The Ryder Cup is a golf trophy that was donated by English businessman Samuel Ryder and is awarded biennially in an event which pits a team from Europe against a team from the United States.

The Ryder Cup is a golf trophy that was donated by English businessman Samuel Ryder and is awarded biennially in an event which pits a team from Europe against a team from the United States.
The Ryder Cup evolved following an exhibition match in 1926 played by American professionals against their British counterparts who were representing the British PGA on the East Course, Wentworth Club, Virginia Water, Surrey.

Making an appearance at the 1926 edition was Samuel Ryder, who believed that it would be a good idea to make the competition official. The Ryder Cup was therefore developed with Ryder himself donating the trophy. The first event took place in 1927.

While early encounters were rather tight contests, the extent of the US dominance which came to the fore after the Second World War prompted a decision to extend the representation of the British & Irish team to Europe in 1979.

This change was also partly due to the rising success of a new generation of Spanish golfers, stars such as Severiano Ballesteros, who, along with Antonio Garrido, became the first Spaniards to play in the event in 1979.

Since then, Europe has also been represented by players from Denmark, France, Germany, Italy and Sweden.

Previous Winners – since 1971