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Few stages in golf are as heralded as the biennial Ryder Cup.
With a USA vs. Europe format, the golf event pits the world’s best golfers against one another in a competition unlike most others. And though they are some of the biggest names in the game, Ryder Cup participants are not exempt from turning in frustrating performances at times.
Folded into the team competition are individual matchups that result in golfers accruing records and individual win percentages for the event. Whether it’s the result of a poor showing or a formidable opponent, some golfers end up with rough records that they carry with them throughout their careers.
Who has the worst Ryder Cup winning percentage? Here is a list of the worst records and most losses in matchups entering the 2025 event.
MORE: Complete list of USA vs. Europe Ryder Cup results since 1927
Who has the worst Ryder Cup winning percentage?
Entering 2025, Matt Fitzpatrick owns the worst Ryder Cup winning percentage.
Before competing at Bethpage Black in New York, Fitzpatrick participated in eight matches, winning one and losing seven. His 1-7 record equates to a .125 win percentage.
MORE: Explaining the meaning of captain’s picks at the Ryder Cup
Who has the most losses in Ryder Cup history?
Phil Mickelson has the most losses in Ryder Cup history with 22.
Mickelson participated in 47 matches, posting a record of 18-22-7, with 18 wins and seven ties to go with his 22 losses. That record equates to a .457 win percentage.
MORE: How the Ryder Cup format compares to other major tournaments in golf
Worst Ryder Cup records by player
Here is a list of players with the worst Ryder Cup records, organized with the worst overall win percentage at the top.
The following list contains golfers who competed in at least seven matches at the Ryder Cup.
PlayerTeamMatchesRecordPercentageActiveMatt FitzpatrickEurope81-7-0.125YesFuzzy ZoellerUSA101-8-1.150NoPeter OosterhuisEurope72-5-0.286NoDes SmythEurope72-5-0.286NoBubba WatsonUSA144-10-0.286NoBen CrenshawUSA123-8-1.292NoGordon Brand Jr.Europe82-5-1.313NoSteve StrickerUSA113-7-1.318NoMark O’MearaUSA144-9-1.321NoRickie FowlerUSA173-9-5.324NoKen BrownEurope124-8-0.333NoCurtis StrangeUSA206-12-2.350NoJim FurykUSA3410-20-4.353NoSam TorranceEurope287-15-6.357NoMiguel Angel JiminezEurope154-8-3.367NoChris DiMarcoUSA82-4-2.375NoTiger WoodsUSA3713-21-3.392NoMark JamesEurope218-12-1.405NoPaul AzingerUSA165-8-3.406NoPaul CaseyEurope164-7-5.406NoGil MorganUSA61-2-3.417NoKenny PerryUSA62-3-1.417NoShane LowryEurope62-3-1.417YesBryson DeChambeauUSA62-3-1.417YesJay HaasUSA124-6-2.417NoJustin LeonardUSA122-4-6.417NoDavid TomsUSA124-6-2.417NoPadraig HarringtonEurope259-13-3.420NoScott HochUSA72-3-2.429NoDavid DuvalUSA72-3-2.429NoRobert KarlssonEurope71-2-4.429NoJimmy WalkerUSA82-3-3.438NoDavis Love IIIUSA269-12-5.442NoThomas BjornEurope93-4-2.444NoChad CampbellUSA93-4-2.444NoSandy LyleEurope187-9-2.444NoStewart CinkUSA195-7-7.447NoViktor HovlandEurope103-4-3.450YesFred CouplesUSA207-9-4.450NoPhil MickelsonUSA4718-22-7.457NoMark CalcavecchiaUSA146-7-1.464NoMartin KaymerEurope145-6-3.464NoMatt KucharUSA156-7-2.467NoPayne StewartUSA198-9-2.474NoRaymond FloydUSA2110-11-0.476NoJordan SpiethUSA228-9-5.477NoDavid GilfordEurope73-3-1.500NoScottie SchefflerUSA72-2-3.500YesXander SchauffeleUSA84-4-0.500YesPaul McGinleyEurope92-2-5.500NoWebb SimpsonUSA94-4-1.500NoBernard GallacherEurope115-5-1.500NoHunter MahanUSA124-4-4.500No
MORE: Explaining the Ryder Cup scoring system for all three days
Worst American Ryder Cup records by playerFuzzy Zoeller
Two-time major champion Fuzzy Zoeller has the worst Ryder Cup record for an American. He represented the U.S. in 1979 and 1983, losing seven of his eight matches. Despite his lack of success, the USA won the Ryder Cup in 1979 and 1983.
Bubba Watson
Watson, a two-time Masters champion, has a 4-10 (.286) record in 14 matches at the Ryder Cup. He represented the USA in 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2018, but was not a part of any winning team.
Ben Crenshaw
Crenshaw is also a two-time Masters champion, but he posted a 3-8-1 (.292) record in 12 Ryder Cup matches. He played in four Ryder Cups, winning teams in 1981 and 1983 before the USA lost in 1987 and 1995. Crenshaw was a non-playing captain in 1999.
MORE: How does four-ball work in golf?
Worst European Ryder Cup records by playerMatt Fitzpatrick
Fitzpatrick had a 1-7-0 (.125) record in Ryder Cup play entering the 2025 event. He made his Ryder Cup debut on the losing European team in 2016 and lost again in 2021 before winning with Europe in 2023.
Peter Oosterhuis
Englishman Peter Oosterhuis had a 2-5-0 (.286) record at the Ryder Cup, representing Great Britain & Ireland/Europe in losing efforts in 1971, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1979, and 1981.
Des Smyth
Smyth represented Europe at the 1979 and 1981 Ryder Cups, posting a 2-5-0 (.286) record in seven matches. Europe lost both the events with Smyth on the team.
