The Ryder Cup is a men's golf competition held every two years between teams from Europe and the United States. The trophy's donor, English industrialist Samuel Ryder, is honored with the Ryder Cup's name. The PGA of America and Ryder Cup Europe, a collaboration between the PGA European Tour (60%) and the PGAs of Great Britain and Ireland (20%), as well as the PGAs of Europe (20%), jointly oversee the tournament.
The inaugural Ryder Cup was officially held in the United States in 1927 at the Worcester Country Club in Worcester, Massachusetts. It was initially contested between Great Britain and the United States.
The home team won the first five games, but when the competition was revived following World War II, the United States routinely won. As a result, in 1979, it was decided to extend "Great Britain and Ireland's" participation to include continental Europe.
The rise in popularity of a new generation of Spanish golfers, led by Seve Ballesteros and Antonio Garrido, catalyzed the admission of continental European players. The British Team's official title was changed from "Great Britain" to "Great Britain and Ireland" in 1973, but this was only a name change to reflect the fact that Northern Irish golfers had competed since 1947 and Republic of Ireland golfers had been on the Great Britain Ryder Cup team since 1953.
Despite being high-profile events that generate significant revenue from television, sponsorship, ticket sales, and merchandise, professional sports still lack prize money for the competing professionals in the Ryder Cup, Presidents Cup, and Solheim Cup, their non-European counterpart that alternates annually, and the women's equivalent, respectively.
The Ryder Cup was canceled in 2001 due to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and it was hosted in odd-numbered years until 1999, when it was shifted to even-numbered years in 2002. After the COVID-19 epidemic postponed the 2020 event, it returned to odd years in 2021.
Who won the PGA Ryder Cup in 2023?
The 2023 Ryder Cup was won by Europe, which defeated the United States with a score of 16.5 to 11.5. It was held at the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome, Italy.
Hovland's victory over Collin Morikawa gave Europe the first point; Jon Rahm's victory on the 18th hole tied his match with Scheffler, giving Europe another half-point. Europe just needed to win half of the seven matches left on the course after victories by Rory McIlroy and Tyrrell Hatton. Team USA won each of the final four matches.
Tommy Fleetwood defeated Rickie Fowler by winning the 16th hole, putting Europe ahead. Fleetwood then won the 17th hole to seal the victory for Team Europe. After a tie between Jordan Spieth and Shane Lowry and a victory by Robert MacIntyre against U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark in match twelve, the final score was 16.5 to 11.5.
The PGA Ryder Cup Winners List Year-by-Year
| Year | Winner | Score | Venue | U.S. capt. | Euro capt. |
| 2023 | Europe | 16.5-11.5 | Marco Simone (Italy) | Zach Johnson | Luke Donald |
| 2021 | USA | 19-9 | Whistling Straits (Wisconsin) | Steve Stricker | Padraig Harrington |
| 2018 | Europe | 17.5-10.5 | Le Golf National (France) | Jim Furyk | Thomas Bjorn |
| 2016 | USA | 17-11 | Hazeltine National Golf Club (Minnesota) | Davis Love III | Darren Clarke |
| 2014 | Europe | 16.5-11.5 | Gleneagles Hotel (Scotland) | Tom Watson | Paul McGinley |
| 2012 | Europe | 14.5-13.5 | Medinah Country Club (Illinois) | Davis Love III | Jose Maria Olazabal |
| 2010 | Europe | 14.5-13.5 | Celtic Manor Resort (Wales) | Corey Pavin | Colin Montgomerie |
| 2008 | USA | 16.5-11.5 | Valhalla Golf Club (Kentucky) | Paul Azinger | Nick Faldo |
| 2006 | Europe | 18.5-9.5 | K Club (Ireland) | Tom Lehman | Ian Woosnam |
| 2004 | Europe | 18.5-9.5 | Oakland Hills Country Club (Michigan) | Hal Sutton | Bernhard Langer |
| 2002 | Europe | 15.5-12.5 | The Belfry (England) | Curtis Strange | Sam Torrance |
