The Entire History Of The Ryder Cup

This is the entire history of the Ryder Cup

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Did you know that the most intense rivalry in golf began with a friendly match that wasn’t even supposed to matter? Or that the trophy itself costs less than what a single pro golfer makes for finishing dead last in a major championship trophy? The Ryder Cup, where millionaire golfers play for nothing but pride and a tiny gold cup, where normally stomach professionals pump their fists, scream at the top of their lungs, and sometimes even shed tears. In this video, we’ll go through the entire history of golf’s greatest team competition. From its humble beginnings to becoming one of the most watched sporting events in the world, the Rider Cup isn’t just another golf tournament. It’s a bianial battle between the United States and Europe that transforms the normally gentle sport of golf into something resembling a football game. We’ll start with the cup’s inception in the 1920s and the seed merchant who gave it his name. We’ll explore how a competition once dominated by Great Britain became a showcase for European talent. We’ll relive the most dramatic moments. From the war on the shore to the miracle at Madina. Some of these stories are heartbreaking, some are inspiring, and some are just downright unbelievable. But they all contribute to what makes the RDER Cup special. A rare event where playing for your country means more than playing for yourself. So, let’s dive into the complete history of golf’s most passionate competition, where legends are made and pressure reaches levels unlike anywhere else in the sport. The story begins in 1921 when a wealthy British seed merchant named Samuel Ryder became captivated by the game of golf. Ryder had made his fortune selling penny seed packets through the mail, a revolutionary business model at the time. At age 45, his doctor suggested he take up a sport to improve his health and golf became his passion. Ryder became a generous supporter of British professional golfers who at the time were often treated as secondclass citizens by the amateur dominated golf establishment. He sponsored tournaments and provided financial backing to struggling pros. In 1926, an unofficial match was arranged between teams of British and American professionals at Wentworth Club in England. The British team, which included a young professional named Abe Mitchell, Ryder’s personal instructor, handily defeated the Americans. Ryder was so impressed by the competition that he commissioned a gold cup from Mappin A and Webb, a prestigious London jeweler. The cup cost $250, equivalent to about $35,000 today. At top the cup stands a figure of a golfer modeled after Mitchell himself in a perfect finishing pose. The first official Ryder Cup was played in 1927 at Worcester Country Club in Massachusetts. The American team led by Walter Hagen defeated the British team 9 1/2 to 2 and a half. Samuel Ryder attended the first few matches but sadly died in 1936, never knowing the global phenomenon his cup would become. From 1927 to 1939, the Ryder Cup established itself as a regular fixture on the golf and calendar with matches alternating between venues in the United States and Great Britain. During these early years, the competition was surprisingly balanced. Great Britain won in 1929 and 1933, while the Americans claimed victory in 1927, 1931, 1935, and 1937. The format consisted of forsomes, alternate shot matches on the first day and singles matches on the second day. The early rider cups were gentlemanly affairs reflecting the etica of the era. Players wore ties and plus fours and sportsmanship was paramount. The crowds were small, polite, and knowledgeable about the game. World War II interrupted the competition after the 1937 matches. The 1939 matches scheduled to be played at Ponvra Club in Florida were cancelled when war broke out in Europe. During the war, the RDER Cup was removed from its display case at Wworth Club and hidden in a bank vault to protect it from potential bombing. When the Ryder Cup returned in 1947 at Portland Golf Club in Oregon, the golfing world had changed. Many British golf courses had been repurposed for military use during the war, and British golfers had few opportunities to compete. while their American counterparts continued playing tournaments on the growing PGA Tour. This disparity in competitive opportunities began what would become a long period of American dominance. The US team won in 1947 by a decisive margin of 11 points to one, setting the tone for the next three decades. From 1947 to 1977, the United States won 17 of 18 RDER Cup matches with Great Britain managing just a single victory in 1957 at Lindurick Golf Club. Many of the American victories were lopsided affairs with margins often exceeding 10 points. The American teams during this era featured legends like Sam Sneed, Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, and Jack Nicholas. Against such firepower, the British teams, though talented, were simply outmatched. By the 