This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Ryder Cup, which has changed the fate of the Biennale competition.
Prior to Europe’s 1985 victory, the United States’ dominance over the game was absolutely true. In fact, they won 17 of the 19 post-war games (only one loss).
To celebrate this victory, the four heroes of the game are returning to the Braba Zon Stadium in the bell tower.
Nick Faldo is the host of this week’s Masters, and Ian Woosnam will take over as Sandy Lyle and Sam Torrance, who won a winning putt 40 years ago.
It would be a great moment, but it begs the question: Who is the greatest European Ryder Cup combo in modern times?
This is our top seven…
1. SeveBalesteros and Jose Maria Olazabal
These numbers are convincing. This Spanish duo 15 times, which is more than any other Ryder Cup pairing in history. More importantly, they put together a dozen points, which is six more than any other combination.
Besides, the format they play does not matter. They won six of eight quarters and five of seven fours. In the 1989 and 1991 Cups, they were unbeaten in eight four-pointers and four-pointers.
But statistics tell only half of the story.
Ballesteros helped fuel a revival of European Ryder Cup hopes during the 1983 defeat, before leading the 1985 victory. But when his young compatriots joined the team in 1987, he was inspired to a higher height—the two men’s first victory on American soil in the 1987 situation of successfully defending the trophy.
The two may even see the Medina miracle as their final victory in 2012. Olazabal was the captain, and the deceased Ballesteros was the inspiration he had cited throughout the week.
2. NickFaldo and Ian Woosnam
During the glorious European periods of the late 1980s and early 1990s, this combination of British Welsh was second only to the Spanish, which was an impact on the fate of the Ryder Cup.
They won three games in 1987 at Muirfield Village and played together for the first time in half of the fourth game in the Breakdown Zone victory at Muirfield Village.
They will eventually play together 10 times, win five games and cut two games in half.
It’s not an obvious pairing – intentional Faldo and Fiery Woosnam – but they’re both at the top of the game, and only Seve and Olly’s talent can rank first on this list.
3. TommyFleetwood and Francesco Molinari
A brief pairing, but undisputedly great.
Molinari had a poor record (0-4-2) before the 2018 Paris Rheide Cup, but he was also an open champion. Meanwhile, Fleetwood is an original rookie.
But they are good friends and they become perfect.
In the opening four goals, they got the only point of view from Europe – ultimately being an essential finger on the American Niu Niu, and it was more sensational as they beat the great Tiger Woods and Captain America Patrick Reed.
That afternoon, when European tourists painted, they hit Justin Thomas and Jordan 5 and 4.
The next morning they put the woods and reeds 4 to 3, then the cream woods and Bryson DeChambeau 5 and 4.
They changed their name to Molimu, and they not only were they 4 to 4 at the time, but also achieved this by smashing the quality opposition and in a fashionable way.
4. Darren Clarke and Lee Westwood
Statistically, only Seve and Olly won more points than the duo – while Faldo and Woosnam got the same numbers.
Between 1999 and 2006, this Northern Ireland/English combination played eight times and won six games.
When they were paired in 1999, they played a 2-2 match in their debut, and they had to wait until 2004 to revive.
Worth the wait – Two years later, they are 100% in Oakland Hills and K Club.
5. Justin Ross and Henrik Stenson
When Paul McGinley paired with the British and Swedes in 2014, it turned out to be a master.
They won three points and lost one point.
They proved to be more effective in the country rather than in the distance.
At Hazeltine in 2016, they won only 1 point in three thirds.
But they reunited in Paris in 2018, hitting two fours and winning both.
6. Bernhard Lange and Colin Montgomery
Through 10 games, the German has been a reliable figure in the Ryder Cup, one of the highest wins as the captain.
Montgomerie thrived in the love of his teammates and gallery during Ryder Cup Week, not the head.
Between 1991 and 2002, they were unlikely to be explosives.
Strangely, they only combined seven times in these 11 years, but during that period they won five times and lost only once.
They were particularly effective in the foursome, winning three games and cutting one of them in half.
7. Tony Jacklyn and Peter Osterhus
At first glance, this pairing is successful, but perhaps not as good as the other duo.
The point is that Tony Jacklin and Peter Oosterhuis had to perform in the desolate 1970s when the British and Irish teams were not suffering from mean attitudes.
In 1973, they lost 19-13.
Two years later, the result was decided before the final singles meeting began. The game ended 21-11.
However, in these disasters, the British who also participated in the PGA Tour performed well in their failed careers.
In 1973, they won two points and won half of them in four games.
Two years later, they won one, halved and lost one.
In both games, GB&i scored just 11.5 points in 32 four-pointers and four-balls – Jacklin and Osterhus won eight games.
Read more: Ryder Cup 2025: Date, format, European team, USA, venue and first player confirmed
