page_title: List of Ryder Cup matches
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: List of Ryder Cup matches / History
caption_attribution_description: English: View from the Grand Stand at the Ryder Cup 2018 at Le Golf National in France.
context_page_description: The Ryder Cup is a golf competition contested by teams from Europe and the United States. The competition was originally contested between Great Britain and the United States; players from the Channel Islands also appeared on the British team, Republic of Ireland golfers were added to the British team in 1953 and this was extended to golfers elsewhere in Europe in 1979. Established in 1927, the competition is jointly administered by the Professional Golfers' Association of America and Ryder Cup Europe, a venture in which the PGA European Tour is the primary partner. The competition takes place every two years, with the exception of 2001 when the match was played a year later due to the 11 September attacks; the venue alternates between courses in Europe and the United States. The winners of the first match were the United States, who defeated Great Britain at Worcester Country Club 9½–2½. The latest Ryder Cup, at Le Golf National in Paris, France, was won by Europe 17½–10½ on 30 September 2018.
  The Ryder Cup is contested in a match play format, which involves different methods of the format. A foursomes match is contested with two members from each team playing alternate shots.
context_section_description: The first Ryder Cup match was contested in June 1927. The competition held at Worcester Country Club was won 9½–2½ by the United States. British captain Ted Ray cited the Americans' "superior putting" as the reason for their victory. Great Britain improved for the 1929 competition, winning 7–5 at Moortown Golf Club. However, they were unable to replicate this performance in 1931. In 100 degree heat and missing a number of their best players, they were unable to match the Americans at the Scioto Country Club and lost 9–3. The 1933 contest at the Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club was a closer affair than previous matches. It came down to the final match between Syd Easterbrook and Denny Shute. The American Shute had a putt to win the competition, but missed two in succession leaving Easterbrook with a putt to win the contest, which he made to secure a 6½–5½ victory for the British team. The United States regained the Cup in 1935, when they beat Great Britain 9–3 at Ridgewood Country Club. They became the first team to win the competition outside of their own country in 1937 when they beat the British team 8–4 at Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club.
  The advent of the Second World War meant the Ryder Cup was not contested again until 1947 at Portland Golf Club. The United States dominated the match in wet conditions, as Great Britain scored one point in an 11–1 defeat. The 1949 match was closer than the previous contest. Great Britain went into the final day with a 3–1 lead, but they were unable to secure the three and a half points they needed to win and lost 7–5. The 1951 contest at Pinehurst Resort, was again won by the United States. Such was the dominance in their 9½–2½ victory, that only two of the twelve matches reached the 18th hole. Before the 1953 contest Great Britain were given a boost when American Ben Hogan decided not to participate. He had won three of the four men's major golf championships during the year and his absence gave them optimism. However, they were unable to beat the United States; mistakes at the end of their singles matches by Peter Alliss and Bernard Hunt cost Great Britain as they lost 6½–5½. Despite recording their best points total in matches held in the United States, Great Britain were again defeated in 1955. The United States won 8–4 to extend their winning streak to 21 years.
  The 1957 contest saw Great Britain regain the Cup for the first time since 1933. They were 3–1 down after the first round of matches, but victory in five out of the seven singles matches made the difference as they won 7½–4½. The United States regained the Ryder Cup in 1959 beating Great Britain 8½–3½. The match was the last to be contested over 36 holes of foursomes and singles matches. The format changed to two 18 hole sets of foursomes and singles in 1961, doubling the number of points available from 12 to 24. The change in format did not affect the trend of American dominance as they won 14½–9½ at Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club. Two sets of four balls were introduced in 1963, increasing the number of points available to 32. Again, the changes made little difference to the outcome as the United States won 23–9 at East Lake Golf Club. British player Henry Cotton summed up the display from the Americans, stating: "We have been outclassed." The 1965 match at Royal Birkdale Golf Club started well for Great Britain, as they were trailing the United States 9–7 going into the singles matches. But the Americans proved too strong, winning the majority of the matches to win the contest 19½–12½.
  The 1967 match continued the trend of American victories, as the United States won 23½–8½ at Champions Golf Club. Unlike in previous years, the 1969 match was much closer. The match came down to the last hole of the final singles match between American Jack Nicklaus and British golfer Tony Jacklin. Nicklaus made his putt, which left Jacklin with a putt to tie the match. Despite this, Nicklaus conceded the putt, picking up Jacklin's ball marker. As a result their match was tied, as was the contest at 16–16. The United States won agai
caption: View from the Grandstand at the 2018 Ryder Cup held at Le Golf National in France.
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