1987 Ryder Cup

27th Ryder Cup Matches
DatesSeptember 25–27, 1987
VenueMuirfield Village Golf Club
LocationDublin, Ohio
Captains
United States 13 15 Europe
Europe wins the Ryder Cup
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1989 →
Muirfield Village is located in the United States
Muirfield Village
Muirfield Village
Muirfield Village is located in Ohio
Muirfield Village
Muirfield Village
Muirfield Village Golf Club

The 27th Ryder Cup Matches were held September 25–27, 1987 at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio, a suburb north of Columbus. The European team won their second consecutive competition by a score of 15 to 13 points in probably the most historic Ryder Cup. After an unbeaten record of 13–0 spanning sixty years, the U.S. team lost for the first time on home soil.[1][2]

Europe took a lead of 5 points into the Sunday singles matches, but the U.S. fought back strongly to narrow the deficit. Eamonn Darcy, who previously had a very poor Ryder Cup record, defeated Ben Crenshaw at the last hole to get Europe to 13 points. Crenshaw had broken his putter in a moment of frustration after the sixth hole and putted with his 1 iron for the last dozen holes. Bernhard Langer then halved his match with Larry Nelson and when Seve Ballesteros defeated Curtis Strange 2 & 1 to total 1412 points, the European victory was secured.[1][2][3]

This was the last Ryder Cup in which the U.S. team did not employ captain's selections.[4] Europe used captain's picks in 1979, 1981, 1985, and this year.[5]

Muirfield Village, founded and designed by U.S. captain Jack Nicklaus, has hosted the Memorial Tournament on the PGA Tour since 1976. The 2013 Presidents Cup was held at the same course.

  1. ^ a b Diaz, Jaime (October 5, 1987). "A Cup for the Old World". Sports Illustrated. p. 58. Archived from the original on August 14, 2013.
  2. ^ a b "Europeans use crucial 18th hole to win Ryder Cup". Eugene Register-Guard. Associated Press. September 28, 1987. p. 2C.
  3. ^ "Ryder Cup 1987". Retrieved October 1, 2012.
  4. ^ "Ryder Cup squad set". Reading Eagle. wire services. August 10, 1987. p. 27.
  5. ^ Kelley, Brent. "Ryder Cup captain's picks and how they've fared". About.com. Archived from the original on September 4, 2014. Retrieved September 4, 2014.