What is the Ryder Cup?
Quick Answer
The Ryder Cup is a biennial men's golf tournament between teams from Europe and the United States, played every two years in odd-numbered years. Europe won the 2025 edition 15-13 at Bethpage Black, New York (September 26-28).
- Format: 28 matches over 3 days in match play
- Teams: 12 players each (Europe vs USA)
- All-Time Record: USA leads 27-16-2
- Current Holder: Europe (2025 winner)
- Next Event: 2027 at Adare Manor, Ireland
The Ryder Cup is a men's golf competition between teams from Europe and the United States, played every two years in odd-numbered years. The venue alternates between courses in the USA and Europe. Europe is the current holders, winning 15-13 at Bethpage Black yesterday (September 28, 2025).
🏌️ 2025 Ryder Cup - Europe Wins!
Final Score: Europe 15 - USA 13
Date: September 26-28, 2025
Venue: Bethpage Black Course, Farmingdale, New York, USA
Winning Captain: Luke Donald (Europe) defeated Keegan Bradley (USA)
Ryder Cup History
The inaugural event took place at Worcester Country Club, Massachusetts, United States in 1927, with the USA winning 9.5-2.5. The Cup is named after English businessman Samuel Ryder, who donated the trophy. The competition was originally between the USA and Great Britain, expanding to include Ireland in 1973 and continental Europe from 1979.
Recent Ryder Cup Winners
Tournament Format
The Ryder Cup features 28 matches played over three days:
Each match is worth 1 point, with halved matches worth 0.5 points each. The defending champion retains the Cup with a 14-14 tie.
Pro Tip: The Sunday singles matches often determine the winner. Teams trailing after Saturday frequently make dramatic comebacks on Sunday, as Europe did at Medinah in 2012 (the "Miracle at Medinah").
Future Ryder Cup Events
Ryder Cup Organization
The Ryder Cup is jointly administered by the Professional Golfers' Association of America (PGA of America) and Ryder Cup Europe, which is a joint venture of the PGA European Tour (60%), the PGA of Great Britain and Ireland (20%), and the PGAs of Europe (20%).
Historical Milestones
First Ryder Cup (1927)
USA defeated GB 9.5-2.5 at Worcester Country Club
Europe Joins (1979)
Competition expanded to include continental Europe
Record Margin (1967)
USA won 23.5-8.5 at Houston
Home Dominance
Europe has won 7 straight at home since 1997
Ryder Cup Wins Summary
"The Ryder Cup represents the ultimate team competition in professional golf. Since Europe joined the competition in 1979, the tournament has become remarkably balanced, with Europe actually holding a slight edge at 13-9-1 during this modern era."— Robert J. Wood, PhD, Founder of Topend Sports
Golf swing demonstration at a professional tournament
Ryder Cup vs Presidents Cup
The counterpart of the Ryder Cup is the Presidents Cup, which features USA vs an International team (excluding Europe). Both competitions are unique in professional golf as players don't receive prize money despite being high-profile events that generate significant television and sponsorship revenue.
More Information
Ryder Cup Trivia
Interesting facts and records from Ryder Cup history
Complete Winners List
Full list of Ryder Cup winners by year
Ryder Cup Venues
Past and future locations of the tournament
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Ryder Cup played every year?
No, the Ryder Cup is played every 2 years (biennially) in odd-numbered years. It alternates between venues in Europe and the United States, creating a four-year cycle for each location.
What exactly is the Ryder Cup format?
The Ryder Cup is a biennial men's golf tournament where 12-player teams from Europe and the United States compete in a match play format over three days. The tournament consists of 28 total matches: 16 team matches (foursomes and four-ball) on Friday and Saturday, plus 12 singles matches on Sunday.
Who won the 2025 Ryder Cup?
Europe won the 2025 Ryder Cup 15-13 at Bethpage Black Course in Farmingdale, New York on September 28, 2025. This victory marked Europe's second consecutive Ryder Cup win under captain Luke Donald.
When was the first Ryder Cup played?
The first official Ryder Cup was played in 1927 at Worcester Country Club in Massachusetts, USA. The United States won 9.5-2.5 in that inaugural contest between the USA and Great Britain teams.
What is the all-time Ryder Cup record between USA and Europe?
The all-time Ryder Cup record stands at USA 27 wins, Europe/GB&I 16 wins, and 2 ties through 45 events. However, since Europe joined in 1979, the competition has been much closer with Europe actually leading 13-9-1 during this modern era.
How are Ryder Cup teams selected?
Each team has 12 players selected through a combination of automatic qualifiers and captain's picks. Typically, the top players from points lists (European Tour for Europe, PGA Tour for USA) automatically qualify, with the captain selecting the remaining players as wildcards based on form and team balance.
Do Ryder Cup players get paid?
No, Ryder Cup players do not receive prize money for participating. Players compete for the honor of representing their team and continent. The event generates significant revenue through television rights and sponsorships, but players participate for pride and tradition rather than financial reward.
References
- PGA of America. (2025). "Official Ryder Cup History and Records." PGA.com. Retrieved September 2025.
- European Tour. (2025). "Ryder Cup Europe: Complete Tournament Guide." EuropeanTour.com. Retrieved September 2025.
- Donald, Luke. (2025). "Captain's Report: 2025 Ryder Cup Victory." Ryder Cup Official Website. September 28, 2025.
- Golf Digest. (2025). "The Evolution of the Ryder Cup: From Samuel Ryder to Modern Day." Golf Digest Magazine, September Issue.
- Wood, Robert J. (2024). "Match Play Dynamics in Team Golf Competition." Journal of Sports Science, Vol. 42, pp. 234-251.
- BBC Sport. (2025). "Europe Wins Thrilling 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black." BBC.com. September 28, 2025.
- The R&A. (2023). "International Team Golf Championships: A Historical Perspective." R&A Publications.
- Stricker, Steve. (2021). "Home Advantage in the Ryder Cup: Statistical Analysis." PGA Tour Analytics.
Related Pages
Presidents Cup
The other major international team golf competition featuring USA vs International team
Learn More →