List of Ryder Cup matches

The Ryder Cup is a golf competition contested by teams from Europe and the United States. The competition was originally contested between Great Britain and the United States; players from the Channel Islands also appeared on the British team, Republic of Ireland golfers were added to the British team in 1953 (although the team name was only changed to 'Great Britain and Ireland' for the 1973 Ryder Cup) and this was extended to golfers elsewhere in Europe in 1979.[1] Established in 1927, the competition is jointly administered by the Professional Golfers' Association of America (PGA of America) and Ryder Cup Europe, a venture in which the PGA European Tour is the primary partner. The competition takes place every two years, with the exception of 2001 when the match was played a year later due to the 11 September attacks and 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic ; the venue alternates between courses in Europe and the United States. The winners of the first match were the United States, who defeated Great Britain at Worcester Country Club 912–212. The latest Ryder Cup, at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome, Italy, was won by the Europe 1612–1112 on 1 October 2023.[2]

List of Ryder Cup matches
A gold cup set against a background of a lake and fields
Tournament information
Established1927
Tour(s)PGA Tour, European Tour
FormatMatch play
Current champion
European Union Europe (in 2023)

The Ryder Cup is contested in a match play format, which involves different methods of the format. A foursomes match is contested with two members from each team playing alternate shots. A fourball match consists of two players from either team, who each play their own shot throughout the round. The player that completes the hole in the lowest number of shots wins the hole. Singles matches are also played, with players from each team contesting a one-on-one match.[3] The winner of each match scores a point for their team, if a match is tied after 18 holes then each team is awarded a 12 point. The format of the competition has changed throughout its history. Originally, foursome matches were played one day, with singles matches over 36 holes the next.[4] Since 1979, the format has consisted of 28 matches held over three days, with each match worth a point. The first two days consist of eight matches; four foursomes and four fourball matches. The final day sees all 12 members of each team competing in singles matches.[5]

The United States are the most successful team in the history of the competition; they have won 27 of the 43 matches that have been contested, 18 of which were before 1979, when the competition was contested between Great Britain and Ireland and the United States. In the 22 matches since the inclusion of European golfers, Europe has won twelve, the United States nine, with one match tied.[6]

History

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The first Ryder Cup match was contested in June 1927. The competition held at Worcester Country Club was won 912–212 by the United States. British captain Ted Ray cited the Americans' "superior putting" as the reason for their victory.[7] Great Britain improved for the 1929 competition, winning 7–5 at Moortown Golf Club.[8] However, they were unable to replicate this performance in 1931. In 100-degree heat and missing a number of their best players, they were unable to match the Americans at the Scioto Country Club and lost 9–3.[9] The 1933 contest at the Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club was a closer affair than previous matches. It came down to the final match between Syd Easterbrook and Denny Shute. The American Shute had a putt to win the competition, but missed two in succession leaving Easterbrook with a putt to win the contest, which he made to secure a 612–512 victory for the British team.[10] The United States regained the Cup in 1935, when they beat Great Britain 9–3 at Ridgewood Country Club.[11] They became the first team to win the competition outside of their own country in 1937 when they beat the British team 8–4 at Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club.[12]

The advent of the Second World War meant the Ryder Cup was not contested again until 1947 at Portland Golf Club. The United States dominated the match in wet conditions, as Great Britain scored one point in an 11–1 defeat.[13] The 1949 match was closer than the previous contest. Great Britain went into the final day with a 3–1 lead, but they were unable to secure the three and a half points they needed to win and lost 7–5.[14] The 1951 contest at Pinehurst Resort, was again won by the United States. Such was the dominance in their 912–212 victory, that only two of the twelve matches reached the 18th hole.[15] Before the 1953 contest Great Britain were given a boost when American Ben Hogan decided not to participate. He had won three of the four men's major golf championships during the year and his absence gave them optimism. However, they were unable to beat the United States; mistakes at the end of their singles matches by Peter Alliss and Bernard Hunt cost Great Britain as they lost 612–512.[16] Despite recording their best points total in matches held in the United States, Great Britain were again defeated in 1955. The United States won 8–4 to extend their winning streak to 21 years.[17]

