What are the biggest comebacks in Ryder Cup history?

If the USA are to return home with the Samuel Ryder trophy, they have to do something no team has ever done – overcome a five-point deficit on the final day. So that got us thinking – what are the biggest comebacks in Ryder Cup history? We’ve narrowed it down to teams who were behind going into the final day, before going on to win…

1929

The second ever Ryder Cup and the first ever on this side of the Atlantic was played out over two days at Moortown, with four 36-hole foursomes matches on the Friday and eight 36-hole singles matches on the Saturday.

• Score before the singles: GB&I 1.5-2.5 USA
• Score after the singles: GB&I 7-5 USA
• Overturned margin: 1 point

1949

The eighth Ryder Cup, up the road at Ganton, saw the USA get their revenge. The hosts were 3-1 up after the Friday foursomes, before their visitors won six of the eight singles matches to take the trophy back across the Atlantic.

• Score before the singles: GB&I 3-1 USA
• Score after the singles: GB&I 2-6 USA
• Overturned margin: 2 points

1957

The third Ryder Cup comeback also came in Yorkshire where, at Lindrick, the British team came from 3-1 down to win six singles matches, while one was halved.

• Score before the singles: GB&I 1-3 USA
• Score after the singles: GB&I 7.5-4.5 USA
• Overturned margin: 2 points

• What are the largest winning margins in Ryder Cup history?

• Who has scored the most Ryder Cup points for Europe?

• Who has scored the most Ryder Cup points for USA?

1989

We had to wait until the 28th Ryder Cup for the next comeback story. Now into the 28-point, Europe vs USA era, the visitors trailed at The Belfry before winning seven of the 12 singles matches to force a tie.

• Score before the singles: Europe 9-7 USA
• Score after the singles: Europe 14-14 USA
• Overturned margin: 2 points

1993

Back to The Belfry four years later and, trailing by a point going into the singles, a half between Fred Couples and a Ian Woosnam followed by a narrow victory for Chip Beck saw USA into the lead early on. But when Colin Montgomerie, Peter Baker and Joakim Haeggman all won the momentum was back with the hosts. But then the USA rattled off five wins in a row to snatch the trophy away.

• Score before the singles: Europe 8.5-7.5 USA
• Score after the singles: Europe 13-15 USA
• Overturned margin: 1 point

1995

To Oak Hill now, where Europe trailed 9-7 going into the final day before rampaging through the singles to claim a rare away victory.

• Score before the singles: Europe 7-9 USA
• Score after the singles: Europe 14.5-13.5 USA
• Overturned margin: 2 points

1999

Ah, the Battle of Brookline and the most unlikely of victories for the American team. Leading by a record four points going into the singles Mark James’ men won the first six matches to take the advantage, before Europe staged a mini revival. And it was all looking good for the visitors when Jose Maria Olazabal led Justin Leonard by four with seven to play. But the American recovered, holing a 40-foot birdie putt at 17 and… well, you know the rest of this story.

• Score before the singles: Europe 10-6 USA
• Score after the singles: Europe 13.5-14.5 USA
• Overturned margin: 4 points

2012

To Medinah now and sweet revenge for the European team. It looked set to be a rout until, late on Saturday afternoon, Sergio Garcia and Luke Donald edged Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker by a single hole, before a rampaging Ian Poulter and Rory McIlroy snatched victory over Jason Dufner and Zach Johnson. That momentum, coupled with an inspirational speech from Jose Maria Olazabal, saw Europe fly out the blocks, winning the top five matches before Martin Kaymer holed a six-footer to confirm the trophy would be heading back over the Atlantic. The victory was sealed when Woods conceded a half to Francesco Molinari, and the comeback of all comebacks was complete.

• Score before the singles: Europe 6-10 USA
• Score after the singles: Europe 14.5-13.5 USA
• Overturned margin: 4 points

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