLF, live coverage)

Thursday, November 17
9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. (GOLF, tape-delayed)
7:30 p.m.-2 a.m. (GOLF, live coverage

Friday, November 18
8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (GOLF, tape-delayed)
3 p.m.-2 a.m. (GOLF, live coverage)

Saturday, November 19
8 a.m.-4 p.m. (NBC, tape-delayed)
6:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. (GOLF, live coverage)

Sunday, November 20
12-6 p.m. (NBC, tape-delayed)

Formats

First and foremost, you need to know what game the boys are playing down under. In these events, it’s as close to a weekend getaway with your buddies as you can get. The formats that take place over the next four days are the same ones you can play with your friends, but you might get a little confused by the terminology you hear being tossed around on the broadcast.

Everything is played in a match play format so the winning score will be something like 19½ to 14½ or 20 to 15. Obviously, since you can add, there are 34 matches spread over the four days. The night before each set of matches, the two captains and their assistants will pair up their teams and by virtue of a blind draw, match them up with two competitors from the other side.

On Thursday, there will be six foursome matches with every player taking part. Foursome is a fancy way of saying alternate shot. So, there are six groups of two-man teams facing off in an alternate shot format playing 18 holes of match play. Got all that?

It is the captain’s job to pair two players together on his team that he thinks will be able to have a good give-and-take. That is to say, you don’t want to pair a bomber with a dinker. You’ll most likely see pairings of guys with similar games. For instance, you probably will not see Dustin Johnson playing with David Toms in foursomes simply because their games aren’t compatible.

If, at the end of 18 holes, a team wins, they will get one point for their team. There is no extra holes, so if after 18 holes, the two teams tie, the match is halved giving each team ½ a point.

On Friday, there will be six four-ball matches with every player on the team taking part. Four-ball is a fancy way of saying best ball. So, there are six groups of two-man teams playing their own ball. Each duo will take the best score from the pair and put it against the best score on that hole from the other team to achieve a match play format.

The captain’s choice for pairings here can be left a little more up to the imagination. Both guys are playing their own ball, so it’s not as important to pair similar-gamed players. It’s more of a comfort thing for the players. For instance, you probably won’t see Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods teeing it up together, because, you know, apparently they don’t really like each other that much.

Same as foursomes, a win for a pair gets a point for their team and a halved match gets ½ a point.

On Saturday, the marathon day, there will be five foursome matches in which the captains will sit two players on each team in the morning, followed by five four-ball matches in the afternoon in which two more players will sit. It is up to the captain’s discretion who to play on Saturday and in theory, a captain could sit the same two players both sessions, although it is unlikely.

On Sunday, however, everyone plays once again. There are 12 singles matches. Basically, it is just a one-on-one match up of one player from the International squad versus one player from the American squad. Same rules as with the others, if a player wins the match, he will receive a point for his team and if the match is halved, then each get a ½ a point.

With the United States as the reigning Presidents Cup champion, the International team will have to beat the Americans outright. If, after all 34 matches, the score is 17 to 17, then the United States will retain the cup for another two years.

Now that you understand the format and when each is taking place, let’s look ahead to Thursday’s pairings.

Thursday Foursomes Pairings

US Captain Fred Couples, along with his assistant captains set their pairings last night, as did International captain Greg Norman and his assistants. The way the groupings are determined is by blind draw. Usually, they will set their lineups beforehand in an order of who will go out first through sixth, although there is the possibility that once one side announces a pair, the responding captain could switch his order. If it ever happens, the captains never admit to it.

Without further ado…

Heading out in the first pairing for the United States are Webb Simpson and Bubba Watson. They will face Ernie Els and Ryo Ishikawa.

  • The Bubba/Webb pairing is good for a couple of reasons, not the least bit to do with their outlooks on religion. On the other hand, it would appear as if Norman put the veteran Els with the young Ishikawa for a balanced attack, hoping Ernie can mentor Ryo. Prediction: America 1 up

In the second group for the US are Bill Haas and Nick Watney. They will go against Geoff Ogilvy and Charl Schwartzel.

  •  Haas and Watney both are coming off great 2011 seasons, but the International mix and experience of Ogilvy and Schwartzel could give the youngsters from the States some problems. Prediction: Match halved

Third for America are Dustin Johnson and Matt Kuchar. For the Internationals, Jason Day and Aaron Baddeley.

  • The home-country fans will definitely be supporting their Aussies Day and Baddeley well, but with Kuchar’s consistent play and Johnson’s raw ability, it’s hard to count out the Americans in a tough match. Prediction: Internationals 2 and 1

Going out fourth for the US are Phil Mickelson and Jim Furyk. They will play Retief Goosen and Robert Allenby.

  • Perhaps the most experienced group on the course, Mickelson and Furyk haven’t exactly lit up the Tour in 2011. Goosen is always steady and I see Allenby as an Ian Poulter-type for the Internationals. Prediction: Internationals 2 and 1

The penultimate group for the Americans will be Hunter Mahan and David Toms. They will face KT Kim and YE Yang.

  • No one feels worse about last year’s Ryder Cup than Hunter Mahan, although anyone in Wales will tell you there were other points out there. Kim and Yang are a strong team that will be over-looked, but shouldn’t be. I just like Mahan to have a huge week. Prediction: America 1 up

Finally, the last group will get all the attention. For the US, Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker, and for the Internationals Adam Scott and KJ Choi.

  • Everyone wants to make a big deal out of Tiger and Steve Williams in the same group. I don’t. Tiger doesn’t care and will ignore him anyway. Scott and Choi will be a very strong team for the Internationals, but Woods and Stricker just click. There was some speculation that Couples would split up Woods and Stricker, but I think he made the right call keeping them together. I expect the Americans to go down early, but come charging back. Prediction: America 2 and 1

*****

There you have it. You’re all set to go. Balls will be in the air in a matter of minutes. So grab a beverage (probably better off if it’s something with caffeine), an American flag and sit back and enjoy what should be one of the best Presidents Cups ever.