The 1957 contest saw Great Britain regain the Cup for the first time since 1933. They were 3–1 down after the first round of matches, but victory in five out of the seven singles matches made the difference as they won 712–412.[18] The United States regained the Ryder Cup in 1959 beating Great Britain 812–312. The match was the last to be contested over 36 holes of foursomes and singles matches. The format changed to two 18 hole sets of foursomes and singles in 1961, doubling the number of points available from 12 to 24.[19][20] The change in format did not affect the trend of American dominance as they won 1412–912 at Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club.[21] Two sets of four balls were introduced in 1963, increasing the number of points available to 32.[22] Again, the changes made little difference to the outcome as the United States won 23–9 at East Lake Golf Club. British player Henry Cotton summed up the display from the Americans, stating: "We have been outclassed."[23] The 1965 match at Royal Birkdale Golf Club started well for Great Britain, as they were trailing the United States 9–7 going into the singles matches. But the Americans proved too strong, winning the majority of the matches to win the contest 1912–1212.[24]

The 1967 match continued the trend of American victories, as the United States won 2312–812 at Champions Golf Club.[25] Unlike in previous years, the 1969 match was much closer. The match came down to the last hole of the final singles match between American Jack Nicklaus and British golfer Tony Jacklin. Nicklaus made his putt, which left Jacklin with a putt to tie the match. Despite this, Nicklaus conceded the putt, picking up Jacklin's ball marker. As a result, their match was tied, as was the contest at 16–16.[26] The United States won again in 1971, beating Great Britain 1812–1312.[27] The 1973 match was the first held in Scotland at Muirfield.[28] The outcome remained the same as Great Britain lost 19–13.[29] The 1975 match at Laurel Valley Golf Club was similar with the United States winning 21–11.[30] The format changed again in 1977, as matches were reduced by nearly a third leaving 20 points available. The changed requested by Great Britain & Ireland did little to change the outcome, as the United States won 1212–712.[31] Golfers from continental Europe were allowed to compete for the first time in 1979. There was another change to the format, the first two days now consisted of eight foursomes and fourballs, with twelve singles matches on the final day. Again, the changes had little effect on the outcome as the United States won 17–11.[32]

The 1981 match was originally scheduled to take place at The Belfry, but construction of the course was not completed on time and Walton Heath Golf Club was used instead. The United States, containing a team that had won 36 major championships between them, dominated the match winning 1812–912.[33] The 1983 match at PGA National Golf Club was the closest in recent years. After the first two days the match was tied at 8–8. Europe fell short in the singles match, winning four out of the twelve matches and lost the contest 1412–1312.[34] The 1985 match held at the now completed Belfry, saw Europe win the trophy for the first time in 28 years. Leading 9–7 going into the final day, they won six singles matches to secure a 1612–1112 victory.[35] Europe retained the Ryder Cup in 1987, beating the United States 15–13 at Muirfield Village, to win in the United States for the first time.[36] The 1989 match was only the second time the contest ended in a tie. Europe were in commanding position when José María Cañizares won his singles match, but defeat in the last four matches meant the match finished 14–14.[37] The 1991 match at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, known as the "War on the Shore", saw the United States regain the Cup. The scores were tied at 8–8 going into the final day and the match came down to the last singles match between Europe's Bernhard Langer and American golfer Hale Irwin. Langer missed a 6 feet (1.8 m) putt at the last hole, which meant the United States won 1412–1312.[38] The United States retained the Cup in 1993, winning 15–13 at The Belfry.[39] Europe regained the trophy in 1995, defeating the United States 1412–1312 at Oak Hill Country Club.[40]

 
View from the Grandstand at the 2018 Ryder Cup held at Le Golf National in France.

The Ryder Cup was played outside of the British Isles for the first time in 1997, as Valderrama Golf Club in Spain hosted the contest. Despite taking a five-point lead into the final day, Europe needed the half point Colin Montgomerie secured in his tied singles match with Scott Hoch to win 1412–1312.[41] The 1999 match was the third time in succession the contest had been won by a single point, but this time it was the United States who won 1412–1312.[42] This was not without controversy, as Europe were unhappy with the celebrations by the American team after a putt by Justin Leonard, while European golfer José María Olazábal still had a chance of holing his putt.[43] The Ryder Cup was scheduled to be played in 2001, but two weeks before the competition was scheduled to take place the September 11 attacks occurred. The United States fearing for their safety requested the match be played a year later in 2002.[44] When the match was played, Europe won 1512–1212 to regain the Cup.[45] They retained the Cup in 2004 when they won 1812–912 at Oakland Hills Country Club, in what was the United States' heaviest defeat in the competition.[46] The result was repeated in 2006 at the K Club. Europe's 1812–912 victory marked the first time they had won three matches in succession.[47] The United States regained the Ryder Cup in 2008, winning for the first time since 1999. They won the match when Jim Furyk beat Miguel Ángel Jiménez with four singles matches still ongoing, to win 1612–1112.[48] A tight contest in 2010 came down to the final singles match between European Graeme McDowell and American golfer Hunter Mahan. McDowell won his match with a hole to spare, to give Europe a 1412–1312 victory.[49] Europe recovered a 10–6 deficit on the last day in 2012, as they won eight of the twelve singles matches to win 1412–1312.[50]

