The 45th Ryder Cup is now in the books, with Team Europe coming out on top. Luke Donald’s men had looked set for an easy victory at the end of the fourth session on Saturday, only for the USA to come firing back in Sunday’s singles to push their opposition all the way. Ultimately, Europe emerged victorious 15-13.
The European side boasted a mix of youth and experience. While 24-year-old Rasmuss Hojgaard was making his Ryder Cup debut, Luke Donald had the luxury of being able to call on some players with serious Ryder Cup pedigree.
Among his top performers at Bethpage Black was reigning Masters champion, Rory McIlroy. The 36-year-old, who was representing Team Europe for the eighth time in the event, has now lifted the coveted trophy on eight occasions. Unsurprisingly, with those numbers to his name, the Northern Irishman ranks among the very best performers in the history of the event.
Below, per Data Golf, is a look at the 20 most successful players in Ryder Cup history by points won. Where players are tied in terms of points won, the individual with the highest winning percentage has been awarded the higher position.
20 greatest players in Ryder Cup history ranked by points won
Position
Player
Team Represented
Points won
20.
Davis Love III
USA
11
19.
Darren Clarke
Europe
11
18.
Jim Furyk
USA
12
17.
Dustin Johnson
USA
12
16.
Tommy Fleetwood
Europe
12
15.
Tiger Woods
USA
12.5
14.
Ian Poulter
Europe
16
13.
Ian Woosnam
Europe
16.5
12.
Tom Kite
USA
17
11.
Justin Rose
Europe
17.5
10
Lanny Wadkins
Points won: 18.5
Wadkins represented Team USA on no less than eight occasions at the Ryder Cup between 1977 and 1993. He then captained his country during the 1995 event. Wadkins’ consistency under pressure lent itself well to the format. He was particularly effective in the foursomes, forming strong partnerships with the likes of Tom Kite. Overall, he won four Ryder Cups as a player.
9
Jose Maria Olazabal
Points won: 20.5
Starring for Team Europe between 1987 and 2006, Olazabal was another player who thrived under the bright lights of the Ryder Cup. He excelled in the foursomes and fourballs, linking up especially well with felllow Spaniard Seve Ballesteros. Olazabal’s accuracy was the perfect foil for Seve’s creativity. He could more than hold his own in the singles, too. He represented Team Europe several times as a player, before later returning to captain the side to victory at Medinah in 2012.
8
Phil Mickelson
Points won: 21.5
Mickelson holds the record for most Ryder Cup appearances made by an American, competing 12 times between 1995 and 2018. Unfortunately, he only went 3-9 when it came to actually lifting the coveted trophy, but Mickelson’s commitment to the cause never waivered, even during tough stretches for the USA. Overall, he only managed to win 45.7% of the matches he played at the event. However, his sheer longevity meant he racked up enough points to feature on this list.
7
Rory McIlroy
Points won: 21.5
The highest-ranking player from the 2025 competition to feature in the top 20, McIlroy has amassed 21.5 points in his eight Ryder Cups to date – and still has the chance to add to that tally. Since debuting in 2010, Rory has frequently anchored the European side, whether in singles or in a partnership. Over the years, he has teamed up to great success with names such as Graeme McDowell, Ian Poulter and Tommy Fleetwood. His partnership with Shane Lowry during Europe’s victorious 2025 campaign also proved highly effective. The team will hope they are able to call on him for years to come.
6
Nick Faldo
Points won: 22
A 10-time representative of Team Europe, Faldo was the backbone of the side for years. In total, he raised the Ryder Cup on four occasions. A fierce challenge for any opponents in foursome or the singles, Faldo’s precision was unmatched during his era, and few could emulate his mental toughness either. He formed solid pairings with teammates Ian Woosnam and Bernhard Langer and also offered plenty in the singles, with a six wins across his career.
5
Seve Ballesteros
Points won: 22.5
Seve was part of Ryder Cup history in 1979, with his inclusion on Team Europe marking the first time that players from continental Europe competed in the event. He would go on to represent the side a further seven times in total, routinely dazzling American opposition with his flair and creativity. Ballesteros won the coveted trophy on three separate occasions and is idolised by generations of fans for his fearless approach to the game. In a testament to how well he was respected, he returned as captain in 1997 to lead Team Europe to victory at Valderrama.
4
Colin Montgomerie
Points won: 23.5
Montgomerie was a part of Team Europe for eight consecutive Ryder Cups between 1991 and 2006 and is rightly considered one of the greatest performers in Ryder Cup history. The Scot lifted the trophy five times, but his individual record is what makes his Ryder Cup pedigree so special. Throughout his career at the event, Montgomerie never lost a singles match. His calm and poise under pressure helped him to claim 65.7% of the Ryder Cup points he competed for. His crowning moment came in 2002 at The Belfry, where he secured the winning point for his team by defeating Scott Hoch.
3
Lee Westwood
Points won: 24
A veteran of no less than 11 Ryder Cups, Westwood had both longevity and versatility at the highest level. A seven-time winner of the event, Westwood teamed up with a whole host of legendary names between 1997 and 2021. In his early days, he formed a successful partnership with Darren Clarke, before later going on to do the same with Sergio Garcia and Luke Donald. Westwood’s overall win percentage may only be a shade over 50%, but that number is brought down slightly by later appearances where he struggled for form. An outstanding servant to Team Europe across more than two decades.
2
Bernhard Langer
Points won: 24
One of the most dependable performers in Ryder Cup history, Langer represented Europe on 10 occasions, lifting the trophy five times. The German, who was renowned for his meticulous preparation, won 57% of all the Ryder Cup points he competed for. Langer formed strong pairings with the likes of Sandy Lyle, Colin Montgomerie, and Nick Faldo, often utilising precision to get the better of his US opposition. Ironically, for all of his success, Langer is infamous for a missed putt at Kiawah Island in 1991 that meant Europe lost the trophy. However, such were his accomplishments in other years, that the miss never truly defined his legacy. He returned as captain in 2004, overseeing a dominant victory for Team Europe at Oakland Hills.
1
Sergio Garcia
Points won: 28.5
Garcia burst on to the Ryder Cup stage as a fearless 19-year-old prodigy. By the time he made his final appearance [to date] in 2021, the Spaniard had amassed more wins than any other player in Ryder Cup history (25). Partnerships with Lee Westwood, Luke Donald and Rory McIlroy all yielded success, but Garcia was also clinical in the singles. In 2004, he dismantled Phil Mickelson at a time when the American was considered to be one of the best players on the planet. Two years later, he would do the same to Stewart Cink. However, his 2018 singles triumph over Rickie Fowler was especially significant as it meant that Garcia went to top spot in terms of Ryder Cup points won. In total, Garcia has won the trophy six times, claiming 63.3% of all available points across his 10 appearances.