1960s, the format had evolved to include 36 holes of four ball matches where each player plays their own ball and the best score counts for the team in addition to forsomes and singles. This expanded format allowed for more points to be contested and more players to participate. By the late 1960s, it was becoming clear that Great Britain alone could not field a team competitive with the Americans. In 1973, the British team was expanded to include players from Ireland as well, officially becoming the Great Britain and Ireland team. This change brought talented Irish players into the fold. But it wasn’t enough to shift the balance of power. The Americans continued their dominance, winning by margins like 19-13 in 1975 and 12 to 7 1/2 in 1977. The 1969 RDER Cup at Royal Burgdale produced one of the competition’s most famous moments of sportsmanship. With the matches tied at 15 and a half points each, the outcome hinged on the final singles match between Jack Nicholas and Tony Jacquine. On the final hole, Nicholas made it par then picked up Jacqueline’s marker, conceding a twoft putt that ensured the overall match would end in a tie, the first in Ryder Cup history. I don’t think you would have missed that part, Nicholas told Jacquine. But in these circumstances, I would never give you the opportunity. This gesture, known as a concession, exemplified the spirit of the competition and led to Nicholas and Jackson later collaborating on a golf course in Florida bearing that name. Despite this moment of glory, the competitive imbalance was becoming a serious concern. Television networks were losing interest in broadcasting what had become predictable American victories. It was Jack Nicholas himself who proposed a solution that would transform the Ryder Cup forever, expanding the British team to include all of Europe. In 1979, the Ryder Cup underwent its most significant change when the Great Britain and Ireland team was expanded to include all of continental Europe. This change immediately bought Spanish sensation Se Bayeros into the competition along with other European stars like Bernhard Langanger of Germany. The Americans won the first Rder Cup under this new format in 1979, but the margin was closer 17 to11. But in 1981, the Americans won again 18 1/2 to 19 12 showing they are still dominant. The 1983 Ryder Cup at PGA National in Florida saw the Europeans come within a point and a half of victory, losing 14 1/2 to 13 1/2. This close call signaled that the competition had finally become what Samuel Ryder had envisioned, a genuine contest between evenly matched teams. Then came 1985 at the Belfrey in England where Europe captained by Tony Jacquine and led by Bayister, Manuel Pinero, and Bernard Langanger defeated the United States for the first time since the expansion, winning 16 1/2 to 11 12. This victory ended a 28-year American winning streak on European soil. Two years later, in 1987, Europe achieved what had previously seemed impossible, winning on American soil for the first time ever. At Murfield Village in Ohio, Jack Nicholas’s home course, the Europeans triumphed 15-13. See Basteros deserves special mention in any history of the Rder Cup. The charismatic Spaniard brought passion and intensity to the competition that transformed the European team’s mentality. His partnership with fellow Spaniard Joseé Maria Olazabal became one of the most successful in Ryder Cup history, earning them the nickname the Spanish Armada. Bastardos instilled in the European players the belief that they could compete with and beat the Americans. His fist bumping celebrations and emotional play changed the very character of the Ryder Cup, elevating it from a gental exhibition to the pressure cooker environment we know today. The 1991 RDER Cup at Kioa Island, dubbed the war on the shore, marked a turning point in the competition’s history. The American team captained by Dave Stockton, wore camouflage caps during practice rounds, setting a combative tone. The matches were fiercely contested with controversy arising when Bisteros accused Paul Azinger of changing his ball illegally. The outcome came down to the final match between Bernhard Langer and Hail Owen. Langanger faced a six-foot putt on the 18th hole that would have retained the cup for Europe. His part slid by the hole, giving the Americans a 14 1/2 to 13 1/2 victory. The image of Langanger’s agonized expression became one of the most iconic in Ryder Cup history. The 1999 Ryder Cup at Brookline produced perhaps the most controversial moment in the competition’s history. Trailing 10 to6 entering Sunday’s singles matches, the American team led by captain Ben Krenshaw staged a remarkable comeback when Justin Leonard holdt on the 17th hole in his match against Joseé Maria Olazabal. American players, wives, and officials stormed the green in celebration. Even though still had a part to have the hole, this breach of etiquette caused outrage among European players and fans. All Zabal missed his part and the Americans completed their comeback, winning 14 12 to 13 1/2. The Battle of Brookline, as