A bit of Ryder Cup History

We’re eagerly awaiting the start of this year’s Ryder Cup. We’ve been testing ourselves – and failing – on what we know about its history. So we did a bit of digging and here’s what we found:

Samuel Ryder originally sponsored the Ryder Cup after watching a friendly transatlantic match at Wentworth in 1926. Ryder was a workaholic, cricket-mad businessman, who had taken up golf at the age of 50 to try and relax a little more. He loved the game and decided to sponsor a formal, professional golf tournament between a team of Americans and Brits. He commissioned a 19 inch gold chalice from jewellers, Mappin and Webb, for £300.00.

Walter Hagen was the first American captain in 1927. JH Taylor was the British captain. Taylor, like Hagen, is considered to be one of the best golfers of all time. Taylor and the British team are seen here with the Oxford team. Taylor’s son, Jack was on the Oxford team:

Sadly, 1927 was not to be Britain, JH Taylor’s – or Samuel Ryder’s year. Walter Hagen was the first winning captain to lift the Ryder Cup. The Americans won convincingly: 9 1/2 to 2 1/2. Samuel Ryder was not able to attend the tournament due to ill health. He did, however, live to see Britain reclaim the Ryder Cup twice on home soil: in 1929 and 1933.  Samuel Ryder died in 1936, buried with his favourite 5 iron.  A passionate golfer to the end!