Ryder Cup Winners By Year

The Ryder Cup's history is marked by three distinct periods of dominance

By
, GolfLink Editor
Updated September 3, 2024
Ryder Cup Trophy against Dunclue Castle ruins
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    Ryder Cup Trophy against Dunclue Castle ruins
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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.

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All-Time Ryder Cup Winners By Year

Year Winner Host Course Score
2025 -- USA Bethpage Black (Farmingdale, NY) --
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 Countru 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
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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 27-15-2 18-4 9-11-2
Great Britain 3-15-1 3-5-1 0-10
Great Britain & Ireland 0-3 0-2 0-1
Europe 12-9-1 8-2-1 4-7
Home 29-13-2 -- --

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.

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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 12-9-1 in the Ryder Cup.