Ryder Cup Schedule 2012: Team USA tries to take back title beginning Friday

Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods are ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the world, and they'll square off trying to lead their team to victory as Team USA and Team Europe play for the Ryder Cup this weekend at the Medinah Country Club in the suburbs of Chicago.

Team USA won the last time the Ryder Cup was contested on American soil in 2008, but that's been their only victory of the 21st century thus far. Four of the world's top five ranked golfers will be representing Team Europe – McIlroy, Luke Donald, Lee Westwood, and Justin Rose – but Woods, Bubba Watson, and Phil Mickelson are on a team that isn't lacking for talent either. This is the first time in 39 events all 24 golfers in the Ryder Cup are ranked in the world's top 35.

Friday and Saturday have identical schedules, beginning with four foursome matches at 8 a.m. EST and continuing at noon with fourball matches, which will feature two golfers a side. Friday's competition will be on ESPN, while Saturday will be covered by NBC.

Although those team events account for 16 of the 28 points that will be awarded, the 12 one-on-one matches that will most likely decide the event are on the final day of competition. Singles matches will begin on Sunday at noon, with the trophy scheduled to be awarded at 5:30 p.m. Coverage for the event's final day will also be on NBC.

For more on the Ryder Cup, head over to SB Nation's dedicated golf hub.