it became known, highlighted how the Ryder Cup had evolved from its gentlemanly origins into a cauldron of national pride and emotion. Europe responded with three consecutive victories in 2002, 2004, and 2006. The 2004 Ryder Cup at Oakland Hills was particularly dominant with Europe winning 18 12 to 9 12, the largest margin of victory in the modern era. The 2012 Ryder Cup and Madina Country Club near Chicago produced what would become known as the miracle at Madina. The American team captained by Davis Love III built a commanding 10-6 lead heading into Sunday’s singles matches. The Europeans led by Joseé Maria Alazabel faced the same deficit the Americans had overcome at Brooklyn in 1999. What followed was one of the greatest comebacks in sports history. The Europeans won the first five singles matches with Luke Donald, Ian Palter, Rory Mroy, Justin Rose, and Paul Lori all securing points. The momentum shifted dramatically, and when Martin K sank a 6-oot putt on the 18th hole to defeat Steve Stricker, Europe had secured retention of the cup. The final score was 14 12 to 13 1/2 for Europe. A stunning reversal that left American fans shell shocked. Alazabal dedicated the victory to his mentor and friend Sev Bayister who had passed away the previous year. European players wore Bast’s silhouette on their sleeves and bags throughout the competition. Following this devastating loss, the PGA of America established a Ryder Cup task force to examine every aspect of the American approach to the competition. The task force, which included past captains and players like Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, recommended changes to the selection process and overall strategy. These changes bore fruit at Hazeline in 2016, where the Americans, captain by Davis Love III in his second stint, defeated Europe 1711. Patrick Reed emerged as Captain America, defeating Rory Mroy in an epic singles match that featured fist pumps, finger wagging, and some of the most electric atmosphere ever seen on a golf course. Europe reclaimed the cup in 2018 at Legolf National near Paris, winning 17 1/2 to 10 12 behind the stellar play of Franchesco Molinari, who became the first European player to win all five of his matches in a single Ryder Cup. The 2020 RDER Cup was postponed to 2021 due to the CO9 pandemic. When the matches were finally played at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin, the American team featuring eight players under 30 dominated from the start, winning 19 to9, the largest margin of victory in the modern era. The Ryder Cup has grown from a friendly exhibition into one of golf’s most prestigious events. Economically, hosting a Ryder Cup has become a major prize for golf courses and regions. The 2018 Ryder Cup in Paris generated an estimated economic impact of 235 million euros for France. For players, the Ryder Cup has become a career-defining experience. Many great golfers, including Colin Montgomery, Ian Palter, and Patrick Reed, have built their legacies largely on their RDER Cup performances rather than individual achievements in major championships. The pressure of representing your country or continent, has proven to be uniquely challenging. Tiger Woods, the greatest player of his generation, has a surprisingly modest RDER Cup record of 13 wins, 21 losses, and three halves. Conversely, players like Ian Palter have elevated their games to extraordinary levels in the RDER Cup. Paltera, nicknamed the postman because he always delivers, has a remarkable record of 14 wins, six losses, and two halves despite never winning a major championship. The Ryder Cup has also evolved in its presentation. The first tea at Modern Rider Cups features stadium style seating, team introductions worthy of a boxing match, and crowds chanting and singing in a manner more reminiscent of soccer than golf. From its humble beginnings as the vision of a British seed merchant to its current status as one of sport’s greatest team competitions, the Ryder Cup has come a long way in its nearly 100year history. What makes the Ryder Cup special is that it stands in stark contrast to the individual nature of professional golf. For one week every two years, players who normally compete against each other for milliondollar purses come together to play for nothing but pride, team, and country. The competition has given us unforgettable moments. Nicholas’s concession of Jacqueline, Bayister’s passion, Langanger’s miss putt, Leonard’s celebration, and Came’s clincher and Madina. It has turned good players into legends and tested the metal of the game’s greatest stars. Samuel Ryder could never have imagined that his modest gold cup would become one of sport’s most coveted trophies. But perhaps he understood something fundamental about golf and competition. That when national pride is at stake, even the most composed professionals reveal their true emotions. What’s your favorite Ryder Cup moment? Let us know in the comments. And if you enjoyed this history of the Ryder Cup, check out our other videos on golf’s greatest tournaments and players.