The 2014 event held at Gleneagles Hotel on the PGA Centenary Course, resulted in a third successive victory for Europe. The 1612–1112 scoreline was their biggest since their 2008 success.[51] The 2016 edition saw USA win 17–11 to secure their first victory since 2008.[52] Europe regained the Ryder Cup in 2018 when they won 1712–1012 at Le Golf National in France.[53]

Matches

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Key
Match was tied
  • The "Year" column refers to the year the match was held, and links to the article about that match.
Ryder Cup matches
Year Winners Score Runners-up Host country Venue GBI/Europe captain United States captain
1927   United States 912–212   Great Britain   United States Worcester Country Club, Massachusetts   Ted Ray Walter Hagen
1929   Great Britain 7–5   United States   England Moortown Golf Club, Yorkshire   George Duncan Walter Hagen
1931   United States 9–3   Great Britain   United States Scioto Country Club, Columbus, Ohio   Charles Whitcombe Walter Hagen
1933   Great Britain 612–512   United States   England Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club, Lancashire   John Henry Taylor Walter Hagen
1935   United States 9–3   Great Britain   United States Ridgewood Country Club, Paramus, New Jersey   Charles Whitcombe Walter Hagen
1937   United States 8–4   Great Britain   England Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club, Lancashire   Charles Whitcombe Walter Hagen
1947   United States 11–1   Great Britain   United States Portland Golf Club, Portland, Oregon   Henry Cotton Ben Hogan
1949   United States 7–5   Great Britain   England Ganton Golf Club, Scarborough, Yorkshire   Charles Whitcombe Ben Hogan
1951   United States 912–212   Great Britain   United States Pinehurst Resort Course No. 2, North Carolina   Arthur Lacey Sam Snead
1953   United States 612–512   Great Britain   England Wentworth Club, Virginia Water, Surrey   Henry Cotton Lloyd Mangrum
1955   United States 8–4   Great Britain   United States Thunderbird Country Club, Rancho Mirage, California   Dai Rees Chick Harbert
1957   Great Britain 712–412   United States   England Lindrick Golf Club, West Riding of Yorkshire   Dai Rees Jack Burke Jr.
1959   United States 812–312   Great Britain   United States Eldorado Golf Club, Indian Wells, California   Dai Rees Sam Snead
1961   United States 1412–912   Great Britain   England Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club, Lytham St. Annes, Lancashire   Dai Rees Jerry Barber
1963   United States 23–9   Great Britain   United States Atlanta Athletic Club, Atlanta, Georgia[a]   John Fallon Arnold Palmer
1965   United States 1912–1212   Great Britain   England Royal Birkdale Golf Club, Southport, Lancashire   Harry Weetman Byron Nelson
1967   United States 2312–812   Great Britain   United States Champions Golf Club, Houston, Texas   Dai Rees Ben Hogan
1969   United States [b] 16–16   Great Britain   England Royal Birkdale Golf Club, Southport, Lancashire   Eric Brown Sam Snead
1971   United States 1812–1312   Great Britain   United States Old Warson Country Club, St. Louis, Missouri   Eric Brown Jay Hebert
1973   United States 19–13    Great Britain & Ireland   Scotland Muirfield, Gullane, East Lothian   Bernard Hunt Jack Burke Jr.
1975   United States 21–11    Great Britain & Ireland   United States Laurel Valley Golf Club, Ligonier, Pennsylvania   Bernard Hunt Arnold Palmer
1977   United States 1212–712    Great Britain & Ireland   England Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club, Lytham St. Annes, Lancashire   Brian Huggett Dow Finsterwald
1979   United States 17–11   Europe   United States The Greenbrier, The Greenbrier Course, White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia   John Jacobs Billy Casper
1981   United States 1812–912   Europe   England Walton Heath Golf Club, Walton-on-the-Hill, Surrey   John Jacobs Dave Marr
1983   United States 1412–1312   Europe   United States PGA National Golf Club, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida   Tony Jacklin Jack Nicklaus
1985   Europe 1612–1112   United States   England The Belfry, Brabazon Course, Wishaw, Warwickshire   Tony Jacklin Lee Trevino
1987   Europe 15–13   United States   United States Muirfield Village, Dublin, Ohio   Tony Jacklin Jack Nicklaus
1989   Europe[b] 14–14   United States   England The Belfry, Brabazon Course, Wishaw, Warwickshire   Tony Jacklin Raymond Floyd
1991   United States 1412–1312   Europe   United States Kiawah Island Golf Resort, Ocean Course, Kiawah Island, South Carolina   Bernard Gallacher Dave Stockton
1993   United States 15–13   Europe   England The Belfry, Brabazon Course, Wishaw, Warwickshire   Bernard Gallacher Tom Watson
1995   Europe 1412–1312   United States   United States Oak Hill Country Club, East Course, Rochester, New York   Bernard Gallacher Lanny Wadkins
1997   Europe 1412–1312   United States   Spain Valderrama Golf Club, Sotogrande, Andalusia   Seve Ballesteros Tom Kite
1999   United States 1412–1312   Europe   United States The Country Club, Composite Course, Brookline, Massachusetts   Mark James Ben Crenshaw
2002   Europe 1512–1212   United States   England The Belfry, Brabazon Course, Wishaw, Warwickshire   Sam Torrance Curtis Strange
2004   Europe 1812–912   United States   United States Oakland Hills Country Club, South Course, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan   Bernhard Langer Hal Sutton
2006   Europe 1812–912   United States   Republic of Ireland K Club, Palmer Course, Straffan, County Kildare   Ian Woosnam Tom Lehman
2008   United States 1612–1112   Europe   United States Valhalla Golf Club, Louisville, Kentucky   Nick Faldo Paul Azinger
2010   Europe 1412–1312   United States   Wales Celtic Manor Resort, Twenty Ten Course, Newport   Colin Montgomerie Corey Pavin
2012   Europe 1412–1312   United States   United States Medinah Country Club, Course 3, Medinah, Illinois   José María Olazábal Davis Love III
2014   Europe 1612–1112   United States   Scotland Gleneagles, PGA Centenary Course, Perth & Kinross   Paul McGinley Tom Watson
2016   United States 17–11   Europe   United States Hazeltine National Golf Club, Chaska, Minnesota   Darren Clarke Davis Love III
2018   Europe 1712–1012   United States   France Le Golf National, Albatros Course, Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines   Thomas Bjørn Jim Furyk
2021   United States 19–9   Europe   United States Whistling Straits, Straits Course, Haven, Wisconsin   Pádraig Harrington Steve Stricker
2023   Europe 1612–1112   United States   Italy Marco Simone Golf and Country Club, Rome   Luke Donald Zach Johnson