| 1999 | USA | 14.5-13.5 | The Country Club (Massachusetts) | Ben Crenshaw | Mark James |
| 1997 | Europe | 14.5-13.5 | Valderrama Golf Club (Spain) | Tom Kite | Seve Ballesteros |
| 1995 | Europe | 14.5-13.5 | Oak Hill Country Club (New York) | Lanny Wadkins | Bernard Gallacher |
| 1993 | USA | 15-13 | The Belfry (England) | Tom Watson | Bernard Gallacher |
| 1991 | USA | 14.5-13.5 | Kiawah Island Golf Resort (South Carolina) | Dave Stockton | Bernard Gallacher |
| 1989 | Tied (Europe retains) | 14-14 | The Belfry (England) | Raymond Floyd | Tony Jacklin |
| 1987 | Europe | 15-13 | Muirfield Village (Ohio) | Jack Nicklaus | Tony Jacklin |
| 1985 | Europe | 16.5-11.5 | The Belfry (England) | Lee Trevino | Tony Jacklin |
| 1983 | USA | 14.5-13.5 | PGA National Golf Club (Florida) | Jack Nicklaus | Tony Jacklin |
| 1981 | USA | 18.5-9.5 | Walton Heath Golf Club (England) | Dave Marr | John Jacobs |
| 1979 | USA | 17-11 | The Greenbrier (West Virginia) | Billy Casper | John Jacobs |
| 1977 | USA | 12.5-7.5 | Royal Lytham & St Annes (England) | Dow Finsterwald | Brian Huggett |
| 1975 | USA | 21-11 | Laurel Valley Golf Club (Pennsylvania) | Arnold Palmer | Bernard Hunt |
| 1973 | USA | 19-13 | Muirfield (Scotland) | Jack Burke Jr. | Bernard Hunt |
| 1971 | USA | 18.5-13.5 | Old Warson Country Club (Missouri) | Jay Hebert | Eric Brown |
| 1969 | Tied (USA retains) | 16-16 | Royal Birkdale Golf Club (England) | Sam Snead | Eric Brown |
| 1967 | USA | 23.5-8.5 | Champions Golf Club (Texas) | Ben Hogan | Dai Rees |
| 1965 | USA | 19.5-12.5 | Royal Birkdale Golf Club (England) | Byron Nelson | Harry Weetman |
| 1963 | USA | 23-9 | Atlanta Athletic Club (Georgia) | Arnold Palmer | John Fallon |
| 1961 | USA | 14.5-9.5 | Royal Lytham & St Annes (England) | Jerry Barber | Dai Rees |
| 1959 | USA | 8.5-3.5 | Eldorado Country Club (California) | Sam Snead | Dai Rees |
| 1957 | Great Britain | 7.5-4.5 | Lindrick Golf Club (England) | Jack Burke Jr. | Dai Rees |
| 1955 | USA | 8-4 | Thunderbird Country Club (California) | Chick Harbert | Dai Rees |
| 1953 | USA | 6.5-5.5 | Wentworth Club (England) | Lloyd Mangrum | Henry Cotton |
| 1951 | USA | 9.5-2.5 | Pinehurst Resort, No. 2 (North Carolina) | Sam Snead | Arthur Lacey |
| 1949 | USA | 7-5 | Ganton Golf Club (England) | Ben Hogan | Charles Whitcombe |
| 1947 | USA | 11-1 | Portland Golf Club (Oregon) | Ben Hogan | Henry Cotton |
| 1937 | USA | 8-4 | Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club (England) | Walter Hagen | Charles Whitcombe |
| 1935 | USA | 9-3 | Ridgewood Country Club (New Jersey) | Walter Hagen | Charles Whitcombe |
| 1933 | Great Britain | 6.5-5.5 | Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club (England) | Walter Hagen | John Henry Taylor |
| 1931 | USA | 9-3 | Scioto Country Club (Ohio) | Walter Hagen | Charles Whitcombe |
| 1929 | Great Britain | 7-5 | Moortown Golf Club (England) | Walter Hagen | George Duncan |
| 1927 | USA | 9.5-2.5 | Worcester Country Club (Massachusetts) | Walter Hagen | Ted Ray |
Multiple PGA Ryder Cup Champions
| Teams | From | To | Matches | Wins | Losses | Ties | Win % |
| United States | 1927 | 2023 | 44 | 27 | 15 | 2 | 61.36% |
| Great Britain /Great Britain & Ireland | 1927 | 1977 | 22 | 3 | 18 | 1 | 13.64% |
| Europe | 1979 | 2023 | 22 | 12 | 9 | 1 | 54.55% |
| Great Britain, Ireland & Europe | 1927 | 2023 | 44 | 15 | 27 | 2 | 34.09% |
FAQs
A. The Ryder Cup is a men's golf competition between Europe and the U.S., named after donor Samuel Ryder.
A. The first Ryder Cup was in 1927 at Worcester Country Club, Massachusetts, contested between Great Britain and the U.S.
A. The rise of Spanish golfers like Seve Ballesteros prompted the inclusion of continental European players in the competition.
A. Despite generating revenue, the Ryder Cup, like other similar events, lacks prize money for competing professionals.
A. The 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome was won by Europe, defeating the U.S. 16.5 to 11.5, with Tommy Fleetwood sealing the victory.
