A lot of history. A lot of matches. Certainly a lot of drama over the years. As the 2012 Ryder Cup descends on Medinah Country Club, here are ’39 Things You Need to Know’ before they play the 39th Ryder Cup:
1) First played: 1927 – Worcester Country Club, Worcester, Mass.
2) Medinah course facts: 7,668 yards; par 72
3) Ryder Cup trophy: Stands 17 inches high, weighs 4 pounds
4) Club that has hosted the most Ryder Cups: The Belfry (4), located in Sutton Coldfield, England.
5) No club in the United States has ever hosted the Ryder Cup more than once.
6) Youngest player to play in the event: Sergio Garcia; age 19, 1999
7) Oldest player to play in the event: Raymond Floyd; age 51, 1993
8) Winning teams Tiger Woods has been on: One
9) Overall team record in Ryder Cup: 25-11-2 in favor of United States
10) 2012 Ryder Cup rookies – both teams: Five (four for the U.S.; one for the Europeans)
11) Most points by a U.S. player: Billy Casper – 23.5 points
12) Most appearances by a player: Nick Faldo (11)
13) Foursomes: Alternate-shot format
14) Fourball: Better-ball format
15) Father-and-son Ryder Cuppers: Percy (1929, ’33, ’35, ’37) and Peter Alliss (1953, ’57, ’59, ’61, ’63, ’65, ’67, ’69). Antonio (1979) and Ignacio Garrido (1997).
16) Most captaincies, United States: Walter Hagen – 6 (1927, ’29, ’31, ’33, ’35, ’37)
17) Most captaincies, Europe: Dai Rees – 5 (1955, ’57, ’59, ’61, ’67)
18) Most points recorded overall by a single player: Nick Faldo (25)
19) Most overall points in singles history: Colin Montgomerie (7 – six wins, two halves)
20) Nine points: One-sided victories secured by Team Europe (2004 and ’06)
21) U.S. captain Davis Love III: Played in six Ryder Cups; 9-12-5 record
22) Europe captain Jose Maria Olazabal: Played in seven Ryder Cups; 18-8-5 record
23) Tiger Woods’ overall record: 13-14-2
24) Phil Mickelson’s overall record: 11-17-6
25) Sergio Garcia’s overall record: 14-6-4
26) Ian Poulter’s overall record: 8-3-0
27) Record of the late Seve Ballesteros: 20-12-5
28) Hole-in-ones in the event: Six
29) Biggest margin of victory in singles: 8 and 7 – Fred Couples over Ian Woosnam (1997); Tom Kite over Howard Clark (1989)
30) Most times on Team USA: Eight (Mickelson will achieve nine teams this year)
31) Oldest player to make Ryder Cup debut: Fred Funk, age 48, 2004
32) Most times playing together: Seve Ballesteros and Jose Maria Olazabal – 15 matches; 11 wins, 2 losses, 2 halves.
33) Most partners: Bernhard Langer has had the most partners for Europe (12); Raymond Floyd holds the record for the United States (14).
34) Most matches won – United States: Arnold Palmer, 22
35) Most total single matches lost: Christy O’Connor Sr., GB&I, 10
36) 2014 host venue: Gleneagles, Scotland
37) 2016 host venue: Hazeltine National Golf Club (Chaska, Minn.)
38) Total overall points: United States – 489 1/2
39) Total overall points: Europe – 382 1/2
