1959 Ryder Cup
Encyclopedia
The 13th Ryder Cup Matches were held at the Eldorado Golf Club in Indian Wells, California
. The United States team won the competition by a score of 8½ to 3½ points. The British who were once again led by Dai Rees
were unable to repeat the heroics of two years earlier and were comprehensively beaten on American soil. The Americans took a 2½-1½ lead in the Foursomes before finishing off the British challenge in the singles by winning five matches with two matches finishing all square to win the cup back. The British won just one foursome match with Christy O'Connor
and Peter Alliss
beating Art Wall and Doug Ford
by 3 & 2 and one singles match when Eric Brown
beat Cary Middlecoff
by 4 & 3 however by the time his match was won the United States had already won the competition.
is a match play
event, with each match worth one point. Since the inaugural 1927 Ryder Cup
, the format consisted of 4 foursome (alternate shot) matches on the first day and 8 singles matches on the second day, for a total of 12 points. Therefore, 6½ points were required to win the Cup. All matches were played to a maximum of 36 holes. This would be the last Ryder Cup competition to be played under this format.
Team Great Britain Dai Rees
— Captain Bernard Hunt
Christy O'Connor
Harry Weetman
Eric Brown
Ken Bousfield
Peter Alliss
Dave Thomas
Norman Drew
Indian Wells, California
Indian Wells is a city in Riverside County, California, in the Coachella Valley , in between Palm Desert and La Quinta. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 4,958....
. The United States team won the competition by a score of 8½ to 3½ points. The British who were once again led by Dai Rees
Dai Rees
David James Rees, CBE was one of the Britain's leading golfers either side of World War II.The winner of many prestigious tournaments in Britain, Europe and farther afield, Rees is best remembered as the captain of the Great Britain Ryder Cup team which defeated the United States at Lindrick Golf...
were unable to repeat the heroics of two years earlier and were comprehensively beaten on American soil. The Americans took a 2½-1½ lead in the Foursomes before finishing off the British challenge in the singles by winning five matches with two matches finishing all square to win the cup back. The British won just one foursome match with Christy O'Connor
Christy O'Connor Snr
Christy O'Connor is a former Irish professional golferO'Connor was born in Knocknacarra, Galway. He turned professional in 1946. Throughout the 1960s he won at least one professional event during each year on the British Tour, a level of consistent success matched by very few other players...
and Peter Alliss
Peter Alliss
Peter Alliss is an English professional golfer, BBC television presenter and commentator, author and golf course designer. Alliss is known for his charismatic and unique style of commentary, often displaying a witty demeanour...
beating Art Wall and Doug Ford
Doug Ford (golfer)
Douglas Michael Ford, Sr. born Fortunato is an American professional golfer and two-time major golf champion.Ford was born in West Haven, Connecticut. He turned professional in 1949 and won for the first time in 1952 at the Jacksonville Open.The win in Jacksonville was an unusual one...
by 3 & 2 and one singles match when Eric Brown
Eric Brown (golfer)
Eric Chalmers Brown was a Scottish professional golfer.Brown was born in Bathgate and played at the local golf course. He represented Great Britain in the Ryder Cup in 1953, 1955, 1957 and 1959 and had a 4-4-0 win-loss-half record. He won all of his four singles matches but lost his four foursomes...
beat Cary Middlecoff
Cary Middlecoff
Emmett Cary Middlecoff was a dentist who gave up his practice to become a professional golfer on the PGA Tour in the 1940s....
by 4 & 3 however by the time his match was won the United States had already won the competition.
Format
The Ryder CupRyder Cup
The Ryder Cup is a biennial golf competition between teams from Europe and the United States. The competition is jointly administered by the PGA of America and the PGA European Tour, and is contested every two years, the venue alternating between courses in the United States and Europe...
is a match play
Match play
Match play is a scoring system for golf in which a player, or team, earns a point for each hole in which they have bested their opponents; this is as opposed to stroke play, in which the total number of strokes is counted over one or more rounds of 18 holes...
event, with each match worth one point. Since the inaugural 1927 Ryder Cup
1927 Ryder Cup
The 1st Ryder Cup Matches were held at the Worcester Country Club in Worcester, Massachusetts.The United States team won the competition by a score of 9½–2½ points. USA Captain Walter Hagen became the first winning captain to lift the Ryder Cup...
