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Every AMAZING Golf Event Like the Ryder Cup Explained in 12 Minutes
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The RDER Cup. First up, the RDER Cup. Golf’s ultimate team competition. This biennial battle between the United States and Europe has produced some of the most dramatic moments in golf history. Started in 1927 when American businessman Samuel Ryder donated the now iconic gold trophy. This event has transformed from a friendly exhibition into a pressure cooker that makes even the most seasoned pros crumble. The format is simple but brutal. 28 matches played over three days with 12 players on each team. Day one and two feature forsomes and fourball matches, while the final day brings 12 head-to-head singles matches that often decide everything. To make the American team, you need to be one of the top six in the RDER Cup point standings, which are earned through major championships and PGA Tour events, or be one of six captain’s picks. For Europe, it’s the top three from their European points list, the top three from the world points list, and six captain selections. The venue alternates between courses in the United States and Europe with the 2023 edition held at Marco Simone Golf Club in Rome, Italy, where Europe reclaimed the cup with a dominant 16 1/2 to 11 12 victory. The 2025 RDER Cup will be played at Beth Page Black in New York, a course known for its brutal difficulty and rowdy American crowds. The Ryder Cup has given us countless unforgettable moments, but none more electric than the miracle at Medina in 2012. Europe entered the final day trailing 10 to6, needing eight points from 12 singles matches, a nearly impossible task. But captain Jose Maria Olazabal’s team staged one of the greatest comebacks in sports history, winning match after match until Martin Kr sank a six-foot putt on the 18th hole to retain the cup. The Europeans eventually won 14 1/2 to 13 1/2, leaving the American team and their fans in absolute shock. Then there was the war on the shore at Kiawa Island in 1991 where tensions reached a boiling point. The competition came down to the final match between Bernhard Longer and Hail Irwin. With everything on the line, Longer faced a six-foot putt to tie his match and retain the cup for Europe. In a heartbreaking moment, his putt slid by the hole, giving the Americans their first victory since 1983 and sending the home crowd into a frenzy. The President’s Cup. The Rder Cup isn’t the only team showdown that gets golf fans fired up. The President’s Cup, created in 1994, brings together the United States against an international team representing the rest of the world excluding Europe. Played in non-riter Cup years. This competition follows a similar format, but with 30 matches instead of 28. To qualify for the US team, players must rank among the top six in President’s Cup points with six additional captain’s picks. The international team selects their top eight players from the official World Golf ranking with four captain’s picks to round out the squad. Unlike the Ryder Cup, the President’s Cup has been dominated by the Americans who hold an overwhelming 131 and one record. The event rotates between venues in the United States and international location with the 2024 competition held at Royal Montreal Golf Club where the Americans secured a dominating 18 1/2 to 11 1/2 victory. The 2026 President’s Cup will take place at Medina Country Club outside of Chicago where the international team will be desperate to improve their record. While the President’s Cup hasn’t produced as many nailbiting finishes as the RDER Cup, the 2003 edition at Fanor in South Africa ended in unprecedented fashion. After regulation play ended in a 17-7 tie, Tiger Woods and Ernie L’s were selected for a sudden death playoff to determine the winner. As Darkness fell, the two stars matched each other shot for shot through three playoff holes. With conditions becoming unplayable, captains Jack Nicholas and Gary Player agreed to share the cup. A decision that embodied the event’s spirit of international goodwill. The Walker Cup. If you’re wondering where the next generation of team competition stars comes from, look no further than the Walker Cup. This prestigious amateur event, first played in 1922, pits the best amateur golfers from the United States against Great Britain and Ireland. Named after George Herbert Walker, grandfather of former President George HW Bush, this biionial competition has launched the careers of countless golf legend. The format features 26 matches over two days with foresomes in the morning and singles in the afternoon. Selection to these teams is considered one of the highest honors in amateur golf. The US team is chosen by the USGA typically including the US amateur champion and runnerup along with the top ranked American amateurs. The Great Britain and Ireland team is selected by the RNA, focusing on the top performers in amateur events across the British Isle. The Walker Cup alternates between venues in the United States and Great Britain and Ireland with the 2023 competition held at St. Andrews in Scotland where Great Britain and Ireland secured a 14 12 to 11 12 victory. The 2025 edition will be played at Cypress Point Club in California, one of the most spectacular courses in the world. The list of Walker Cup alumni reads like a who’s who of golf greatness. Jack Nicholas, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, and Jordan Spe all represented the United States, while Rory Mroy, Justin Rose, and Patrick Harrington competed for Great