As we approach the Ryder Cup Matches for 1999, it is interesting to look back on the history of this exciting event. In 1927, English seed merchant, Samuel Ryder, who made his fortune by selling seeds in small packages, donated the Ryder Cup to the Great Britain Professional Golfers Association as a prize for an international competition between the United States and Great Britain, to be held every other year. The golfer depicted on top of the cup is Abe Mitchell, a friend and private instructor of Ryder. The cup cost 250 pounds in 1927 and is currently valued at $13,900.

Before we get into the history of the matches, we must understand the terminology.

Match Play: This is the format many players use when playing with their friends. Whoever wins the hole, regardless of the score differential, wins one point. A tie gives each player ½ point. The first player or team to lead by more points than the number of holes remaining wins the match. It need not go to 18 holes. A player is considered to be "dormy" if he leads by as many points as the number of holes remaining. Such a player may only be tied in regulation and beaten in extra holes.

Foursomes or alternate shot: A match played by two person teams in which, before the match, a decision is made as to which player will tee off on the odd numbered holes and the other team member tees off on the even holes. After that, the other player hits the next shot, and so forth until the ball is holed. As in all match play, the team that wins, scores a point, if the hole is halved (both teams make the same score on the hole) each team gets ½ point.

Fourball or better ball: A matched played by two person teams in which both players play their ball from the tee to the cup and the best score of either player is counted against the best score of the opponents. The team that wins gets a point, if the hole is halved, each team gets ½ point.

Singles: One-on-one match play in which the low score wins a point and tie scores ½ point.

In order for the U.S. to win the Ryder cup we would need to accumulate 14 ½ of the 28 available points during the three days. Europe, as defending champion, only needs to secure a 14 – 14 tie to retain the cup.

The first Ryder Cup Match was held at Worchester Country Club in Worchester, Mass. in 1927. In those days, there were 8 Players per team. The captain of the U.S. team was the great Walter Hagen. The format consisted of four matches of foursomes, or alternating shot format the first day followed by 8 singles matches the second day. The U.S. emerged victorious by a score of 9 ½ to 2 ½.

From 1927 through 1959, 13 Ryder Cup challenges were played (four were not played due to WWII), and during this time 11 were won by the U.S. and 3 by Britain.

In 1961, at Royal Lytham & St. Annes in England the format was changed to 10 players per team and 24 matches, with the first day consisting of 2 sets of 4 fourball matches and the second day, 2 sets of 8 singles matches. This gave the captain the option of using certain players in each set of matches.

In 1963, Four ball, or as we call it best ball was introduced to the Ryder Cup. In this year at East Lake Country Club, in Atlanta, Georgia, A total of 32 points were available from 8 four ball matches, 8 foursomes matches and 16 singles matches. The U.S. won the first match of this type by a score of 23-9, behind the great play of playing captain, Arnold Palmer.

In 1969 the playing roster of each team was changed from 10 players to the current number of 12. This gave the captain of each team more variety in selecting pairings for each match and the ability to rest a few players for future matches.

The U.S won every match through 1971 after which the decision was made to allow the players from the Republic of Ireland to participate in order to equalize the playing field.

In 1979 after successive victories by the U.S. the GB& I team was expanded to include any players from Europe. At the time the format was changed to the current format of 2 sets of 4 foursomes matches the first day, 2 sets of 4 four ball matches the second day and one set of 12 individual matches on the final day.

Since then, the European team has won 5 matches and the U.S. team has won 5 matches, with the European team winning the last 2.

What has caused this change in the Ryder Cup winning percentage? There are a few things. Lee Trevino thinks that the top 5 players in the Ryder Cup have always been equal, but the U.S. had the advantage in the other 5 to 7 players. That advantage is now gone due to the increased strength of the European Tour.

All in all it should be a great three days. We have a great team and a great Captain in Ben Crenshaw and I am sure our guys will do their very best to bring home the Ryder Cup.

Good luck guys! FAIRWAYS AND GREENS!!

Copyright © 1999 Bruce R. Munch       
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