Ryder Cup facts for kids
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| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Location | Adare, County Limerick, Ireland |
| Established | 1927; 98 years ago |
| Course(s) | 2027: Adare Manor |
| Organized by | PGA of America, Ryder Cup Europe |
| Tour(s) | PGA Tour, European Tour |
| Format | Match play |
| Prize fund | None |
| Month played | late September |
| Current champion | |
 Europe |
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| 2027 Ryder Cup | |
The Ryder Cup is a famous golf tournament that happens every two years. It is an exciting competition between two teams: one from the United States and one from Europe. The teams play against each other to win the Ryder Cup trophy, a beautiful gold cup.
The event is named after an English businessman named Samuel Ryder, who donated the trophy. The tournament is held in a different location each time, switching between courses in the U.S. and Europe. One of the most special things about the Ryder Cup is that the professional golfers who play do not receive any prize money. They play for the honor of their team and their continent.
Originally, the U.S. team played against a team from Great Britain and Ireland. However, in 1979, the team was expanded to include players from all over continental Europe. This made the competition much more balanced and exciting.
Contents
How the Ryder Cup Began
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The idea for a golf competition between American and British professionals grew in the 1920s. An English businessman, Samuel Ryder, loved golf and wanted to support the sport. He sponsored a few events and decided to donate a trophy for a regular match between the two countries.
The first official Ryder Cup took place in 1927 at Worcester Country Club in Massachusetts, USA. The American team won that first event. The small golfer on top of the trophy was designed to look like Abe Mitchell, who was Samuel Ryder's personal golf coach.
For many years, the American team was very strong and won most of the matches. This led to a big change to make the event more competitive.
A Bigger, Better Team Europe
For the first 50 years, the United States team was so dominant that the event became a bit one-sided. From 1947 to 1977, the team from Great Britain and Ireland only won once.
To make the matches more exciting, it was decided to let players from all of continental Europe join the Great Britain and Ireland team. This happened in 1979, and the new team was called Team Europe.
This change worked perfectly. With talented young European players like Seve Ballesteros and Bernhard Langer, Team Europe became very strong. The Ryder Cup soon turned into one of the most thrilling and popular events in all of sports.
How the Ryder Cup is Played
The Ryder Cup is a team event that uses a special scoring system called match play. Instead of counting the total number of strokes, players compete to win individual holes. The team that wins the most holes wins the match.
The tournament takes place over three days, from Friday to Sunday, with a total of 28 matches.
Types of Matches
There are three different formats played during the Ryder Cup:
- Foursomes: Two golfers from each team play as partners. They take turns hitting the same golf ball. For example, one player tees off, the other hits the second shot, and so on.
- Fourball: Two golfers from each team play as partners, but each player uses their own ball. On every hole, the partner with the best score is the one that counts for the team.
- Singles: On the final day, all 12 players from each team play in one-on-one matches against a player from the other team.
Scoring Points
Each of the 28 matches is worth one point. If a match is tied after 18 holes, each team gets half a point.
The first team to reach 14½ points wins the Ryder Cup. If the tournament ends in a 14–14 tie, the team that won the previous Ryder Cup gets to keep the trophy.
Choosing the Teams
Each team has 12 players. Most of these players earn their spot on the team automatically through their performance in tournaments over the previous year or two. They earn points based on how well they play.
A few spots on each team are saved for "captain's picks." The team captain, who is usually a famous and respected former player, chooses a few players to complete the team. The captain believes these players will help the team win, even if they didn't qualify automatically. The captain also decides which players will play together in the foursomes and fourball matches.
Notable Ryder Cups
Some Ryder Cups have been so exciting that they are still talked about today.
1969: A Famous Act of Sportsmanship
In 1969, the entire Ryder Cup came down to the very last match between America's Jack Nicklaus and Great Britain's Tony Jacklin. The score for the whole tournament was tied. On the final hole, both players had short putts left.
Nicklaus made his putt. Jacklin had a two-foot putt to tie the match and the entire Ryder Cup. Instead of making Jacklin attempt the stressful putt, Nicklaus picked up his opponent's ball marker and gave him the putt. This act of kindness, known as "The Concession," meant the Ryder Cup ended in a tie for the first time. Nicklaus said he didn't think Jacklin would miss, but he didn't want to give him the chance to under such pressure.
1991: An Intense Finish
The 1991 Ryder Cup at Kiawah Island was one of the most tense and dramatic ever. The American team was trying to win back the cup after two straight losses. The event was incredibly close and came down to the final putt of the final match.
