Held every two years, the Ryder Cup is golf’s highest professional team event, with the USA competing against Europe for the coveted trophy. The first official exhibition match took place in 1927 in Massachusetts, after Samuel Ryder was involved in a tournament at Wentworth in 1926 and, as he was a wealthy man, was talked into providing a trophy. Preston-born Ryder made his fortune selling penny seed packets and became mayor of St Albans in Hertfordshire. He encouraged the establishment of regular matches. The figure on the Ryder Cup trophy is Abe Mitchell, the man who taught Ryder how to play the game.
However, the first unofficial Ryder Cup match took place at Gleneagles in 1921. This event attracted the best golfers of their time, such as James Braid, Harry Vardon, J. H. Taylor, Ted Ray, George Duncan, Walter Hagen and Wild Bill Mehlhorn. Britain soundly beat the USA ten and a half to four and a half. Gleneagles will host the event in 2014.
The format has changed over the years and now consists of different kinds of team rounds and individual match play rounds. Europe has won the event 10 times, while the USA has won it 25 times. Twice it has been halved. Nick Faldo holds the record for the most wins in the Ryder Cup, with 23 victories to his name, as well as 19 losses. Arnold Palmer comes in second with 22 wins. Christy O’Connor Sr. and Neil Coles share the overall record for the most losses in Ryder Cup match play, with 21 defeats each. Jimmy Demaret is the only player who has competed in more than five Ryder Cup matches and has never lost or halved a match.
This year will be the first time the event is taking place in the state of Illinois, at the prestigious Medinah Country Club. If you’d like to watch history unfold there are a number of ways we can help. The only way to get face-value tickets is to go online but if you’d like to watch it in style or entertain clients or friends, please let us know and we’ll send you several options.
Connect with Ten Lifestyle