The Waiting is Over

A Brief History of the Ryder Cup

1927
The first official Ryder Cup competition is held at Worcester Country Club, Massachusetts, USA. In 1921, matches similar in format to the Ryder Cup were played in Perthshire, but Samuel Ryder attended the 1926 match and donated the cup, and so the official Ryder Cup was born.

1936
Samuel Ryder, who sponsored and donated the trophy for the very first Ryder Cup, passes away in London.

1937
The US team wins in Lancashire, England, with a score of 8–4, marking the first time a team wins on foreign soil.

1939
As a result of World War II, all Ryder Cup matches from 1939 to 1945 are cancelled – four matches in total.

1967
The US defeats Europe with the highest score in Ryder Cup history: 23½–8½ at Champions Golf Club in Texas, USA.

1969
The Cup sees its very first draw when Jack Nicklaus famously concedes a short putt to Tony Jacklin, ensuring that the US retains the Ryder Cup after winning the previous event.

1973
British player Peter Butler scores the tournament’s first hole-in-one at Muirfield, Scotland. The British team adds players from the Republic of Ireland for the first time, but the US continues to dominate.

1979
The Great Britain team branches out to include Continental Europe and is subsequently known as the European Ryder Cup team.

1985
After a record 13 consecutive victories for the US, Europe finally defeats the Americans at The Belfry with a score of 16½–11½. Scotland’s Sam Torrance sinks the winning putt.

1989
The teams record the second tie in Ryder Cup history. As per the rules of the event, Europe retains the Cup.

1991
Dubbed “the War on the Shore”, the rivalry between Paul Azinger and Seve Ballesteros intensifies after they accuse each other of cheating at the previous Ryder Cup event. The match is closely contested, with the pair provoking each other on the course, and the US ultimately prevails with a score of 14½–13½.

1997
Spain’s Valderrama hosts the Ryder Cup, marking the first time the event is held outside the US or the United Kingdom.

1999
The US team is caught up in controversy when supporters run onto the green after a magnificent putt by Justin Leonard on the 17th – running over the putting line of his opponent, José María Olazábal. The event becomes known as “the Battle of Brookline”.

2001
Once again, the Ryder Cup is postponed, this time because of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on 11 September. The match is moved to 2002, although it is still referred to as “the 2001 Ryder Cup”.

2006
Europe grabs its third straight victory, finishing with a comfortable 18½ to 9½ win.

2008
Team USA, without the injured Tiger Woods, secures its first victory since 1999.

2010
Graeme McDowell beats Hunter Mahan in his singles match at Celtic Manor in Wales to end a strong American comeback and win the Ryder Cup for the Europeans.

2012
A remarkable comeback on the final day from 10-6 down sees the Europeans complete “the Miracle at Medinah”, winning by 14½ to 13½.