Germany's Bernhard Langer had a six-foot putt to win the Ryder Cup for Europe. The pressure was enormous, and he missed it. The U.S. team won by a single point. The event showed how much the Ryder Cup meant to the players on both sides.
1999: The Comeback at Brookline
In 1999, the U.S. team was losing 10–6 going into the final day of singles matches. It seemed impossible for them to win. But the American players started winning match after match in an amazing comeback.
The deciding moment came when Justin Leonard sank an incredible 45-foot putt on the 17th hole. The U.S. team and fans celebrated wildly, and they went on to win the Ryder Cup 14½ to 13½.
2012: The Miracle at Medinah
In 2012, it was Europe's turn for an amazing comeback. The European team was also losing 10–6 heading into the final day in Medinah, Illinois. Just like the Americans in 1999, they needed a historic performance to win.
Led by players like Ian Poulter, the European team played incredible golf and won match after match. Germany's Martin Kaymer sank the winning putt, securing a 14½ to 13½ victory for Europe. It is often called the "Miracle at Medinah."
Times the Ryder Cup Was Paused
The Ryder Cup has been played every two years since 1927, with only a few exceptions.
- World War II: The competition was paused for ten years during and after World War II, from 1939 to 1947.
- 2001 Postponement: The 2001 Ryder Cup was postponed for one year following the tragic events of September 11 in the United States.
- 2020 Postponement: The 2020 event was moved to 2021 because of the worldwide COVID-19 health crisis. This caused the Ryder Cup to switch back to being held in odd-numbered years.
Results
Summary
| Team | From | To | Matches | Wins | Losses | Ties | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 United States |
1927 | 2025 | 45 | 27 | 16 | 2 | 60% |
 Great Britain,  Great Britain & Ireland |
1927 | 1977 | 22 | 3 | 18 | 1 | 13.64% |
| Europe |
1979 | 2025 | 23 | 13 | 9 | 1 | 56.52% |
| Europe, Great Britain & Ireland |
1927 | 2025 | 45 | 16 | 27 | 2 | 35.56% |
Up to date as of 2025 Ryder Cup
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Editions
| # | Year | Dates |
Winners | Score | Host location |
Course | U.S. captain |
European captain |
U.S. top point scorer |
European top point scorer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States v Europe (1979 to present) | ||||||||||
| 45th | 2025 | 25–28 Sep |  Europe |
15– 13 |
New York United States |
Bethpage State Park (Black Course), Farmingdale | Keegan Bradley |
Luke Donald |
Young; Schauffele 3 / 4 |
Fleetwood 4 / 5 |
| 44th | 2023 | 29 Sep– 1 Oct |
Europe |
161⁄2– 111⁄2 |
Italy Europe |
Marco Simone Golf and Country Club, Guidonia Montecelio, Lazio |
Zach Johnson |
Luke Donald |
Homa 3.5 / 5 |
McIlroy 4 / 5 |
| 43rd | 2021 |
24– 26 Sep |
 United States |
19– 9 |
Wisconsin United States |
Whistling Straits (Straits), Haven |
Steve Stricker |
Pádraig Harrington |
Johnson 5 / 5 |
Rahm 3.5 / 5 |
| 42nd | 2018 | 28– 30 Sep |
Europe |
171⁄2– 101⁄2 |
France Europe |
Le Golf National (Albatros), Guyancourt, Île-de-France |
Jim Furyk |
Thomas Bjørn |
Thomas 4 / 5 |
Molinari 5 / 5 |
| 41st | 2016 | 30 Sep– 2 Oct |
United States |
17– 11 |
Minnesota United States |
Hazeltine National Golf Club, Chaska |
Davis Love III |
Darren Clarke |
