JUMP TO:
The Ryder Cup, established in 1927, has long been golf’s premier team competition.
Originally, the United States faced only Great Britain, but over time, the British team expanded to include all of Europe. This change came largely because the U.S. had been so dominant in the early years of the event.
As a result, the Ryder Cup has seen its fair share of blowouts—many in the United States’ favor in the early decades. In more recent years, however, Europe has been able to assert itself, delivering some lopsided wins of its own.
Here’s a look at some of the largest margins of victory in Ryder Cup history.
MORE: Revisiting the Europeans’ 2012 Ryder Cup victory in the United States
What is the biggest blowout in Ryder Cup history?
In 1967, when the United States faced only Great Britain, Team USA ran away with a 23.5-8.5 victory. That 15-point margin remains the largest blowout in Ryder Cup history and came during a stretch of dominance so complete that Great Britain eventually expanded to include Ireland and all of Europe.
More: How Scottie Scheffler compares to Tiger Woods’ infamous losing record in Ryder Cup
Biggest Ryder Cup blowouts
| Rank | Team | Opponent | Year | Score | Margin | Location |
| 1. | United States | Great Britain | 1967 | 23.5-8.5 | 15 | Champions Golf Club (Texas) |
| 2. | United States | Great Britain | 1963 | 23-9 | 14 | Atlanta Athletic Golf Club (Georgia) |
| T-3. | United States | Great Britain | 1947 | 11-1 | 10 | Portland Golf Club (Oregon) |
| T-3. | United States | Great Britian & Ireland | 1975 | 21-11 | 10 | Laurel Valley Golf Club (Pennsylvania) |
| T-3. | United States | Europe | 2021 | 19-9 | 10 | Whistling Straits (Wisconsin) |
| T-6. | United States | Europe | 1981 | 18.5-9.5 | 9 | Walton Health Golf Club (England) |
| T-6. | Europe | United States | 2004 | 18.5-9.5 | 9 | Oakland Hills (Michigan) |
| T-6. | Europe | United States | 2006 | 18.5-9.5 | 9 | K Club Palmer Course (Ireland) |
1. 1967 Ryder Cup
The 1967 Ryder Cup remains the biggest blowout in the history of the tournament, as the United States won by 15 points over Great Britain. Ben Hogan served as the captain for the U.S. against Dai Reese, as the 10-man American team included Arnold Palmer.
2. 1963 Ryder Cup
Four years earlier, Team USA set the blowout record with a 14-point victory over Great Britain at home in Oregon. Arnold Palmer served as the captain for that U.S. team against John Fallon, and he also played for the American team going 4-2-0 in six matches.
MORE: How does the Ryder Cup scoring system work?
What is the biggest Ryder Cup win by Team USA?
When the Ryder Cup was just between the United States and Great Britain, USA had some dominant performances, none more-so than in 1967. That is when the Americans won by a Ryder Cup record 15 points.
In the modern Ryder Cup that includes the entire European continent, the biggest U.S. blowout came in 2021 as the Americans trounced Europe in Wisconsin by 10 points. Overall, the United States holds six of the eight-biggest blowouts in the history of the tournament.
MORE: Complete history of Ryder Cup winners
What is the biggest Ryder Cup win by Team Europe?
Europe’s biggest Ryder Cup blowouts came in back to back years, when they defeated the United States by nine points in 2004 and 2006. The first was actually on American soil, as the Europeans drubbed Team USA in Michigan as the American team melted down. That event became memorable for being the biggest American home loss in Ryder Cup history.
The following year, Europe was able to repeat its victory in Ireland by the same score, producing another nine-point win.
