The Ryder Cup is one of the most popular events in golf and has a long history in the sport approaching 100 years. The rowdy tournament’s history has been marked by stretches of dominance by each side.
The United States dominated from the tournament’s inception in 1927 all the way to 1983, posting a 21-3-2 record through the first 26 Ryder Cup matches against Great Britain (1927-1971), Great Britain & Ireland (1973-1977) and Europe (1979-1983).
Europe then began its own stretch of dominance, going 10-4-1 against the USA from 1985-2014.
Over the last two decades, however, it’s the home team that has been unshakeable. The home team, which gets the advantage of choosing and setting up the host golf course, has won the last five Ryder Cups and eight of the last nine, dating back to 2006. The last time the United States won a Ryder Cup in Europe was 1993 at The Belfry.
All-Time Ryder Cup Winners By Year
| Year | Winner | Host | Course | Score |
| 2025 | Europe | USA | Bethpage Black (Farmingdale, NY) | 15-13 |
| 2023 | Europe | Europe | Marco Simone Golf & CC (Rome, Italy) | 16.5-11.5 |
| 2021 | USA | USA | Whistling Straits (WI) | 19-9 |
| 2018 | Europe | Europe | Le Golf Nationale (Paris, France) | 17.5-10.5 |
| 2016 | USA | USA | Hazeltine Nat'l (MN) | 17-11 |
| 2014 | Europe | Europe | Gleneagles (Perthshire, Scotland) | 16.5-11.5 |
| 2012 | Europe | USA | Medinah CC (IL) | 14.5-13.5 |
| 2010 | Europe | Europe | Celtic Manor (Newport, Wales) | 14.5-13.5 |
| 2008 | USA | USA | Valhalla GC (KY) | 16.5-11.5 |
| 2006 | Europe | Europe | The K Club (Straffan, Ireland) | 18.5-9.5 |
| 2004 | Europe | USA | Oakland Hills GC (MI) | 18.5-9.5 |
| 2002 | Europe | Europe | The Belfry (Sutton Coldfield, England) | 15.5-12.5 |
| 1999 | USA | USA | The Country Club (MA) | 14.5-13.5 |
| 1997 | Europe | Europe | Valderrama GC (Stotgrande, Spain) | 14.5-13.5 |
| 1995 | Europe | USA | Oak Hill CC (NY) | 14.5-13.5 |
| 1993 | USA | Europe | The Belfry (Sutton Coldfield, England) | 15-13 |
| 1991 | USA | USA | Kiawah Island Ocean Course (SC) | 14.5-13.5 |
| 1989 | Tie | Europe | The Belfry (Sutton Coldfield, England) | 14-14 |
| 1987 | Europe | USA | Muirfield Village (OH) | 16.5-11.5 |
| 1985 | Europe | Europe | The Belfry (Sutton Coldfield, England) | 14.5-13.5 |
| 1983 | USA | USA | PGA Nat'l (FL) | 14.5-13.5 |
| 1981 | USA | Europe | Walton Heath (Walton-on-the-Hill, England) | 18.5-9.5 |
| 1979 | USA | USA | The Greenbrier (WV) | 17-11 |
| 1977 | USA | GB&I | Royal Lytham & St Annes (Lythan St. Annes, England) | 12.5-7.5 |
| 1975 | USA | USA | Laurel Valley GC (PA) | 21-11 |
| 1973 | USA | GB&I | Mirfield (East Lothian, Scotland) | 19-13 |
| 1971 | USA | USA | Old Warson CC (MO) | 19.5-13.5 |
| 1969 | Tie | GB | Royal Birkdale (Lancashire, England) | 16-16 |
| 1967 | USA | USA | Champions GC (TX) | 23.5-8.5 |
| 1965 | USA | GB | Royal Birkdale (Lancashire, England) | 19.5-12.5 |
| 1963 | USA | USA | Atlanta Athletic Club (GA) | 23-9 |
| 1961 | USA | GB | Royal Lytham & St Annes (Lythan St. Annes, England) | 14.5-9.5 |
| 1959 | USA | USA | Eldorado GC (CA) | 8.5-3.5 |
| 1957 | GB | GB | Lindrick GC (Soutn Anston, England) | 7.5-4.5 |
| 1955 | USA | USA | Thunderbird CC (CA) | 8-4 |
| 1953 | USA | GB | Wentworth Club (Surrey, England) | 6.5-5.5 |
| 1951 | USA | USA | Pinehurst No. 2 (NC) | 9.5-2.5-7-5 |
| 1949 | USA | GB | Ganton GC (Yorkshire, Englnad) | 7-5 |
| 1947 | USA | USA | Portland GC (OR) | 11-1 |
| 1937 | USA | GB | Southport and Ainsdale GC (Lancashire, England) | 8-4 |
| 1935 | USA | USA | Ridgewood CC (NJ) | 9-3 |
| 1933 | GB | GB | Southport and Ainsdale GC (Lancashire, England) | 6.5-5.5 |
| 1931 | USA | USA | Scioto CC (OH) | 9-3 |
| 1929 | GB | GB | Moortown GC (Yorkshire, England) | 7-5 |
| 1927 | USA | USA | Worcester CC (MA) | 9.5-2.5 |
Notable Ryder Cup Records
Here’s a breakdown of some of the most notable all-time Ryder Cup team records.
| Team | Record | Home | Away |
| USA | 27-16-2 | 18-5 | 9-11-2 |
| Great Britain | 3-15-1 | 3-5-1 | 0-10 |
| Great Britain & Ireland | 0-3 | 0-2 | 0-1 |
| Europe | 13-9-1 | 8-2-1 | 5-7 |
| Home | 29-14-2 | -- | -- |
Early Ryder Cup History
The Ryder Cup dates back to 1927 as a formalized contest between American and British golfers. Earlier exhibition matches had occurred between professionals of both countries, but this was the first organized international match between the two countries.
The tournament took its name from Samuel Ryder, a British businessman and golfing enthusiast who provided the golden trophy. Because of the cost and duration of travel required, it was decided that the competition would be a biennial event. Irish golfers from both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland began playing for Team Great Britain in the 1940s and 1950s, prompting a name change in 1973 to team Great Britain and Ireland to better reflect this fact. However, a period of post-WWII dominance created the most drastic change to the Ryder Cup.
Expansion to Europe
The American team only lost one Ryder Cup between 1947 and 1977, and the lack of competitiveness loosened the tournament’s appeal. American golfer Jack Nicklaus and British golf official Edward Stanley first discussed the idea of including all European golfers as a way to increase the competitiveness of the match.
This period in golf saw a surge of European golfers, notably Spanish golfer Seve Ballesteros, who proved eager for the chance to compete against the Americans.
In 1979 the Ryder Cup officially transitioned to a match between America’s best golfers and the best golfers of Europe. Since then the Europeans have gone 13-9-1 in the Ryder Cup.