, the format consisted of 4 foursome (alternate shot) matches on the first day and 8 singles matches on the second day, for a total of 12 points. Therefore, 6½ points were required to win the Cup. All matches were played to a maximum of 36 holes. This would be the last Ryder Cup competition to be played under this format.
Teams
Team USA- Sam SneadSam SneadSamuel Jackson Snead was an American professional golfer who was one of the top players in the world for most of four decades. Snead won a record 82 PGA Tour events including seven majors. He failed to win a U.S...
— Captain - Bob RosburgBob RosburgRobert Reginald "Rossie" Rosburg was an American professional golfer who later became a sports color analyst for ABC television.-Early years, college:Rosburg was born in San Francisco, California...
- Julius BorosJulius BorosJulius Nicholas Boros was a Hungarian-American professional golfer.-Early years:Boros was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut...
- Art Wall
- Mike SouchakMike SouchakMichael Souchak was an American professional golfer who won 15 times on the PGA Tour in the 1950s and 1960s, and played for the 1959 and 1961 Ryder Cup teams.-Early years, college:...
- Dow FinsterwaldDow FinsterwaldDow Henry Finsterwald, Sr. is an American professional golfer who is best known for winning the 1958 PGA Championship. He won 11 Tour titles between 1955 and 1963, played on four Ryder Cup teams, and served as non-playing captain for the 1977 U.S. Ryder Cup team.Finsterwald was born and raised in...
- Doug FordDoug Ford (golfer)Douglas Michael Ford, Sr. born Fortunato is an American professional golfer and two-time major golf champion.Ford was born in West Haven, Connecticut. He turned professional in 1949 and won for the first time in 1952 at the Jacksonville Open.The win in Jacksonville was an unusual one...
- Cary MiddlecoffCary MiddlecoffEmmett Cary Middlecoff was a dentist who gave up his practice to become a professional golfer on the PGA Tour in the 1940s....
- Jay Hebert
Team Great Britain Dai Rees
Dai Rees
David James Rees, CBE was one of the Britain's leading golfers either side of World War II.The winner of many prestigious tournaments in Britain, Europe and farther afield, Rees is best remembered as the captain of the Great Britain Ryder Cup team which defeated the United States at Lindrick Golf...
— Captain Bernard Hunt
Bernard Hunt
Bernard John Hunt, MBE is an English professional golfer.Hunt was born in Atherstone, Warwickshire. He turned professional in 1946 and was a leading player on the European circuit in the 1950s and 1960s. He topped the Order of Merit, which was then points-based, in 1958, 1960 and 1965...
Christy O'Connor
Christy O'Connor Snr
Christy O'Connor is a former Irish professional golferO'Connor was born in Knocknacarra, Galway. He turned professional in 1946. Throughout the 1960s he won at least one professional event during each year on the British Tour, a level of consistent success matched by very few other players...
Harry Weetman
Harry Weetman
Harry Weetman was an English professional golfer.Weetman won many tournaments on the British PGA circuit in the pre-European Tour era and won the Harry Vardon Trophy for lowest stroke average in 1952 and 1956...
Eric Brown
Eric Brown (golfer)
Eric Chalmers Brown was a Scottish professional golfer.Brown was born in Bathgate and played at the local golf course. He represented Great Britain in the Ryder Cup in 1953, 1955, 1957 and 1959 and had a 4-4-0 win-loss-half record. He won all of his four singles matches but lost his four foursomes...
Ken Bousfield
Ken Bousfield
Ken Bousfield was one of the leading British golfers of the immediate post-World War II period.Bousfield won a number of tournaments on the European circuit in the 1950s and 1960s, including the British PGA Championship, which is the second most prestigious tournament in the United Kingdom after...
Peter Alliss
Peter Alliss
Peter Alliss is an English professional golfer, BBC television presenter and commentator, author and golf course designer. Alliss is known for his charismatic and unique style of commentary, often displaying a witty demeanour...
