The Ryder Cup the most thrilling tournament in the world. Although it is not a major tournament sometimes it surpasses those four matches due to its intensity and hype. It is a biennial tournament between the professional golfers from the United States and Europe. It is the most seen Match Play tournament in the world. The Ryder Cup generates huge money but it does not offer any prize for professionals. The President Cup follows the same pattern where The USA team plays golf against the players all over the world, European players are not included in this tournament. Ryder Cup is simply a golf rivalry between the players of two different continents. Initially, it was conducted in Great Britain only, now it is organized in America and Europe alternatively.

The British Open is known as the base of the Ryder Cup, till 1920 no American golfer was able to win the Open tournament all the editions were won by those from Great Britain. A writer of a then famous magazine; Golf Illustrated, James D. Harnett submitted a request for a practice match between the players of both the countries before The Open Championship, this application was accepted and soon there was a golf match at Gleneagles between 20 players, 10 players each side. Great Britain easily won the maiden edition with the lead of 9 matches. From 1927 to onward the match is conducted after 2 years. Great Britain side was unbeaten in this tournament and managed to win all 5 edition until world war II. After the war, The USA team came back strong and kept winning for a long time until seventy’s.

From 1927 to 1959 The Ryder Cup was a two days match, the first day there was a 36 hole foursome match between 4 players and on the final day, 8 single matches of 36 holes were conducted. The current format comprises of a three days match, the first day there are four foursomes in the morning and four fourballs in the evening, the second day goes with the same format and on the final day, twelve single matches are played. The team captain has rights to change fourballs and foursomes in the morning or evening for the first 2 days. The total points of the Ryder cup are 28. The captain is a nonplaying golfer who manages a team and selects the players for foursome or fourballs matches. Captains’ Pick or Wild card was introduced in 1989 and is still in practice.

Great Britain side was extended to “Ireland and Great Britain” in 1971 and 1973. In 1977’s edition of the Ryder Cup, Jack Nicklaus and Edward Stanley offered a suggestion to expand the British side and include other European players, this was due to Ryder was losing its charm and because almost every time American side was winning, sometimes with a wide margin. Jack Nicklaus’s suggestion was to make this event more thrilling and challenging. In the Edition of Ryder Cup 1979, It was officially between continents, Europe Vs America. This change actually made the tournament more appealing when the European team started winning and excelled their record. After 42 editions of The Ryder, Cup American has won 26 events, the European side has played 20 matches since 1979 and dominated American side in 11 matches and lost 8 times where only one tournament was tied.

Arnold Palmer and Billy Casper are the best Ryder Player of the American side, their contribution led the American side to numerous victories in the event. Together they have won 42 matches; 22 and 20 respectively. The European side has 2 heroes which are considered all-time best Ryder players, Nick Faldo and Colin Montgomerie. Some golf analyst writes Colin as the ever best match play golfer while most of the votes go to Nick Faldo who has won 23 matches, he has a record of the most point taken in a single edition, 25 points.

In the last tournament, Europe won the event due to Francesco Molinari who won his all 5 matches against the top seed players. Whistling Stairs Golf Club of USA will be the venue for the upcoming Ryder event on 25th September 2020. Pádraig Harrington will be the mentor of European side while Steve Stricker will be captain of America in Ryder Cup 2020.