by Mike Shaw

Created on: September 17, 2010   Last Updated: October 17, 2010

Introduction To the Ryder Cup

The year 1927 gave birth to the Ryder Cup.  Its design was to match off the greatest players of the US against the best of Great Britain.

It has been played every two years since, with the exceptions of 1937-47 and 2001, due to the Second World War and 9-11 terrorist attacks.

In the years leading up to 1927, both the US and the British golfers took it upon themselves to have friendly competitions against each other (notably in 1921 at Gleneagles in Scotland, prior to the British Open at St Andrews).

Then in 1922 the Walkers Cup was created, that matched off the British and the American amateur golfers against each other.  This put pressure on organisers to make a similar competition for the professionals.

Finally, in 1926 a business man and keen golfer Samuel Ryder proposed an annual competition between the US and the Brits, and even commissioned the cup itself (which became the actual Ryder Cup).

Prior to the Second World War, the Ryder Cup was an evenly fought competition, with the US managing to win four out of the six competitions.  But after the war the Americans dominated, winning all but two.  Once in 1957 when the Brits managed to topple the Americans and the other when in 1969, again in England the Brits managed to hold the Americans to a draw.

The dominance the Americans had in the competition, forced a rethink into how the teams should be formed.  This subsequently led to the British Team merging with their neighbours to create a European Team in 1979.

Since this coalition the European team has celebrated much more success managing to match the American at every turn.  In actual fact, in the 30 year since the European team was formed they are level with the Americans, both having won seven competitions each and drawing once in 1989.

This stat alone makes the 2010 Ryder Cup possibly the most important since its conception.  The winner will be able to say, we have won the most and are the best!

National pride is not the only thing at stake in this year’s Ryder cup.  Tiger Woods is still looking to pick up his career after his personal problems, and Colin Montgomery will be hoping that he is successful, as it may be his last competition.

No matter what happens, it is certainly one that cannot be missed.

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