Dave Thomas
Dave Thomas (golfer)
David Charles Thomas is a Welsh professional golfer and renowned golf course architect.Thomas was one of Britain's leading golfers during the 1950s and 1960s with many tournament victories around Europe, including the News of the World Match Play and the Belgian, Dutch and French Open championships...
Norman Drew
Norman Drew
Norman Vico Drew is a Northern Irish professional golfer.Drew was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland and started his golfing career at Balmoral Golf Club in Belfast. From a young age he was renowned for his short game. Drew turned professional in 1954.Drew played in the 1959 Ryder Cup at Eldorado...
Friday's foursome matches
Results | ||
---|---|---|
Hunt Bernard Hunt Bernard John Hunt, MBE is an English professional golfer.Hunt was born in Atherstone, Warwickshire. He turned professional in 1946 and was a leading player on the European circuit in the 1950s and 1960s. He topped the Order of Merit, which was then points-based, in 1958, 1960 and 1965... /Brown Eric Brown (golfer) Eric Chalmers Brown was a Scottish professional golfer.Brown was born in Bathgate and played at the local golf course. He represented Great Britain in the Ryder Cup in 1953, 1955, 1957 and 1959 and had a 4-4-0 win-loss-half record. He won all of his four singles matches but lost his four foursomes... |
5 & 4 | Rosburg Bob Rosburg Robert Reginald "Rossie" Rosburg was an American professional golfer who later became a sports color analyst for ABC television.-Early years, college:Rosburg was born in San Francisco, California... /Souchak Mike Souchak Michael Souchak was an American professional golfer who won 15 times on the PGA Tour in the 1950s and 1960s, and played for the 1959 and 1961 Ryder Cup teams.-Early years, college:... |
Rees Dai Rees David James Rees, CBE was one of the Britain's leading golfers either side of World War II.The winner of many prestigious tournaments in Britain, Europe and farther afield, Rees is best remembered as the captain of the Great Britain Ryder Cup team which defeated the United States at Lindrick Golf... /Bousfield Ken Bousfield Ken Bousfield was one of the leading British golfers of the immediate post-World War II period.Bousfield won a number of tournaments on the European circuit in the 1950s and 1960s, including the British PGA Championship, which is the second most prestigious tournament in the United Kingdom after... |
2 holes | Boros Julius Boros Julius Nicholas Boros was a Hungarian-American professional golfer.-Early years:Boros was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut... /Finsterwald Dow Finsterwald Dow Henry Finsterwald, Sr. is an American professional golfer who is best known for winning the 1958 PGA Championship. He won 11 Tour titles between 1955 and 1963, played on four Ryder Cup teams, and served as non-playing captain for the 1977 U.S. Ryder Cup team.Finsterwald was born and raised in... |
O'Connor Christy O'Connor Snr Christy O'Connor is a former Irish professional golferO'Connor was born in Knocknacarra, Galway. He turned professional in 1946. Throughout the 1960s he won at least one professional event during each year on the British Tour, a level of consistent success matched by very few other players... /Alliss Peter Alliss Peter Alliss is an English professional golfer, BBC television presenter and commentator, author and golf course designer. Alliss is known for his charismatic and unique style of commentary, often displaying a witty demeanour... |
3 & 2 | Wall/Ford Doug Ford (golfer) Douglas Michael Ford, Sr. born Fortunato is an American professional golfer and two-time major golf champion.Ford was born in West Haven, Connecticut. He turned professional in 1949 and won for the first time in 1952 at the Jacksonville Open.The win in Jacksonville was an unusual one... |
Weetman Harry Weetman Harry Weetman was an English professional golfer.Weetman won many tournaments on the British PGA circuit in the pre-European Tour era and won the Harry Vardon Trophy for lowest stroke average in 1952 and 1956... /Thomas Dave Thomas (golfer) David Charles Thomas is a Welsh professional golfer and renowned golf course architect.Thomas was one of Britain's leading golfers during the 1950s and 1960s with many tournament victories around Europe, including the News of the World Match Play and the Belgian, Dutch and French Open championships... |
