Who were made for each other and who should never grace the golf course by each other’s side ever again? Here are the best and worst Ryder Cup pairings from down the years…
There have been some iconic pairings at the Ryder Cup. Spanish duo Seve Ballesteros and Jose Maria Olazabal spring to mind, while in the more recent history Americans Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed enjoyed a blistering run together in 2014 and 2016 before being split up.
However, for every good partnership, there are several failed combinations. Hal Sutton couldn’t resist sticking Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson together in 2004 and we all know how that went.
With the advancement of stats, choosing pairings is far more science-based than it once was, but it still remains a crucial part of a captain’s role.
With the next edition of the biennial contest fast approaching, we take a look through some of the best and worst pairings in the history of the Ryder Cup.
Best Ryder Cup pairings
Let’s start with those who were just made for one another…
Team Europe
Seve Ballesteros and Jose Maria Olazabal (11-2-2)
From the 1987 to the 1993 Ryder Cup, the Spaniards combined to devastating effect and were only beaten twice in 15 matches. Their record together is one that it’s hard to see ever being eclipsed.
Bernhard Langer and Colin Montgomerie (5-1-1)
Monty and Langer also formed a deadly duo from the early 1990s into the early 2000s. In seven matches together, the Ryder Cup legends claimed 5.5 points.
Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood (4-1-2)
Another partnership that enjoyed plenty of success together was that of Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood. Both were part of Europe’s golden era and won five points from seven together.
Darren Clarke and Lee Westwood (6-2-0)
Another player Westwood thrived alongside was Darren Clarke. Good friends away from the course, they were formidable on it, winning six of their eight matches.
Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson (6-2-0)
Another two big names in Europe’s period of Ryder Cup dominance were Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson. It’s clear to see why they were so often paired together.
Nick Faldo and Ian Woosnam (5-3-2)
Nick Faldo and Ian Woosnam were instrumental figures in ending the US dominance of the Ryder Cup and combined together to win six points from 10 matches together over the years.
Team USA
Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley (4-1-0)
The chemistry between Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley was immediately apparent at the 2012 Ryder Cup. They went three for three at Medinah before inexplicably being left out of the Saturday afternoon fourballs by Davis Love III, a decision that, looking back, was probably costly.
From an American standpoint, it’s a shame these two didn’t feature together more often.
Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed (4-1-2)
The same could be said for Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed. At the 2014 and 2016 Ryder Cups, these two were borderline unstoppable but they were, for some reason, separated in 2018 at Le Golf National.
Spieth was instead paired with close friend Justin Thomas in Paris, and although they have had success together, it hasn’t quite matched the magic that Reed brought to the pairing.
Lanny Wadkins and Larry Nelson (4-2-0)
From 1979 to 1987, Lanny Wadkins and Larry Nelson formed Team USA’s strongest partnership. And it worked in both foursomes and fourballs.
Phil Mickelson and David Toms (3-2-1)
Another pairing the US will have wished they could have got more out of was this one. In just three Ryder Cups together, Mickelson and David Toms were a match for anyone, although they were both on the losing side in 2002, 2004 and 2006.
Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas (4-4-1)
Bringing up the rear on this list is the aforementioned Spieth and Thomas. The duo combined superbly for three wins and a loss at the 2018 Ryder Cup but weren’t quite able to maintain that form together in 2021 and 2023.
Worst Ryder Cup pairings
And now for those who should never have been put together…
Team Europe
Lee Westwood and Matt Fitzpatrick (0-2-0)
The two Englishmen played twice together in 2021 at Whistling Straits and were beaten 2&1 on both occasions in a harrowing and history-making European defeat.
Ian Poulter and Stephen Gallacher (0-1-0)
Ryder Cup history is littered with pairings who only got one shot together but the combination of Gallacher and Poulter was particularly poor in 2014. It was hoped getting the Scotsman on the course early would ignite the home fans at Gleneagles, but it didn’t pan out that way sadly.
He certainly wasn’t helped by Poulter, who had an especially tough Friday morning during the 5&4 defeat, but it was Gallacher who suffered the consequences, sitting out until the Sunday singles.
Miguel Angel Jimenez and Thomas Levet (0-2-0)
In an otherwise spectacular 2004 Ryder Cup for Team Europe, Jimenez and Levet blanked together, losing 3&2 and 4&3 in the two foursomes sessions.
Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley (1-2-1)
Although this pairing actually put some points on the board, it’s safe to say more would have been expected from two of Ireland’s best, especially given their four matches together were across three European triumphs.
Team USA
Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson (0-2-0)
Hal Sutton, American captain in 2004, felt it was his duty to give this partnership a whirl. It never felt like a goer, the pair weren’t exactly friends, and it was nothing short of a disaster.
They played two games together on the Friday and lost both, with Mickelson famously firing his drive up against an out-of-bounds fence en route to a double-bogey on the last hole of their foursomes match against Darren Clarke and Lee Westwood.
Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka (0-1-1)
Two of the greatest players of the modern generation at least combined to earn half a point in 2023 at Marco Simone Golf Club. But they also suffered the worst defeat in Ryder Cup history, losing 9&7 to Ludvig Aberg and Viktor Hovland in the Saturday morning fourballs. Dreadful.
Tiger Woods and Patrick Reed (0-2-0)
After being replaced as Jordan Spieth’s partner by Justin Thomas, Captain America had the honour of partnering Woods at the 2018 Ryder Cup. In two matches, though, this pairing really failed to ignite, losing 3&1 and then 4&3 in the two fourball sessions to Francesco Molinari and Tommy Fleetwood.
Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson (0-2-0)
In 2010, these two powerhouses combined at Celtic Manor. It looked like a match made in heaven on paper, but the reality was very different as Mickelson and Johnson were well beaten in their two encounters together.
Phil Mickelson and Chris DiMarco (0-2-1)
Another entry for Phil the Thrill. This time it was he and DiMarco who partnered in 2006 to claim just half a point from three matches.
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Golf writer and wannabe darts player.
