Here Are the Biggest Blowouts in Ryder Cup History

Just two years ago the U.S. authored a 10-point rout but could be on the wrong end of one this year.

Many consider the Ryder Cup to be one of the most exciting golf events to watch because, typically, every match creates some level of suspense. Whether there’s a clutch comeback or a rapid decline—or a pure back-and-forth dogfight—match play always lends itself to drama. But there are a few instances in Ryder Cup history where the overall competition wasn’t close at all, with this year’s event being the latest example thus far.

After Saturday’s morning foursomes, Team Europe increased their already sizable lead to 9½ to 2½, and it’s safe to say things aren’t looking great for the Americans. Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka lost their match against Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg 9 and 7, the worst beatdown in Ryder Cup history. The U.S. team could technically still climb out of the hole they’re buried in, but with the way they are playing, the chances of that happening is slim to none. So when was the last time a defeat of this nature occurred?

Well, it occurred a lot before 1977, when the Ryder Cup was contested between the U.S. and Great Britain & Ireland, rather than all of continental Europe. From the first installation of the Ryder Cup in 1927 until 1977, the Americans won 18 of the 22 events. GB&I won three and tied on one occasion. Finally, ahead of the 1979 Ryder Cup, a discussion sparked by Jack Nicklaus led to the inclusion of continental European players. The move was meant to make the event more competitive, and it definitely worked. That doesn’t mean that large margins of victory didn’t occur in the next generation of the event, though.

The European team at the 2006 Ryder Cup won by nine points / Getty Images

Here are some of the biggest blowouts in Ryder Cup history, in the Team USA vs. Team Europe era:

1981: Walton Heath

U.S. wins 18½-9½ (9 points)

With the U.S. reinforced by Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Lee Trevino, Raymond Floyd and Hale Irwin, the Europeans surprisingly held their ground for the first three sessions. The teams tied the opening foursomes session and by the end of Saturday’s morning fourball matches the score was only 5½ to 6½ in the Americans' favor. But the U.S. side swept the Saturday afternoon session and the tides immediately turned. They ultimately won by a margin of nine points.

2004: Oakland Hills

Europe wins 18½-9½ (9 points)

The 2004 Ryder Cup was the largest margin of defeat for the Americans since the onset of the event, and even worse, it was on home soil. The partnership of Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods lost both times they teamed up. The Europeans led 11 to 5 ahead of Sunday’s singles and ultimately lost by 9.

2006: K Club

Europe wins 18½-9½ (9 points)

In the next playing of the Ryder Cup the Europeans once again staged a historic beatdown, this time in Ireland. As a rookie, Henrik Stenson made the winning putt.

2021: Whistling Straits

U.S. wins 19-9 (10 points)

Ironically, the most recent blowout in Ryder Cup history was just two years ago in Wisconsin, when the Americans beat the Europeans by a stunning 10 points. The U.S. team was younger than ever and Dustin Johnson went 5-0 in his matches. The score was 11 to 5 before Sunday’s singles session.