halved | Snead Sam Snead Samuel Jackson Snead was an American professional golfer who was one of the top players in the world for most of four decades. Snead won a record 82 PGA Tour events including seven majors. He failed to win a U.S... /Middlecoff Cary Middlecoff Emmett Cary Middlecoff was a dentist who gave up his practice to become a professional golfer on the PGA Tour in the 1940s.... |
1½ | Session | 2½ |
1½ | Overall | 2½ |
Saturday's singles matches
Results | ||
---|---|---|
Norman Drew Norman Drew Norman Vico Drew is a Northern Irish professional golfer.Drew was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland and started his golfing career at Balmoral Golf Club in Belfast. From a young age he was renowned for his short game. Drew turned professional in 1954.Drew played in the 1959 Ryder Cup at Eldorado... |
halved | Doug Ford Doug Ford (golfer) Douglas Michael Ford, Sr. born Fortunato is an American professional golfer and two-time major golf champion.Ford was born in West Haven, Connecticut. He turned professional in 1949 and won for the first time in 1952 at the Jacksonville Open.The win in Jacksonville was an unusual one... |
Ken Bousfield Ken Bousfield Ken Bousfield was one of the leading British golfers of the immediate post-World War II period.Bousfield won a number of tournaments on the European circuit in the 1950s and 1960s, including the British PGA Championship, which is the second most prestigious tournament in the United Kingdom after... |
3 & 2 | Mike Souchak Mike Souchak Michael Souchak was an American professional golfer who won 15 times on the PGA Tour in the 1950s and 1960s, and played for the 1959 and 1961 Ryder Cup teams.-Early years, college:... |
Harry Weetman Harry Weetman Harry Weetman was an English professional golfer.Weetman won many tournaments on the British PGA circuit in the pre-European Tour era and won the Harry Vardon Trophy for lowest stroke average in 1952 and 1956... |
6 & 5 | Bob Rosburg Bob Rosburg Robert Reginald "Rossie" Rosburg was an American professional golfer who later became a sports color analyst for ABC television.-Early years, college:Rosburg was born in San Francisco, California... |
Dave Thomas Dave Thomas (golfer) David Charles Thomas is a Welsh professional golfer and renowned golf course architect.Thomas was one of Britain's leading golfers during the 1950s and 1960s with many tournament victories around Europe, including the News of the World Match Play and the Belgian, Dutch and French Open championships... |
6 & 5 | Sam Snead Sam Snead Samuel Jackson Snead was an American professional golfer who was one of the top players in the world for most of four decades. Snead won a record 82 PGA Tour events including seven majors. He failed to win a U.S... |
Christy O'Connor Christy O'Connor Snr Christy O'Connor is a former Irish professional golferO'Connor was born in Knocknacarra, Galway. He turned professional in 1946. Throughout the 1960s he won at least one professional event during each year on the British Tour, a level of consistent success matched by very few other players... |
7 & 6 | Art Wall |
Dai Rees Dai Rees David James Rees, CBE was one of the Britain's leading golfers either side of World War II.The winner of many prestigious tournaments in Britain, Europe and farther afield, Rees is best remembered as the captain of the Great Britain Ryder Cup team which defeated the United States at Lindrick Golf... |
1 hole | Dow Finsterwald Dow Finsterwald Dow Henry Finsterwald, Sr. is an American professional golfer who is best known for winning the 1958 PGA Championship. He won 11 Tour titles between 1955 and 1963, played on four Ryder Cup teams, and served as non-playing captain for the 1977 U.S. Ryder Cup team.Finsterwald was born and raised in... |
Peter Alliss Peter Alliss Peter Alliss is an English professional golfer, BBC television presenter and commentator, author and golf course designer. Alliss is known for his charismatic and unique style of commentary, often displaying a witty demeanour... |
halved | Jay Hebert |
Eric Brown Eric Brown (golfer) Eric Chalmers Brown was a Scottish professional golfer.Brown was born in Bathgate and played at the local golf course. He represented Great Britain in the Ryder Cup in 1953, 1955, 1957 and 1959 and had a 4-4-0 win-loss-half record. He won all of his four singles matches but lost his four foursomes... |
4 & 3 | Cary Middlecoff Cary Middlecoff Emmett Cary Middlecoff was a dentist who gave up his practice to become a professional golfer on the PGA Tour in the 1940s.... |
2 | Session | 6 |
3½ | Overall | 8½ |