Ryder Cup: Epic European Victories in the USA with Donald at the Helm

The Ryder Cup is often defined by home performance, with the support of the fans and knowledge of the course. However, victories obtained in hostile territory, on the other side of the Atlantic, are the ones that leave an indelible mark. This year, Luke Donald returns as European captain with a team considered one of the strongest in history, aiming for a momentous victory on American soil. History suggests a challenge at Bethpage Black; the European team, despite its recent successes at home, has only achieved four victories in the United States against the American team.

Epic Victories on American Soil

Each of these victories had its own drama, its heroes, and a lasting impact.

1987: Muirfield Village, Ohio

Before the 1987 Ryder Cup at Muirfield Village, few outside the European camp believed in the possibility of a visitor victory. The United States had an undefeated home record of 13-0 for six decades, and despite Europe’s victory at The Belfry in 1985, many still saw the hosts as the dominant force. Muirfield, Nicklaus’ pride, was to underscore that superiority.

However, Tony Jacklin’s team had other plans. Led by the fire and passion of Seve Ballesteros and the precision of Nick Faldo, Europe took a 6-2 lead on the first day, winning all four afternoon fourball matches, and then extended that lead to 10½-5½ after Saturday. They were on the verge of history.

On Sunday, the singles brought the inevitable pressure and a valiant American comeback, but the Europeans held firm. Eamonn Darcy’s victory over Ben Crenshaw, whose broken putter became a symbol of American frustration, was one of several victories that sealed the 15-13 triumph. Ballesteros, who scored the most points with four points, was the man who made the decisive putt in a 2&1 victory over Curtis Strange.

Europe had shown that it could travel, compete, and conquer.

1995: Oak Hill Country Club, New York

In 1995, the Ryder Cup was no longer a one-sided American affair, but victories in the United States were still rare and revered. Europe arrived in Rochester under the experienced eye of Bernard Gallacher, captain of the team for the third and final time, after narrow defeats at Kiawah Island and The Belfry. The opposition was inexperienced, but hungry. Promising rookies like Tom Lehmann and Phil Mickelson complemented major winners Corey Pavin, Ben Crenshaw, Curtis Strange and Fred Couples, while Europe had three of the six best golfers in the world: Nick Faldo, Bernhard Langer and Colin Montgomerie. But when the United States led 9-7 at the start of Sunday’s singles, which it had won in the last four Ryder Cups, few imagined they could be caught. What followed was one of the most clinical Sundays of the Ryder Cup. The visitors claimed 7½ of the 12 individual points on offer to win the contest 14½-13½. Despite all of Europe’s star power, it was the modest Irish rookie Philip Walton who held his nerve to win 1-up against Jay Haas and secure the vital point. Europeans delivered when it mattered most.

2004: Oakland Hills Country Club, Michigan

If there was ever a Ryder Cup where the final result never seemed in doubt, it was at Oakland Hills in 2004. From the first session, Langer’s Europe seemed more precise than their American counterparts. The score of 18½-9½, a record at the time for a European team (repeating the result two years later), barely told the full story of how complete this victory was.

Europe dominated all sessions except one. The score was 6½-1½ at the end of Friday, when the much-hyped Mickelson-Tiger Woods partnership was defeated, and 11-5 after two days. Faced with a mountain to climb, the United States only won four singles matches on Sunday. It was a punishment.

Every European player contributed to the scoreboard, a rare and powerful symbol of unity. Stars like Sergio García and Lee Westwood were outstanding, but it was the collective effort that overwhelmed the United States. “The best team I’ve ever been a part of,” Montgomerie would later say.

Oakland Hills not only felt like a victory, it felt like a declaration.

2012: Medinah Country Club, Illinois

Few sporting comebacks rival what Europe achieved in Medinah. Losing 10-6 entering the final day, and facing an in-form American team playing in front of a roaring Chicago crowd, José María Olazábal’s team seemed defeated. Sign of a seismic shift.

The spark came on Saturday night, when Ian Poulter, a possessed man, birdied the last five holes in his fourball match with Rory McIlroy to give Europe a lifeline. Then, on Sunday, the European players, one by one, began to turn the matches. Donald set the pace. McIlroy arrived late but delivered. Justin Rose’s closing birdie-birdie finish, with a 40-foot putt on the 17th, was impressive. And Martin Kaymer, facing enormous pressure, sank a nerveless putt on the 18th to retain the cup. When Woods missed a four-foot putt to tie the last match with Francesco Molinari, it was all over. They won 8½ of the 12 individual points, surprising the United States and sealing a 14½-13½ victory. Olazábal, captaining with the silhouette of Ballesteros embroidered on his chest, dedicated the victory to his late friend, who had passed away a year earlier. Emotion welled up from every European player. The Miracle of Medinah, the greatest comeback in Ryder Cup history, was completed.