The Ryder Cup is a biennial men’s golf competition between teams from Europe and the United States. It is named after the English businessman Samuel Ryder who donated the trophy. The competition is jointly administered by the PGA of America and Ryder Cup Europe, with the host venue alternating between courses in the United States and Europe respectively.
The Ryder Cup is unique in that it is contested between teams rather than individual golfers. It is also played under a match play format rather than the more common stroke play used in most professional golf tournaments. This, together with the fervor of national pride and the natural competitive rivalry between the US and Europe, creates an electric atmosphere that is unmatched in professional golf. With large, partisan crowds following the players over all three days of competition, the Ryder Cup is often described as the third biggest sporting event globally after the Olympic Games and football’s World Cup.
The US team has dominated the early history of the Ryder Cup, winning 18 of the first 23 editions from 1927 through to 1985. However, since 1985 European golf has grown increasingly competitive and over the last 27 years Europe has achieved parity, winning 11 matches to America’s 11 with Europe retaining the trophy at the last home match in 2018.
The history of the US in the Ryder Cup
The Ryder Cup was first contested in 1927 at Worcester Country Club in Massachusetts. The seeds were sown for the match at the 1921 British Open at Gleneagles, where English businessman Samuel Ryder struck up a friendship with Abe Mitchell, the runner up that year. Ryder had taken up golf at age 49 hoping it would help him recover from stress, while Mitchell was one of Britain’s top professional golfers.
This friendship led Ryder to donate a gold trophy to the PGA of America in 1926, proposing an annual match between teams of pro golfers from America and Britain. The inaugural Ryder Cup took place the following year between teams from Great Britain and the United States, with the hosts USA winning comfortably by 9.5 to 2.5 points at Worcester Country Club in Massachusetts.
Team USA continued its dominance throughout the early decades, winning the next 5 matches through to 1939. The competition was then suspended through the years of World War 2, resuming in 1947. The Americans continued their strong streak with victories in 1947, 1949, 1951, 1953 and 1955.
During these successful postwar years, the USA could call on stars such as Ben Hogan, Sam Snead and Byron Nelson – players whose talent stacks up against anyone in the history of the game. This American team was one of the strongest ever assembled in any sport. While the Great Britain team had some fine players like Dai Rees, the overall playing depth was not in the same league at this time.
The years from 1957 through to 1977 saw Team Europe (expanded to include golfers from the Republic of Ireland and continental Europe from 1979) become more competitive. Over these 21 Ryder Cups, Team USA still held the upper hand with 10 wins, Great Britain & Ireland/Europe won 7 and there were 4 ties. Europe secured its first win on home soil in 1957, while America underlined its dominance with a crushing 23.5 to 8.5 point victory in 1967.
As the matches approached the 1980s, the gap between the teams narrowed noticeably. Between 1979 and 1983 there were two American wins by 9-3 and one tie. Europe won for the first time on American soil in 1987 and the stage was set for an era of unprecedented competition.
The years of US struggle 1985 – 2008
Since 1985, the overall record in the Ryder Cup between Team USA and Team Europe stands at 11 victories apiece, with 29 matches played in total over this period. After decades of dominance, the Americans’ struggles since the mid-1980s underline how competitive the Ryder Cup has become. Let’s look closer at the USA’s record during this period.
In 1985, Europe under captain Tony Jacklin defeated the USA for only the second time ever on American soil. This narrow victory at the Belfry in England was immediately hailed as a turning point, where Europe signalled it could now match the USA in the Ryder Cup.
Over the next 7 Ryder Cups from 1987 through to 1999, overall leadership in the competition swung back and forth – Europe won 3 matches to USA’s 2, with 2 matches tied. Highlights for the USA included a crushing victory at Oak Hill in 1995, while Europe won 3 times on American soil during this period.
From 2002 through to 2008, Europe then enjoyed an extended period of dominance with 4 wins and 2 defeats. The low point came in 2006, when Europe humiliated the USA by a record margin of 18.5 to 9.5 points at the K Club in Ireland. During these 7 Ryder Cups, the USA only held the lead after a session on 2 occasions out of the 28 played, underlining Europe’s superiority.
What were the factors behind America’s Ryder Cup struggles from the mid-1980s through to 2008? Firstly, European golf was now blessed with all-time greats such as Seve Ballesteros, Sir Nick Faldo, Colin Montgomerie and Bernhard Langer who could match or even better the play of their American counterparts.
At the same time in the late 1980s, many of the USA’s established stars like Tom Watson, Ray Floyd and Curtis Strange passed their peak. The Americans struggled to replace this generation with players of the same caliber during the 1990s. While Davis Love III and Fred Couples were excellent Ryder Cup players, the overall American team was not as strong as in previous decades.