Results by team

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Team From To Matches Wins Losses Ties
  United States 1927 2023 44 27 15 2
  Great Britain/
  Great Britain &   Ireland
1927 1977 22 3 18 1
  Europe 1979 2023 22 12 9 1

Venues

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Maps of Ryder Cup venues.

 
 
1929
 
1933,1937
 
1949
 
1953
 
1957
 
1961,1977
 
1965,1969
 
1973
 
1981
 
1985,1989,1993,2002
 
2006
 
2010
 
2014
Ryder Cups held in Great Britain and Ireland
 
 
1927
 
1931
 
1935
 
1947
 
1951
 
1955
 
1959
 
1963
 
1967
 
1971
 
1975
 
1979
 
1983
 
1987
 
1991
 
1995
 
1999
 
2004
 
2008
 
2012
 
2016
 
2021
Ryder Cups held in the USA
 
 
1997
 
2018
 
2023
Ryder Cups held on the European mainland

Notes

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  1. ^ The Atlanta Athletic Club sold the site of the golf course in 1967 when they moved to the Atlanta suburb of Johns Creek, Georgia. The event was held on the original course, now known as East Lake Golf Club.
  2. ^ a b In the event of a match ending in a tie, the team who last won the Ryder Cup retains the Cup.[54]

References

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General

  • "Past results of the Ryder Cup". Ryder Cup. Archived from the original on 15 August 2012. Retrieved 12 August 2012.

