Only a few sports tournaments carry the national pride and emotion that the Ryder Cup does. We all know the fierce competition and drama the Ryder Cup brings. Patrick Cantlay’s 2023 Hatgate controversy. Miracle in Medinah. Case in point. But have you ever wondered where this honorable tournament gets its name from? What inspired the first-ever Ryder Cup tournament, almost a century ago?

The illustrious Ryder Cup’s history dates back to the late 1920s, and it has symbolized international camaraderie throughout these years. Yet, only a few know the person who set the ball rolling, Samuel Ryder, an English businessman. Ryder was an English businessman who built his fortune by selling seeds. Being a workaholic, he worked in many professions, including a stint as mayor of St. Albans, but he had nothing to do with golf till he was 50. While he was making a fortune working across multiple professions, his health was taking a toll. And though it may seem dramatic, that’s the moment that led to the birth of the Ryder Cup.

To improve his health, Samuel’s friend advised him to play golf. He was told that physical activity and the air from the open ground could be beneficial. After playing the sport, he quickly became obsessed with it. Simultaneously, he also became aware of the financial hardships golfers faced when playing golf full-time. That’s when he commissioned some tournaments and invited golfers to play and earn money. He even invited Abe Mitchell, one of the top golfers of the time, to St. Albans in 2025. He subsidized Mitchell with a stipend and covered his expenses.

The Walker Cup pitted amateurs from the USA and Great Britain. Ryder believed professional golfers deserved a similar platform and followed suit. The first Ryder Cup was played in June 1927, where eight golfers from Great Britain, captained by Ted Ray, faced off against eight American golfers, led by Walter Hagen. Ryder commissioned a trophy to hand out to the winning team. It was 17 inches tall, 9 inches wide, and 4 pounds, literally the Ryder Cup trophy we know today.

Besides the trophy, the tournament covered all the expenses of the players on both teams. The tournament continues to follow this tradition to date. There was no prize money for competing in the Cup until this year. From 2025, the PGA of America will give US golfers $500,000, out of which $300,000 will go to charity, and the remaining sum, golfers can decide what they want to do with it. While the Ryder Cup continues the legacy of not having prize money, many things have changed since it started in 1927.

The Evolution of the Ryder Cup We Know Today

The initial teams included players only from the USA and Great Britain. And it was competitive enough for the first few years. But the American dominance became difficult to ignore. After World War II, the imbalance grew further apart, as Great Britain struggled to keep pace. Thus, players from Ireland were added to the British team for the first time in 1973. The format expanded further to include members from across Europe in 1979. However, Europe is now emerging as a powerhouse. The side has won 10 of the last 14 contests leading into 2025.

Over the years, the format also underwent extensive changes. The tournament spanned two days in the early years. It included four foursomes played on day one and eight singles played on day two, with each match played over 36 holes. Today, the matches are played over 18 holes and span three days. Golfers play foursomes and four-ball matches on the first two days and singles on the third. The size of the team increased from eight players to 12.

The Cup is a testament to Samuel’s vision of international goodwill through elite golfing competition. Both American and European teams are preparing for the 45th edition of the Ryder Cup at Bethpage. Find out the TV schedule, format, and more about it.