Bethpage, New York, September 19, 2025
News Summary
The Ryder Cup returns to Bethpage Black, reviving its storied legacy involving unforgettable victories, controversies, and evolving competition dynamics. With the U.S. captain Keegan Bradley at the helm, they’ll try to reclaim past glory against a formidable European team. The history of the Ryder Cup is steeped in dramatic moments, including the dominance of early U.S. teams and the subsequent rise of European prowess. Fans can expect an event filled with rivalries, history, and, of course, unforgettable golfing moments.
Bethpage, New York — Ryder Cup’s Rich History: From Controversial Victories to Modern-Day Challenges
If you love drama, golf and a bit of theatrical chaos, the Ryder Cup delivers every time. This year it’s back at Bethpage Black, and the buzz is as loud as the crowds that have made this event famous — and sometimes infamous.
The story really starts with one man who gave the event its name. Samuel Ryder, the English seed merchant who died at 77 on January 2, 1936, became enamored with golf as a middle-aged man and sponsored tournaments in the 1920s. He then helped nudge the idea of a transatlantic test match into reality. Ryder innovatively staged a match between American and British teams in June 1926, which set the groundwork for the Ryder Cup.
The competition that became a sporting rite of passage started in earnest the next year. The first official Ryder Cup occurred in June 1927, where the U.S. won 9 1/2 – 2 1/2 at Worcester Country Club in Massachusetts. And for decades after that the United States dominated the scoreboard.
Looking ahead, The upcoming 45th Ryder Cup is scheduled to begin on Sept. 26 at Bethpage Black. The hosts will carry big expectations and even bigger memories — both of glorious comebacks and moments that made fans shout, cheer, and sometimes boo.
How the balance of power shifted
The early chapters? All U.S. It wasn’t close. The U.S. has a record of 27-15-2 in Ryder Cup history, with much of their success coming in the event’s early years. In fact, The U.S. won 22 of the first 25 Ryder Cups and retained the trophy in a tie in 1969.
For a long time it was just the U.S. versus Great Britain. Initially, the Ryder Cups featured only U.S. against Great Britain until Team Europe debuted in 1979. A major advocate for widening the pool was a prominent American player who pushed the idea in the 1970s. Jack Nicklaus advocated for including European players in the Ryder Cup during a meeting in the 1970s, highlighting the later dominance of European teams. That change reshaped the competition.
And reshape it did. From 1985 to the present, Europe has won or retained the Ryder Cup 13 of the last 19 times. The balance of power swung across the pond and Europe became the team to beat.
Captaincy and the U.S. mission
The Americans have a new boss pulling the strings this time. The U.S. captain Keegan Bradley will lead the American team at the upcoming Ryder Cup, aiming to recapture past glories. The talk is of strategy, pairings and a hunger to win back the momentum that once looked untouchable.
Key Historical Ryder Cup Wins
- 1927: U.S. wins 9 1/2 – 2 1/2 under captain Walter Hagen.
- 1931: U.S. wins 9-3 at Scioto Country Club, Ohio.
- 1935: U.S. wins 9-3 at Ridgewood Country Club, New Jersey, marking their first of seven successive Ryder Cups.
- 1937: U.S. achieves first victory on foreign soil, winning 8-4 at Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club, England.
- 1947: U.S. returns post-WWII to win 11-1 at Portland Golf Club, Oregon.
- 1967: Largest victory margin recorded at 23 1/2 – 8 1/2 at Champions Golf Club, Houston.
- 1999: U.S. completes a comeback for a 14 1/2 – 13 1/2 victory over Europe at Brookline, led by Justin Leonard’s dramatic putt.
Controversies and the crowd factor
The Ryder Cup isn’t always polite. Several incidents have left bitter memories. Leonard’s putt in 1999 led to an invasion of the green by U.S. players and their wives, despite Spanish player Jose-Maria Olazabal still needing to putt. Earlier tensions have led to warnings about spectator behavior. Andrew Coltart advised European players’ families to avoid Bethpage due to potential crowd abuse based on past experiences. Already in Ryder Cup lore, Previous Ryder Cups have seen unfriendly crowds, notably in 1991, termed the “War on the Shore”. Even player absences have been linked to concerns over fans: Xander Schauffele’s father cited fan abuse towards European player Shane Lowry’s wife as a reason for their absence from this year’s Ryder Cup.
Money, charity and the spirit of the game
The pay debate keeps popping up. Tiger Woods supports U.S. Ryder Cup members sharing profits with the argument that any payments should go to charity. It’s part of a long conversation: An ongoing debate surrounds the financial compensation of players, with Woods advocating for funds to improve charity allocations, in line with discussions from 1999. But not everyone agrees. European consensus favors maintaining the purity of competition without payment, emphasizing the spirit of the event.
FAQ
Q: Who was Samuel Ryder?
A: Samuel Ryder, the English seed merchant who died at 77 on January 2, 1936, became enamored with golf as a middle-aged man and sponsored tournaments in the 1920s.
Q: How did the Ryder Cup get started?
A: Ryder innovatively staged a match between American and British teams in June 1926, which set the groundwork for the Ryder Cup.
Q: When was the first official Ryder Cup and what was the result?
A: The first official Ryder Cup occurred in June 1927, where the U.S. won 9 1/2 – 2 1/2 at Worcester Country Club in Massachusetts.
Q: When and where is the 45th Ryder Cup?
A: The upcoming 45th Ryder Cup is scheduled to begin on Sept. 26 at Bethpage Black.
Q: What is the U.S. Ryder Cup record?
A: The U.S. has a record of 27-15-2 in Ryder Cup history, with much of their success coming in the event’s early years.
Q: Who is captaining the U.S. team?
A: The U.S. captain Keegan Bradley will lead the American team at the upcoming Ryder Cup, aiming to recapture past glories.
Quick Reference Table
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Upcoming event | The upcoming 45th Ryder Cup is scheduled to begin on Sept. 26 at Bethpage Black. |
| U.S. overall record | The U.S. has a record of 27-15-2 in Ryder Cup history, with much of their success coming in the event’s early years. |
| Notable early win | 1927: U.S. wins 9 1/2 – 2 1/2 under captain Walter Hagen. |
| Historic comeback | 1999: U.S. completes a comeback for a 14 1/2 – 13 1/2 victory over Europe at Brookline, led by Justin Leonard’s dramatic putt. |
| Controversial moment | Leonard’s putt in 1999 led to an invasion of the green by U.S. players and their wives, despite Spanish player Jose-Maria Olazabal still needing to putt. |
| U.S. captain | The U.S. captain Keegan Bradley will lead the American team at the upcoming Ryder Cup, aiming to recapture past glories. |
Whether you love the pageantry, the pairings, or the pure rivalry, the Ryder Cup serves up theatre, heartbreak, and triumph. Buckle up — Bethpage is ready to roar.
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Additional Resources
- Newsday: Ryder Cup’s Rich History
- New York Times: Ryder Cup Legend
- New York Post: Grim Warning for Ryder Cup WAGs
- Golfshake: The Battle of Brookline
- Bet365: The Greatest Ryder Cups
- Wikipedia: Ryder Cup
- Google Search: Ryder Cup
- Google Scholar: Ryder Cup
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Ryder Cup
- Google News: Ryder Cup
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