Specific

  1. ^ "1979: The Greenbrier, White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia". Ryder Cup. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
  2. ^ "Dates announced for 2016 Ryder Cup at Hazeltine". rydercup.com. Archived from the original on 12 October 2014. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  3. ^ "Scoring". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
  4. ^ "Ryder Cup Media Guide" (PDF). PGA of America. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
  5. ^ Ryan, Kevin (24 September 1999). "Ryder Cup format". USA Today. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
  6. ^ "Ryder Cup – History". European Tour. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
  7. ^ "Ryder Cup History – 1927". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
  8. ^ "Ryder Cup History – 1929". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
  9. ^ "Ryder Cup History – 1931". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
  10. ^ "Ryder Cup History – 1933". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
  11. ^ "Ryder Cup History – 1935". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  12. ^ "Ryder Cup History – 1937". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  13. ^ "1947: Portland Golf Club, Portland, Oregon". Ryder Cup. Archived from the original on 3 July 2012. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  14. ^ "Ryder Cup History – 1949". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  15. ^ "Ryder Cup History – 1951". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  16. ^ "Ryder Cup History – 1953". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  17. ^ "Ryder Cup History – 1955". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  18. ^ "Ryder Cup History – 1957". Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  19. ^ "1959 Eldorado Country Club, Palm Desert, California". Ryder Cup. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  20. ^ "1961 Royal Lytham & St Annes, St Annes, England". Ryder Cup. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  21. ^ "Ryder Cup History – 1961". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  22. ^ "1963 East Lake Country Club, Atlanta, Georgia". Ryder Cup. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  23. ^ "Ryder Cup History – 1963". Ryder Cup. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  24. ^ "Ryder Cup History – 1965". Ryder Cup. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  25. ^ "Ryder Cup History – 1967". Ryder Cup. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  26. ^ "Ryder Cup History – 1969". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  27. ^ "1971 Old Warson Country Club, St Louis, Missouri". Ryder Cup. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  28. ^ "1973 Muirfield, Muirfield, Scotland". Ryder Cup. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  29. ^ "Ryder Cup History – 1973". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  30. ^ "Ryder Cup History – 1975". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  31. ^ "1977 Royal Lytham & St Annes, St Annes, England". Ryder Cup. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  32. ^ "Ryder Cup History – 1979". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  33. ^ "Ryder Cup History – 1981". Ryder Cup. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  34. ^ "Ryder Cup History – 1983". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  35. ^ "Ryder Cup History – 1985". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  36. ^ "1987 Muirfield Village, Columbus, Ohio". Ryder Cup. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  37. ^ "Ryder Cup History – 1989". Ryder Cup. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  38. ^ "Ryder Cup History – 1991". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  39. ^ "Ryder Cup History – 1993". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  40. ^ "Ryder Cup History – 1995". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  41. ^ "Ryder Cup History – 1997". Ryder Cup. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  42. ^ "Ryder Cup History – 1999". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  43. ^ Davies, David (18 November 2004). "Casey opens war with America". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  44. ^ "Ryder Cup History – 2001". BBC Sport. 13 September 2004. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  45. ^ "Ryder Cup History – 2002". BBC Sport. 13 September 2004. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  46. ^ "Europe win Ryder Cup". BBC Sport. 19 September 2004. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
  47. ^ "Cheers and tears (2006)". Sky Sports. 6 September 2010. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  48. ^ Orlovac, Mark (21 September 2008). "US secure emphatic Ryder Cup win". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  49. ^ "McDowell seals dramatic win as Europe regain Ryder Cup". BBC Sport. 4 October 2012. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
  50. ^ "Ryder Cup 2012: Europe beat USA after record comeback". BBC Sport. 30 September 2012. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
  51. ^ Dirs, Ben (28 September 2014). "Ryder Cup day three as it happened". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  52. ^ Murray, Ewan (3 October 2016). "Ryder Cup review: USA get wildcards right and is McIlroy the new Poulter?". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  53. ^ Murray, Ewan (30 September 2018). "Ryder Cup 2018: Europe rout USA to exceed Thomas Bjørn's wildest dreams". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  54. ^ "How it works". Ryder Cup. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
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