Reed 3.5 / 5 |
Pieters 4 / 5 |
| 40th | 2014 | 26– 28 Sep |
Europe |
161⁄2– 111⁄2 |
Scotland Europe |
Gleneagles Hotel (PGA Centenary), Perthshire |
Tom Watson |
Paul McGinley |
Reed 3.5 / 4 |
Rose 4 / 5 |
| 39th | 2012 | 28– 30 Sep |
Europe |
141⁄2– 131⁄2 |
Illinois United States |
Medinah Country Club (No. 3), DuPage County |
Davis Love III |
José María Olazábal |
Johnson 3 / 3 |
Poulter 4 / 4 |
| 38th | 2010 | 1– 4 Oct |
Europe |
141⁄2– 131⁄2 |
Wales Europe |
Celtic Manor Resort (The Twenty Ten), Newport | Corey Pavin |
Colin Montgomerie |
Stricker; Woods 3 / 4 |
Donald; Poulter 3 / 4 |
| 37th | 2008 | 19– 21 Sep |
United States |
161⁄2– 111⁄2 |
Kentucky United States |
Valhalla Golf Club, Louisville |
Paul Azinger |
Nick Faldo |
Mahan 3.5 / 5 |
Poulter 4 / 5 |
| 36th | 2006 | 22– 24 Sep |
Europe |
181⁄2– 91⁄2 |
Ireland Europe |
K Club (Palmer North), County Kildare |
Tom Lehman |
Ian Woosnam |
Woods 3 / 5 |
García; Westwood 4 / 5 |
| 35th | 2004 | 17– 19 Sep |
Europe |
181⁄2– 91⁄2 |
Michigan United States |
Oakland Hills Country Club (South), Birmingham, MI |
Hal Sutton |
Bernhard Langer |
DiMarco 2.5 / 4 |
García; Westwood 4.5 / 5 |
| 34th | 2002 |
27– 29 Sep |
Europe |
151⁄2– 121⁄2 |
England Europe |
The Belfry (Brabazon), Warwickshire |
Curtis Strange |
Sam Torrance |
Toms 3.5 / 5 |
Montgomerie 4.5 / 5 |
| 33rd | 1999 | 24– 26 Sep |
United States |
141⁄2– 131⁄2 |
Massachusetts United States |
The Country Club (Championship), Brookline |
Ben Crenshaw |
Mark James |
Sutton 3.5 / 5 |
García; Lawrie; Montgomerie; Parnevik 3.5 / 5 |
| 32nd | 1997 | 26– 28 Sep |
Europe |
141⁄2– 131⁄2 |
Spain Europe |
Valderrama Golf Club, Andalusia |
Tom Kite |
Seve Ballesteros |
Hoch 2.5 / 3 |
Montgomerie 3.5 / 5 |
| 31st | 1995 | 22– 24 Sep |
Europe |
141⁄2– 131⁄2 |
New York United States |
Oak Hill Country Club (East), Monroe County |
Lanny Wadkins |
Bernard Gallacher |
Pavin 4 / 5 |
Gilford 3 / 4 |
| 30th | 1993 | 24– 26 Sep |
United States |
15– 13 |
England Europe |
The Belfry (Brabazon), Warwickshire |
Tom Watson |
Bernard Gallacher |
Floyd; Stewart 3 / 4 |
Woosnam 4.5 / 5 |
| 29th | 1991 | 27– 29 Sep |
United States |
141⁄2– 131⁄2 |
South Carolina United States |
Kiawah Island Golf Resort (Ocean), Charleston County |
Dave Stockton |
Bernard Gallacher |
Couples; Wadkins 3.5 / 5 |
Ballesteros 4.5 / 5 |
| 28th | 1989 | 22– 24 Sep |
Tied Europe retains |
14– 14 |
England Europe |
The Belfry (Brabazon), Warwickshire |
Raymond Floyd |
Tony Jacklin |
Beck 3.5 / 4 |
Olazábal 4.5 / 5 |
| 27th | 1987 | 25– 27 Sep |
Europe |
15– 13 |
Ohio United States |
Muirfield Village, Dublin |
Jack Nicklaus |
Tony Jacklin |
Kite; Sutton 3 / 5 |
Ballesteros 4 / 5 |
| 26th | 1985 | 13– 15 Sep |
Europe |
161⁄2– 111⁄2 |
England Europe |
The Belfry (Brabazon), Warwickshire |
Lee Trevino |
Tony Jacklin |
Stadler; Wadkins 3 / 5 |
Piñero 4 / 5 |
| 25th | 1983 | 14– 16 Oct |
United States |
141⁄2– 131⁄2 |
Florida United States |
PGA National Resort (Champion), Palm Beach Gardens |
Jack Nicklaus |
Tony Jacklin |
Watson 4 / 5 |
Faldo; Langer 4 / 5 |
| 24th | 1981 | 18– 20 Sep |
United States |
181⁄2– 91⁄2 |
England Europe |
Walton Heath Golf Club, Surrey |
Dave Marr |
John Jacobs |
Nelson; Nicklaus; Trevino 4 / 4 |
Piñero 2 / 4 |
| 23rd | 1979 | 14– 16 Sep |
United States |
17– 11 |
West Virginia United States |