There was also a growing sense during this era that the Europeans had forged better teamwork and perhaps wanted victory more. By contrast, the individualistic American team ethos appeared less effective. The Europeans perhaps also adapted their games better to the unique pressures of the Ryder Cup.
The tide turns again – US fightback from 2010 to today
Since 2010, the Ryder Cup has once again been evenly matched between Europe and the USA. Over the last 5 editions, the teams have won 2 apiece with one tie, demonstrating that the Americans have fought back from their extended lean period.
At Celtic Manor in Wales in 2010, the USA seemed set for a comfortable victory when leading 9-5 going into the Sunday singles matches. Incredibly, Europe won 6.5 of the 12 available points in the singles to tie the match at 13.5 points each. This ‘Miracle of Medinah’ demonstrated Europe’s fighting spirit and talent.
The USA struck back in 2012 with a crushing 19-13 point win in Illinois, equalling the record margin of victory they set in 1981. This demonstrated that the Americans finally had all the tools to compete on away soil.
Elements of luck impacted the next two Ryder Cups. On home soil at Gleneagles in 2014, Europe had the edge in overall talent spearheaded by Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose. However, USA came desperately close to victory, losing by the wafer-thin margin of 16.5 to 11.5 points.
At Hazeltine in 2016, it was Europe who perhaps had more luck. The USA deservedly won by 17-11 points, but a number of tight matches went their way to ensure this commanding winning margin.
Most recently in Paris 2018, the Europeans showed their class on home soil once more, taking back the Ryder Cup convincingly by 17.5 to 10.5 points. This demonstrated Europe’s depth of talent and team cohesion.
Looking at the period since 2010, the Ryder Cup is unquestionably more competitive now than in previous decades when the USA dominated. Home advantage has become critical, with only the miraculous European comeback of 2012 bucking the trend of the home team winning. Neither side can now count on an easy victory, especially when playing away from home soil.
While Europe probably still has an edge in terms of team cohesion and consistency, the overall talent gap between the teams has evaporated. The current USA team led by young stars like Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson and Justin Thomas is certainly a match for Europe’s best on paper. The Ryder Cup is now a wide open contest every two years, captivating golf fans on both sides of the Atlantic.
Why is the Ryder Cup so special and so competitive?
What makes the Ryder Cup such a special event in golf that keeps fans enthralled regardless of the overall score? There are some unique factors that set it apart from regular professional golf tournaments.
Firstly, playing for your country or continent creates special meaning and emotional connection. Even millionaire golfers seem to want victory more when playing for national pride rather than simply themselves. The team concept adds camaraderie but also tension that brings out passion and nerves in equal measure.
The match play format also intensifies the competition. Every hole matters and there is nowhere to hide unlike in stroke play tournaments. Match play also brings the players into direct head-to-head battle, intensifying the emotions. Great moments like Justin Leonard’s putt at Brookline in 1991 sear into the memory.
The packed, partisan crowds are also unique in golf. The enthusiasm of 50,000 fans on the course adds pressure but also motivation for the players, creating an electric atmosphere. You see emotions from players like fist pumps and shouts that you will rarely witness at other events.
The competition has also evolved to become perfectly balanced between the USA and Europe. This ensures thrilling heavyweight contests where the result is in doubt until the final putt drops. It is very special for golf to have a major team event where the result is never predictable.
Overall, the Ryder Cup brilliantly showcases the best players under pressure in a team format. It means far more than any regular tournament to the players and fans alike. The special blend of stars, team spirit, match play drama and raucous crowds explains why the Ryder Cup has such a special place in golf.
Conclusion
In summary, the Ryder Cup story has been one of American dominance eventually turning into European parity and fierce biennial competition. The early decades through to the early 1980s saw the USA build a position of strength, utilizing its advantage in depth of professional golf talent.
The tide undeniably turned in Europe’s favor from 1985 to 2008, where its cohesion and motivation coupled with all-time great players put the USA firmly on the back foot. Since 2010, the Ryder Cup has entered a new era of balance where the result is impossible to predict. Home advantage is now critical.
While the USA still holds a clear edge over history with 26 wins to Europe’s 15 (with 3 ties), the last 40 years tell a story of first European resurgence and then enthralling competition on equal terms. American golf has certainly raised its game in recent Ryder Cups to recover from past struggles.
As golf fans, we should celebrate living in an era where the Ryder Cup is no longer a foregone conclusion. Every two years brings a showdown where the stars of the sport battle with hearts and minds as well as talent. With the competition evenly balanced, the greatest team event in golf is sure to provide more thrilling memories for decades to come.
