CRUNCHING THE NUMBERS

Martin Hopley, director at Match Play World Rankings, looks at some of the Ryder Cup's best performers over the years and picks the players who should make their respective teams...

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The 2025 Ryder Cup is the final edition of the event’s first 100 years, so here we're looking back at some of the players who have made it what it is and ahead to those likely to play this year.

As a global spectacle, the event was elevated in 1979 by Jack Nicklaus’ idea to extend the GB&I team into a European one.

There has not been an away win since 2012’s Miracle at Medinah, so maybe that really was divine intervention. As the home team gets to pick the course and set it up, this may be an advantage, but usually, as long as the match is close, the drama is irresistible to watch.

Europe have won away four times — in 1987 at Muirfield Village, 1995 at Oak Hill, 2004 at Oakland Hills and, of course, 2012. After winning with the dream team of 11 Major Champions at Walton Heath in 1981, the USA took a liking to England and The Belfry, with a tie there in 1989 and a win in 1993.

Many players made their reputations via their performances in the Ryder Cup, rising to the challenges of match play and the team environment.

Looking at it from 1979 onwards, and subject to a minimum of eight matches played, we've evaluated players using ratings from the Match Play World Rankings. This factors in results in all match play events that play singles, four-ball or foursomes, so the Presidents Cup and WGC Match Play, for example, as well as the Ryder Cup. Ratings over 0.500 are good, 0.550 very good and 0.600 exceptional.

Most underrated players - Europe

From a separate 'Ryder Cup only' section in the Match Play World Rankings, only one of Europe's top six players from 1979 onwards has won a Major - Jose Maria Olazabal. Captain Luke Donald is a great example - a World No.1 with an exemplary Ryder Cup record of 0.700 points per match who also went undefeated in the Walker Cup. His overall record in all match play events is 0.676.