The cup competition consists of various matchplay matches between players selected from two teams of 12. In 2002, those games consisted of 8 foursomes matches, 8 fourball matches and 12 singles matches. The winner of each match scores a point for their team, with 1/2 a point each for a tied match.
A foursomes match is a competition between two teams of two golfers. The golfers on the same team take alternate shots throughout the match, with the same ball. Each hole is won by the team that completes the hole in the fewest shots. A fourball match is a competition between two teams of two golfers. All four golfers play their own ball throughout the round. Each hole is won by the team whose individual golfer had the lowest score. A singles match is a standard matchplay competition between two golfers.
The women's equivalent of the Ryder Cup is the Solheim Cup[?]. The amateur equivalent is the Walker Cup[?]. A similar event, the President's Cup[?] takes place between the U.S. and an International team, excluding players eligible for the European Ryder Cup team.
The 1999 Ryder Cup featured a remarkable comeback by the Americans. Down 10-6 after the first two days of play, they went 8-3-1 in singles play to take the title. The competition turned on the 17th hole of a match between American Justin Leonard[?] and Spaniard Jose Maria Olazabal[?]. Leonard holed a 45-foot putt to go dormie-1, assuring at least a half point and a U.S. victory (the Americans needed 14.5 points to gain the cup due to the Europeans' 1997 victory at Valderrama). A wild celebration ensured, with players and spectators spilling out onto the green, and across the line of the putt that Olazabal had to halve the hole. There was considerable bad blood after the match and some of the European players complained about the American galleries.
The competition from 1939 to 1945 were cancelled due to World War II. The 2001 match was delayed for a year following the September 11 Terrorist Attacks.
Year | Venue | Victors | Losers | ||
2003 | Oakland Hills CC, Bloomfield Hills, MI | ||||
2002 | The Belfry, Sutton Coldfield, Eng | Europe | 15 1/2 | USA | 12 1/2 |
1999 | The Country Club, Brookline, MA | USA | 14 1/2 | Europe | 13 1/2 |
1997 | Valderrama GC, Sotogrande Spain | Europe | 14 1/2 | USA | 13 1/2 |
1995 | Oak Hill CC, Rochester, NY | Europe | 14 1/2 | USA | 13 1/2 |
1993 | The Belfry, Sutton Coldfield, Eng | USA | 15 | Europe | 13 |
1991 | The Ocean Course,Kiawah Islnd, S.C. | USA | 14 1/2 | Europe | 13 1/2 |
1989 | The Belfry, Sutton Coldfield, Eng | Europe USA | 14 14 | ||
1987 | Muirfield Village GC, Dublin, Ohio | Europe | 15 | USA | 13 |
1985 | The Belfry, Sutton Coldfield, Eng | Europe | 16 1/2 | USA | 11 1/2 |
1983 | PGA Ntnl GC, Plm Beach Gdns, Fla. | USA | 14 1/2 | Europe | 13 1/2 |
1981 | Walton Health GC, Surrey, England | USA | 18 1/2 | Europe | 9 1/2 |
1979 | The Greenbrier,W. Va. | USA | 17 | Europe | 11 |
1977 | Royal Lytham & St. Annes, England | USA | 12 1/2 | Britain & Ireland | 7 1/2 |
1975 | Laurel Valley GC, Ligonier, Pa. | USA | 21 | Britain & Ireland | 11 |
1973 | Muirfield, Scotland | USA | 19 | Britain & Ireland | 13 |
1971 | Old Warson CC, St. Louis, Mo. | USA | 18 1/2 | Britain | 13 1/2 |
1969 | Royal Birkdale GC, Southport, Eng | USA Britain | 16 16 | ||
1967 | Champions GC, Houston, Texas | USA | 23 1/2 | Britain | 8 1/2 |
1965 | Royal Birkdale GC, Southport, Eng | USA | 19 1/2 | Britain | 12 1/2 |
1963 | East Lake CC, Atlanta, Ga. | USA | 23 | Britain | 9 |
1961 | Royal Lytham & St. Annes, England | USA | 14 1/2 | Britain | 9 1/2 |
1959 | Eldorado CC, Palm Desert, Calif. | USA | 8 1/2 | Britain | 3 1/2 |
1957 | Lindrick GC, Yorkshire, England | Britain | 7 1/2 | USA | 4 1/2 |
1955 | Thunderbird CC, Plm Springs, Calif. | USA | 8 | Britain | 4 |
1953 | Wentworth GC, Wentworth, England | USA | 6 1/2 | Britain | 5 1/2 |
1951 | Pinehurst CC, Pinehurst, N.C. | USA | 9 1/2 | Britain | 2 1/2 |
1949 | Ganton GC, Scarborough, England | USA | 7 | Britain | 5 |
1947 | Portland GC, Portland, Ore. | USA | 11 | Britain | 1 |
1937 | Southport & Ainsdale GC, England | USA | 8 | Britain | 4 |
1935 | Ridgewood CC, Ridgewood, N.J. | USA | 9 | Britain | 3 |
1933 | Southport & Ainsdale GC, England | Britain | 6 1/2 | USA | 5 1/2 |
1931 | Scioto CC, Columbus, Ohio | USA | 9 | Britain | 3 |
1929 | Moortown GC, Leeds, England | Britain | 7 | USA | 5 |
1927 | Worcester CC, Worcester, Mass. | USA | 9 1/2 | Britain | 2 1/2 |
NB: The 1969 and 1989 tournaments were drawn, so the Cup remained with the previous victors.
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