The Ryder Cup – What's It All About

The Ryder Cup is so called after the man who donated it, Samuel Ryder, an English businessman and keen golfer.

• The competition first began as an exhibition match in 1926 between a team of American golf professionals and their British counterparts at Wentworth in the UK. The first Ryder Cup competition was held in 1927 and was won by the US by a significant margin of 9 ½ to 2 ½.

• The cup is fought over biannually, alternating between a course in the US and Europe, usually the UK. Despite the initial competitions being fairly even, repeated dominance by the US after the Second World War, led to extended representation of the British team to include players from continental Europe.

• Since that change in 1979, the Ryder Cup has proved more competitive with Europe winning eight times and the Americans seven times. However, Europe have won four of the last five Cups.

• The 1999 Ryder Cup is perhaps the most controversial. Held at the Brookline County Club course in the US. The Americans were training 10 – 6 going into the final day but went on to win the singles and gain their first victory since 1993. A controversial celebration by the Americans on the 17th hole of the final match as their man Leonard sank an incredible put was said to have put off Spaniard José María Olazábal who missed his put and chance to retain the Ryder Cup.

• Victorious Europe captain for 2010, Colin Montgomery, has never won one of golf's 'Major' tournaments but he has won eight Order of Merit titles and 31 European Tour tournaments placing him fourth on the all time winners list.

The Ryder Cup is unique in professional sport in many ways not least that the players do not get paid to take part or win any individual prizes. Despite that, it creates it's own unique brand of competitiveness that few sports can rival.