How many points do you need to win the Ryder?

The Ryder Cup is a biennial men’s golf competition between teams from Europe and the United States. It is a match play event, with each match worth one point. The competition format has changed over the years, but currently consists of 28 matches: 8 foursome matches, 8 fourball matches, and 12 singles matches. The first team to reach 14.5 points wins the Ryder Cup. If the teams are tied at 14 points each, the defending champion retains the cup.

Quick Answers

– The Ryder Cup is contested every two years between the United States and Europe.

– It is a match play golf event with 28 total matches played.

– Each match is worth 1 point, with 14.5 points needed to win the Ryder Cup.

– If the teams are tied 14-14, the defending champion (Europe) retains the cup.

Scoring Format

The current Ryder Cup format features 28 matches over three days of competition. There are 8 foursome (alternate shot) matches, 8 fourball (better ball) matches, and 12 singles matches. Each match is worth 1 point for a total of 28 possible points.

On Friday and Saturday, there are 4 foursome and 4 fourball matches played. On Sunday, all 12 players from each team compete in singles matches. Here is a breakdown of the scoring format:

  • Friday Morning: 4 foursome (alternate shot) matches (4 points total)
  • Friday Afternoon: 4 fourball (better ball) matches (4 points total)
  • Saturday Morning: 4 foursome matches (4 points total)
  • Saturday Afternoon: 4 fourball matches (4 points total)
  • Sunday: 12 singles matches (12 points total)

So over three days of competition, there are a maximum of 28 points up for grabs. The first team to score 14.5 points wins the Ryder Cup. If the teams are tied at 14 points apiece, the defending champion (Europe) retains the cup.

History of Scoring Format

The Ryder Cup scoring format has evolved over the history of the biennial event:

  • 1927-1959 – 2 days, 4 36-hole foursome matches on Day 1, 8 36-hole singles matches on Day 2 (12 points total)
  • 1961-1963 – 2 days, 4 18-hole foursome matches on Day 1, 8 18-hole singles matches on Day 2 (12 points total)
  • 1965-1971 – 2 days, 4 foursome matches and 4 fourball matches on Day 1, 8 singles matches on Day 2 (16 points total)
  • 1973-1977 – 3 days, 4 foursome matches on Day 1, 4 fourball matches on Day 2, 8 singles matches on Day 3 (16 points total)
  • 1979 – 3 days, 2 foursome matches and 2 fourball matches on Days 1 & 2, 8 singles matches on Day 3 (14 points total)
  • 1981 – 3 days, 4 foursome matches and 4 fourball matches on Days 1 & 2, 8 singles matches on Day 3 (20 points total)
  • 1983-2021 – 3 days, 4 foursome and 4 fourball matches on Days 1 & 2, 12 singles matches on Day 3 (28 points total)

As you can see, the scoring format has steadily increased over the years to include more matches. The addition of fourball matches in 1965 significantly changed the complexion of the event, as did the increase to 4 foursome and 4 fourball matches per day beginning in 1981. The current 28-point format has been in place since 1983, allowing for tight contests between the talented European and American squads.

Why 14.5 Points Wins the Ryder Cup

With a total of 28 points available, the magic number to win the Ryder Cup is 14.5 points. This half point elimination was introduced by tournament organizers in 1979 in the hopes of preventing tied outcomes in the biennial event.

From 1927 through 1977, if the Ryder Cup ended in a tie score, the defending champion would retain the cup. This happened on four occasions (1969, 1971, 1973, and 1977) much to the chagrin of players and fans alike. There was a growing desire to ensure the Ryder Cup would produce an outright winning team.

Beginning in 1979 when the format was just 14 total points, tournament organizers decided that ties would no longer be acceptable. By reducing the points needed to win to 14.5, it ensured that one team would eventually emerge victorious. If the teams were deadlocked at 14-14, the defending champion would still retain the cup.

Since moving to a 14.5 point system, there has only been one tied Ryder Cup – in 1989 when the USA and Europe finished 14-14. Europe retained the cup as the defending champion that year. Every other Ryder Cup since 1979 has crowned an outright winner thanks to the half point requirement.

Ryder Cup Tie Scenarios

Here are the scenarios in which the Ryder Cup could end in a 14-14 tie under the current 28 point format:

  • Each team splits the 8 foursome matches 4-4 (8 total points)
  • Each team splits the 8 fourball matches 4-4 (8 total points)
  • The 12 singles matches are split 6-6 (12 total points)

This would require each team to win exactly half of the points available in each format over three days of intense competition. It highlights just how difficult it is to end up tied in the modern Ryder Cup.

Closest Ryder Cups Since 1979

While 14-14 ties are now a rarity, there have still been some incredibly close Ryder Cups since the 14.5 point system was implemented in 1979:

Year Course Winning Team Score
1991 Kiawah Island USA 14.5-13.5
1999 Brookline USA 14.5-13.5
2012 Medinah Europe 14.5-13.5
2018 Le Golf National Europe 17.5-10.5

The 1991 “War on the Shore” and 1999 “Battle of Brookline” Ryder Cups saw the USA nip Europe 14.5-13.5. More recently, Europe pulled off a stunning come from behind 14.5-13.5 victory in 2012 after trailing 10-6 going into the final day singles matches.

The closest match since moving to 28 total points was 2018, when Europe trounced the USA 17.5-10.5 in Paris. The 17.5 points was actually a record for a winning team under the current format.

Biggest Blowouts in Ryder Cup History

On the flip side, there have been some lopsided Ryder Cup thrashings over the years. The five biggest blowouts since 1979 are:

Year Course Winning Team Score
1981 Walton Heath USA 18.5-9.5
1985 Brabazon Europe 16.5-11.5
2004 Oakland Hills Europe 18.5-9.5
2006 K Club Europe 18.5-9.5
2021 Whistling Straits USA 19-9

The USA’s dominate victory in 1981 set the tone for what would be an era of American dominance in the event. Europe dished out two beatings of its own in 1985 and 2004.

More recently, Europe emphatically won in back-to-back Ryder Cups in 2006 and 2006 before the USA rebounded in a big way with a 19-9 shellacking of Europe at Whistling Straits in 2021.

Conclusion

In summary, it takes 14.5 points to clinch the modern Ryder Cup. The scoring system has evolved over the years from as few as 12 total points in early competitions to 28 points today across foursome, fourball, and singles matches. The half point requirement was added in 1979 to minimize tie outcomes and force a definitive winner.

Winning 14.5 out of 28 possible points proves a challenging task against world class competition. Tied 14-14 outcomes are now very rare, but there have still been several dramatic close matches in recent Ryder Cup history. And while blowouts are less common today, lopsided victories still occur from time to time when one team seizes control early.

The unique 14.5 point threshold adds an element of intrigue and suspense to every Ryder Cup. It ensures that the winning moment will be decisive, dramatic and memorable for players and fans alike. With so much national pride and golfing glory at stake, the race to reach 14.5 points is always a thrilling one.

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