Britain and Ireland before their professional careers took off. In fact, the 2007 Walker Cup at Royal County Down featured both Rory Moy and Ricky Fowler before they became household names. Curtis Cup. For the women’s game, the Curtis Cup serves as the equivalent to the Walker Cup. Established in 1932, this competition features the best female amateur golfers from the United States against Great Britain and Ireland. Named after sisters Harriet and Margaret Curtis, both US women’s amateur champions, this event has the same format as the Walker Cup with 20 matches played over three days. selection follows similar criteria to the Walker Cup with the US women’s amateur champion typically earning an automatic spot on the American team. The Curtis Cup alternates between American and Great Britain and Ireland venues with the 2024 competition held at Sunningdale Golf Club in England where the Great Britain and Ireland team won a close battle with a 10 12 to 9 and a half victory over the US team. Notable Curtis Cup alumni include Michelle Wi, Lexi Thompson, and Nelly Corda from the United States along with Katrina Matthew, Georgia Hall, and Charlie Hull from Great Britain and Ireland. The 2010 Curtis Cup at Essex County Club in Massachusetts saw a young Lexi Thompson compete for the US at just 15 years old, foreshadowing her future success on the LPGA Tour, the Soulheim Cup. Now, let’s shift our focus to the Soulheim Cup. The women’s equivalent of the RDER Cup, established in 1990 and named after golf equipment manufacturer Karsten Soloulheim. This biionial competition features the best professional women golfers from the United States against Europe. The format mirrors the RDER Cup with 28 matches played over 3 days. American players qualify through Soulheim Cup points earned in LPGA Tour events with the top seven players making the team automatically along with five captain’s picks. European qualification combines points from the ladies European tour and Rolex rankings with six automatic qualifiers and six captain selections. The Soulheim Cup alternates between American and European venues with the 2024 competition held at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Virginia where the United States won 15 1/2 to 12 1/2 returning the cup to the United States team. The 2015 Soulheim Cup produced one of the most controversial moments in the event’s history. During a fourball match, American rookie Allison Lee picked up her ball thinking European player Suzanne Person had conceded a short putt. Person insisted no concession had been given, resulting in a loss of hole for the Americans. The incident sparked outrage and tears, but ultimately fueled an American comeback on the final day as they rallied from a 10 to6 deficit to win 14 12 to 13 1/2. The Palmer Cup. The Palmer Cup named after Arnold Palmer brings together the top college golfers from the United States against their international counterparts. Unlike other competitions, the Palmer Cup features both men and women competing together for their respective teams. Established in 1997, this annual event has become a stepping stone for collegiate golfers with professional aspirations. Selection is based on collegiate rankings and committee picks with 12 men and 12 women on each team. The competition rotates between American and international venues with the 2025 edition held at Congre Golf Club in South Carolina where the international team secured a 35-2 victory. Palmer Cup alumni include Justin Thomas, Colin Morawa, and Bryson Dashambo from the United States along with John Rom, Victor Havlin, and Hideki Matsuyama from the international side. The 2013 Palmer Cup at Wilmington Country Club featured both Justin Thomas and Daniel Burgerer before they became PGA Tour stars. The Zurich Classic PGA Tour event. Now, let’s talk about one of the most unique team events in golf, the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Unlike the other competitions we’ve discussed, this is an official PGA Tour event that features two-player teams competing in alternate shot and better ball format. Established as a team event in 2017, the Zurich Classic offers FedEx Cup points and official money, making it a rare opportunity for tour players to experience team dynamics during the regular season. Teams qualify based on the highest ranked players PGA Tour status with their partner receiving an exemption if not otherwise eligible. The event is held annually at TPC Louisiana in New Orleans with the 2025 edition won by the team of Andrew Novak and Ben Griffin. The Zurich Classic has produced some memorable partnerships, including the dominant team of Patrick Klay and Xander Schoffley, who won the 2022 event by two strokes. And in 2024, Rory Mroy won with partner Shane Lai in exciting fashion during a playoff. The tournament has also seen unlikely pairings like John Rom and Ryan Palmer who claimed victory in 2019 despite having very different playing styles. So there you have it, the elite golf team events that shape the sports competitive landscape. From the pressure-packed intensity of the RDER Cup to the amateur showcases that launch future stars, these competitions represent golf at its most compelling. They remind us that even in a sport defined by individual achievement, there’s something special about playing for your team, your country, and something bigger than yourself. Be sure to hit that like button and subscribe for more content that dives into the stories of golf history. And let us know in the comments, what is your prediction for the 2025 RDER Cup? Until next time, thanks for watching.
