The Ryder Cup – America v Europe golf competition

No one is absolutely certain of the origins of the Ryder Cup, the third most popular televised sporting event in the world, but 35 matches have been played so far with the 36th due to be played at the K Club, Straffan, County Kildare, in Ireland from September 22nd to 24th 2006. The idea came either from Sylvanus P. Jermain, president of Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio, who first presented the concept in 1921 or from James Harnett, a circulation representative for Golf Illustrated. In 1920 Harnett had attempted to attract potential readers by raising funds to pay expenses for a golf competition for professionals between Great Britain and the US. Harnett finally got the support he needed when the PGA of America voted to advance Harnett some funds at its Annual Meeting on December 15, 1920; this then was the start of the Ryder Cup.

The first matches were played at Gleneagles golf course in Scotland in 1921 when the British beat the Americans 9-3. The next competition took place in 1926; that year the R & A announced qualifying rounds for competitors wishing to play in the Open. This resulted in the Americans coming over to Britain earlier than normal and with spare time the American and British professionals agreed to play an unofficial match at Wentworth in England, this time the Americans were thrashed 13 ½ to 1 ½.

One interested spectator was the English seed merchant and entrepreneur Samuel Ryder from St Albans in Hertfordshire who’s personal tutor was British golf professional Abe Mitchel who had beaten the reigning British Open Champion Jim Barnes, 8 and 7, in the singles, and then with his partner George Duncan thrashed Hagen and Barnes, 9 and 8 in the foursomes. At tea, after the matches, with British Team Members George Duncan and Abe Mitchell as well as Americans Hagen and teammate Emmett French, Duncan suggested Ryder provide a trophy and establish matches on a regular basis. Ryder agreed at once and commissioned the design of the solid gold chalice that bears his name and (at Ryder’s insistence) Mitchell's likeness on the top.

For the inaugural matches in 1927 at Worcester Country Club, Massachusetts, Mitchell was suffering from appendicitis and could not join his countrymen and the United States team defeated Great Britain in that historic first Ryder Cup match, 9 1/2 -2 1/2.

From 1959 to 1977 the US had won all but one match and concerns were raised as to the level of opposition that Gt Britain was able to offer, during The 1977 Matches at Royal Lytham & St Annes, Jack Nicklaus approached the PGA of Great Britain with the statement that: "It is vital to widen the selection procedures if The Ryder Cup is to continue to enjoy its past prestige." The major change proposed was to expand selection procedures to include players from the British PGA European Tournament Division Order of Merit; this meant that European Members of the tour would be entitled to play on the team. This was accepted with the full agreement of the descendants of the Samuel A. Ryder family.

The first Ryder Cup Matches between Europe and America were played at The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. One of the first Europeans to make the overseas squad was a Spaniard, Severiano Ballesteros who went on to become one of the all-time greats. His record - won 20, lost 12 and halved five, has earned 22 1/2 points in 37 Ryder Cup Matches. According to the form books the American teams have always had the strongest teams in recent years yet the Europeans have managed to come out on top, producing some incredibly exciting games of golf truly worthy of the Ryder Cup.

The Ryder Cup Matches were interrupted for the second time in history (the first time by World War ll) following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack on the world trade towers in America. The Americans were too frightened to risk traveling and eight days following the tragedy, the 2001 Matches were rescheduled, with all future competitions to be conducted in even-numbered years.