Hottest Ryder Cup Contests

From Great Depression through the 1960s
Great Britain and the USA
2002 – Present Day at the Ryder Cup Challenge

The Ryder Cup is ‘Where Legends Are Forged’. Few golfing tournaments are quite as prestigious as the Ryder Cup. Established in 1927, this golf tournament has played host to the world's greatest golfers representing their countries or regions, as they battle it out for dominance.

The Ryder Cup plays every 2 years, as two dozen premium golfers from the US and Europe compete for glory. The Ryder Cup has a fascinating history that dates back to 1927.

At the time, the captain of the USA team was Walter Hagan and the captain of the Great Britain team was Ted Ray. In the inaugural year between the Great War and just before the Wall Street crash, the US won the Ryder Cup in spectacular fashion.

From Great Depression through the 1960s – the Ryder Cup Evolves

In 1929, the Ryder Cup was played at Moortown Golf Club, in Leeds, England. At the time, captain of Great Britain was George Duncan, and Walter Hagan led the US as captain. Great Britain beat the US and tied the scores at 1-1. By 1931, Walter Hagen led a successful USA team to an easy victory at the Scioto Country Club, in Columbus, Ohio.

By 1933, Great Britain under JH Taylor leveled the scores with a big win in England, at the Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club.

Over the years, this back-and-forth between the US and England continued. The early era of the Ryder Cup golf challenge continued in earnest until around 1945. At the conclusion of World War II, the Formative Years kicked in. These Ryder Cup tournaments continued until 1967.

During these years, the USA continued to dominate with major wins in Portland, Oregon (1947), Scarborough England (1949), Pinehurst, North Carolina (1951), Wentworth England (1953), and Palm Springs California (1955).

However, Great Britain and captain Jack Burke led a resounding comeback in 1957 at Lindrick Golf Club, in Yorkshire England. The victory was pyrrhic though, because the USA roared to a major victory in 1959 in Palm Desert California under captain Sam Snead.

In 1961, another victory was recorded for the USA, under captain Jerry Barber on English home soil at St Annes.

The first ever 3-day Ryder Cup was hosted in 1963 when the legendary Arnold Palmer captained the USA. It was another resounding victory in Atlanta, Georgia. At 888 Sport NJ, you can bet on futures Ryder Cup tournaments at your leisure.

Great Britain and the USA Tango on the Greens

In 1965, and 1967, the USA once again rolled to easy victories over Great Britain. The captains at the time were Brian Nelson and Ben Hogan respectively. The era of American domination began in 1969 with none other than the legendary Jack Nicklaus leading to a first-ever tie when he conceded.

In 1971, the US dominated in St Louis, Missouri, and when the event was hosted in 1973 at Muirfield Golf Club in Scotland, the USA won again. By 1975, Arnold Palmer had assumed captaincy of the USA team and won in Pennsylvania. At St Anne's in England in 1977, the USA dominated Great Britain once again. By 1979, the Europeans had joined in the Ryder Cup challenge and were defeated by the USA.

The years 1981 and 1983 were marked by impressive US wins in the Ryder Cup. The 1981 captain of the US was Billy Casper, and the 1983 the captain was Jack Nicklaus. In the 80s and 90s, the Europeans began to step up their game under the captaincy of Tony Jacklin.

At the Belfry, Sutton Coldfield, England, the Europeans popped the bubbly and celebrated in grand style. In 1987 the Europeans made history by securing their first win on US soil. In 1989, another draw was recorded at the Belfry, Sutton Coldfield, England. Fast forward to 1991 – the USA prevailed against the Europeans under Bernard Gallacher. Over the next several contests in 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, both the US and Europe won twice.

2002 – Present Day at the Ryder Cup Challenge

By 2002, the legendary Colin Montgomery led Europe to an impressive victory over the US at the Belfry, Sutton Coldfield, England. The US team was captained by Curtis Strange, and the European team by Sam Torrance. In 2004, world-class golfer Bernhard Langer led the Europeans to their biggest-ever win against the US at Bloomfield Township, in Michigan.

The Americans under captain Hal Sutton had no answer to the onslaught waged by the Europeans. In 2006, the Europeans repeated the magic of the previous Ryder Cup, but this ended in 2008 when captain Paul Azinger of the US defeated the Europeans in Louisville Kentucky.

FYI: The most successful player in the Ryder Cup today is none other than Spanish golfing prodigy Sergio Garcia. He amassed more points than anyone else in the history of the contest, with 25 1/2 points for Europe (2018), besting Nick Faldo of England by half a point.

The last decade of Ryder Cups in 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2018 featured 3 European victories and 2 USA victories. Such is the fierce competition between Europe and the USA, that it is virtually impossible to know with 100% certainty who is going to lead in this auspicious golfing tournament. Golf bettors can follow all the action as it happens at the Ryder Cup, right here at 888sport New Jersey.

Live in-play betting with dynamic odds allows golf bettors to stay abreast of the latest developments as they happen.

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*Photo courtesy of Francois Mori and AP

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About the Author

Brett Chatz

Brett is an internationally published sports journalist, political analyst, and medical fiction author. His commentary is seen in The Star, The Citizen, Tampa Bay Times, The Street, The Sowetan, The Sunday Times, The Sunday Independent, and across hundreds of online and print media platforms. He is the author of ‘Cricket Chatz’ and the highly-acclaimed, ‘Serum’.