The Greenbrier, White Sulphur Springs |
Billy Casper |
John Jacobs |
Nelson 5 / 5 |
Gallacher 4 / 5 |
| United States v Great Britain & Ireland (1973 to 1977) | ||||||||||
| 22nd | 1977 | 15– 17 Sep |
United States |
121⁄2– 71⁄2 |
England GB & Ireland |
Royal Lytham & St Annes, Lancashire |
Dow Finsterwald |
Brian Huggett |
Wadkins 3 / 3 |
Faldo 3 / 3 |
| 21st | 1975 | 19– 21 Sep |
United States |
21– 11 |
Pennsylvania United States |
Laurel Valley Golf Club, Westmoreland County |
Arnold Palmer |
Bernard Hunt |
Irwin 4.5 / 5 |
Oosterhuis 3.5 / 6 |
| 20th | 1973 | 20– 22 Sep |
United States |
19– 13 |
Scotland GB & Ireland |
Muirfield, East Lothian |
Jack Burke Jr. |
Bernard Hunt |
Nicklaus 4.5 / 6 |
Oosterhuis 4 / 6 |
| United States v Great Britain (1923 to 1971) | ||||||||||
| 19th | 1971 | 16– 18 Sep |
United States |
181⁄2– 131⁄2 |
Missouri United States |
Old Warson Country Club, St. Louis |
Jay Hebert |
Eric Brown |
Palmer 4.5 / 6 |
Gallacher 3.5 / 5 |
| 18th | 1969 | 18– 20 Sep |
Tied United States retains |
16– 16 |
England Great Britain |
Royal Birkdale Golf Club, Merseyside |
Sam Snead |
Eric Brown |
Hill 4 / 6 |
Jacklin 5 / 6 |
| 17th | 1967 | 20– 22 Oct |
United States |
231⁄2– 81⁄2 |
Texas United States |
Champions Golf Club, Houston |
Ben Hogan |
Dai Rees |
Palmer; Dickinson 5 / 5 |
Thomas 3 / 5 |
| 16th | 1965 | 7– 9 Oct |
United States |
191⁄2– 121⁄2 |
England Great Britain |
Royal Birkdale Golf Club, Merseyside |
Byron Nelson |
Harry Weetman |
Lema 5 / 6 |
Alliss 5 / 6 |
| 15th | 1963 | 11– 13 Oct |
United States |
23– 9 |
Georgia United States |
Atlanta Athletic Club, Atlanta |
Arnold Palmer |
John Fallon |
Casper 4.5 / 5 |
Huggett 2.5 / 5 |
| 14th | 1961 | 13– 14 Oct |
United States |
141⁄2– 91⁄2 |
England Great Britain |
Royal Lytham & St Annes, Lancashire |
Jerry Barber |
Dai Rees |
Palmer 3.5 / 4 |
Rees 3 / 4 |
| 13th | 1959 | 6– 7 Nov |
United States |
81⁄2– 31⁄2 |
California United States |
Eldorado Country Club Indian Wells |
Sam Snead |
Dai Rees |
Finsterwald; Rosburg; Souchak 2 / 2 |
Alliss 1.5 / 2 |
| 12th | 1957 | 4– 5 Oct |
Great Britain |
71⁄2– 41⁄2 |
England Great Britain |
Lindrick Golf Club, Nottinghamshire |
Jack Burke Jr. |
Dai Rees |
Mayer 1.5 / 2 |
Bousfield; Rees 2 / 2 |
| 11th | 1955 | 5– 6 Nov |
United States |
8– 4 |
California United States |
Thunderbird Country Club, Riverside County |
Chick Harbert |
Dai Rees |
Bolt; Burke Jr.; Ford; Snead 2 / 2 |
Jacobs 2 / 2 |
| 10th | 1953 | 2– 3 Oct |
United States |
61⁄2– 51⁄2 |
England Great Britain |
Wentworth Club, Surrey |
Lloyd Mangrum |
Henry Cotton |
Burke Jr. 2 / 2 |
Bradshaw; Daly 2 / 2 |
| 9th | 1951 | 2– 4 Nov |
United States |
91⁄2– 21⁄2 |
North Carolina United States |
Pinehurst Resort (No. 2), Moore County |
Sam Snead |
Arthur Lacey |
Burke Jr.; Demaret; Hogan; Mangrum; Snead 2 / 2 |
Lees 2 / 2 |
| 8th | 1949 | 16– 17 Sep |
United States |
7– 5 |
England Great Britain |
Ganton Golf Club; Yorkshire |
Ben Hogan |
Charles Whitcombe |
Demaret; Heafner 2 / 2 |
Adams 2 / 2 |
| 7th | 1947 | 1– 2 Nov |
United States |
11– 1 |
Oregon United States |
Portland Golf Club, Portland |
Ben Hogan |
Henry Cotton |
Demaret; Mangrum; Nelson; Oliver; Snead; Worsham 2 / 2 |
King 1 / 2 |
| 1939, 1941, 1943, and 1945: No Ryder Cups because of World War II | ||||||||||
| 6th | 1937 | 29– 30 Jun |
