1947 Ryder Cup

7th Ryder Cup Matches
DatesNovember 1–2, 1947
VenuePortland Golf Club
LocationPortland, Oregon
Captains
United States 11 1 United Kingdom
United States wins the Ryder Cup
← 1937
1949 →
Portland Golf Club is located in the United States
Portland Golf Club
Portland
Golf Club
Portland Golf Club is located in Oregon
Portland Golf Club
Portland
Golf Club

The 7th Ryder Cup Matches were held November 1–2, 1947 at Portland Golf Club in Portland, Oregon, marking a resumption of the competition after a full decade. World War II forced cancellations from 1939 to 1945; the last competition was in 1937. The United States overwhelmed the British team, 11–1.[1][2]

An invitation to renew the Ryder Cup was sent by the American P.G.A. in November 1946.[3] This was accepted by the British P.G.A. in December.[4] However it was not until August 1947 that the dates and venue were agreed.[5][6]

The revival of the Ryder Cup in 1947 was initiated by Portland businessman Robert A. Hudson, who paid for the expenses of the teams and chaired the event.[7] He even met the British team in New York, threw a lavish party at the Waldorf-Astoria, and accompanied them on the four-day rail journey across the U.S. to Portland.[8][9]

The course had hosted the stroke play Portland Open on the PGA Tour in 1944 and 1945, won by Sam Snead and Ben Hogan, and the match play PGA Championship in August 1946, won by Hogan.

The American team won all four matches on the opening day and continued to dominate by winning all but one singles match. The only British victory in the competition came when Sam King beat Herman Keiser 4 & 3.

Played in the Pacific Northwest in November in wind and rain, soft course conditions prevailed as a week-long rain preceded the event.[10][11] The next several matches in the U.S. were played in more southerly venues.

  1. ^ Newland, Russ (November 3, 1947). "U.S. 11-1 win most decisive". Miami News. Associated Press. p. 1-B.
  2. ^ "Ryder loss brings 'beef'". Reading Eagle. United Press. November 3, 1947. p. 12.
  3. ^ "The Ryder Cup". The Times, Wednesday, November 20, 1946; pg. 2; Issue 50613.
  4. ^ "Ryder Cup Match in 1947". The Times, Thursday, December 12, 1946; pg. 2; Issue 50632.
  5. ^ "Ryder Cup Match in November". The Times, Wednesday, August 13, 1947; pg. 2; Issue 50838.
  6. ^ "The Ryder Cup". The Times, Wednesday, August 14, 1947; pg. 6; Issue 50839.
  7. ^ Achenbach, James (September 27, 2010). "Hudson responsible for saving Ryder Cup". Golfweek. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  8. ^ "Hall of Fame: Robert A. Hudson, Sr". PNGA. 1978. Retrieved August 9, 2010.
  9. ^ Fagan, Robert. "The greatest Ryder Cup ever played and the man who saved it!". The A Position. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  10. ^ "Ryder Cup matches begin over rain-soaked coarse". Reading Eagle. United Press. November 1, 1947. p. 7.
  11. ^ Wood, Hal (November 3, 1947). "British Ryder Cuppers smothered in singles play; lose Cup matches, 11-1". Eugene Register-Guard. United Press. p. 7.