United States |
8– 4 |
England Great Britain |
Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club, Merseyside |
Walter Hagen |
Charles Whitcombe |
Dudley; Guldahl 2 / 2 |
Rees 1.5 / 2 |
| 5th | 1935 | 28– 29 Sep |
United States |
9– 3 |
New Jersey United States |
Ridgewood Country Club, Bergen County |
Walter Hagen |
Charles Whitcombe |
Picard; Revolta; Runyan; Sarazen 2 / 2 |
Whitcombe 1 / 1 |
| 4th | 1933 | 25– 26 Jun |
Great Britain |
61⁄2– 51⁄2 |
England Great Britain |
Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club, Merseyside |
Walter Hagen |
John Henry Taylor |
Hagen; Sarazen 1.5 / 2 |
Easterbrook; Havers; Mitchell 2 / 2 |
| 3rd | 1931 | 26– 27 Jun |
United States |
9– 3 |
Ohio United States |
Scioto Country Club, Upper Arlington |
Walter Hagen |
Charles Whitcombe |
Burke; Cox; Hagen; Sarazen; Shute; 2 / 2 |
Davies; Havers; Mitchell; Robson 1 / 2 |
| 2nd | 1929 | 26– 27 Apr |
Great Britain |
7– 5 |
England Great Britain |
Moortown Golf Club, Yorkshire |
Walter Hagen |
George Duncan |
Diegel 2 / 2 |
Compston; Whitcombe 1.5 / 2 |
| 1st | 1927 | 3– 4 Jun |
United States |
91⁄2– 21⁄2 |
Massachusetts United States |
Worcester Country Club, Worcester County |
Walter Hagen |
Ted Ray |
Farrell; Golden; Hagen; Watrous 2 / 2 |
Whitcombe 1.5 / 2 |
Future venues
| Year | Edition | Hosts | Course | Location | Dates | Last hosted | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 46th | Europe |
Adare Manor | Adare, County Limerick, Ireland | September 17–19 | n/a | |
| 2029 | 47th | United States |
Hazeltine National Golf Club | Chaska, Minnesota, United States | 2016 | ||
| 2031 | 48th | Europe |
Camiral Golf & Wellness | Caldes de Malavella, Catalonia, Spain | n/a | ||
| 2033 | 49th | United States |
Olympic Club, Lake Course | San Francisco, California, United States | n/a | ||
| 2035 | 50th | Europe |
Not yet awarded | ||||
| 2037 | 51st | United States |
Congressional Country Club, Blue Course | Bethesda, Maryland, United States | n/a |
Records
Here are some of the most impressive records from Ryder Cup history.
- Most Appearances: 12 by Phil Mickelson (USA)
- Most Points Won: 28½ by Sergio García (Europe)
- Most Singles Points Won: 7 by Colin Montgomerie (Europe)
- Most Foursomes Points Won: 13½ by Sergio García (Europe)
- Most Fourball Points Won: 10½ by Ian Woosnam (Europe) and José María Olazábal (Europe)
- Best Partnership: 12 points by Seve Ballesteros and José María Olazábal (Europe)
- Most Points in One Ryder Cup: 5 points, achieved by several players including Arnold Palmer (USA), Gardner Dickinson (USA), Larry Nelson (USA), Francesco Molinari (Europe), and Dustin Johnson (USA).
- Youngest Player: Sergio García (Europe) was 19 years, 258 days old in 1999.
- Oldest Player: Raymond Floyd (USA) was 51 years, 20 days old in 1993.
Similar golf events
- Presidents Cup: A competition between the U.S. and an International team made up of players from the rest of the world (excluding Europe).
- Solheim Cup: The women's version of the Ryder Cup, with Team USA playing against Team Europe.
- Walker Cup: A competition for amateur men, with the U.S. playing against a team from Great Britain and Ireland.
- Curtis Cup: A competition for amateur women, with the U.S. playing against a team from Great Britain and Ireland.
See also
In Spanish: Ryder Cup para niños
