Like The Ryder Cup, the Junior Ryder Cup is a biennial contest between Europe and America, but with each team consisting of six boys and six girls under the age of 18.
The tournament showcases the next generation of golfing stars, and is a celebration of development work undertaken at grassroots level on both sides of the Atlantic.
The concept of the Junior Ryder Cup was established in 1995, when Ryder Cup Europe and the European Golf Association came together and sent a team of European juniors – including a then-15 year Spaniard by the name of Sergio Garcia – to play an informal exhibition match against Central New York PGA section and area juniors.
Two years later, the Junior Ryder Cup was formally introduced as a competition in its own right. Held at Alcaidesa Links and San Roque in Cadiz, Spain, the inaugural event was won by America.
In 1999, the contest was held at Country Club of New Seabury in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Europe won that edition and maintained their dominance over the next five years, prevailing at The K Club, in Ireland, in 2002, and again at Westfield Group Country Club, in Ohio, in 2004.
The 2006 match, played at The Celtic Manor Resort in Wales, was tied, but two years later, at The Club at Olde Stone in Kentucky, the Americans won convincingly. That success began a run of four consecutive American victories: in 2010, at The Gleneagles Hotel; in 2012, at Olympia Fields Country Club; and in 2014, at Blairgowrie Golf Club.
Down the years, the Junior Ryder Cup has acted as the springboard for a number of high-profile players: Garcia played in the 1995 exhibition match, and four years later was a member of Europe’s Ryder Cup Team in Brookline; Norwegian Suzann Pettersen played in the Junior Ryder Cup in 1997 and 1999, before becoming a Major winner and taking part in eight Solheim Cups; and Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy was part of the victorious 2004 Junior Ryder Cup team, and has since gone on to win four Major Championships, in addition to three Ryder Cups.
Other notable participants include Nicolas Colsaerts, Rafa Cabrera Bello, Matteo Manassero, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Hunter Mahan, Carlota Ciganda, Carly Booth and Lexi Thompson.
This year’s event will take place on September 24 and 25 at Golf Disneyland, in Paris, France.
PAST RESULTS
1997 - Europe 7 USA 9
1999 - USA 1½ Europe 11½
2002 - Europe 9½ USA 2½
2004 - USA 3½ Europe 8½
2006 - Europe 6 USA 6
2008 - USA 22 Europe 2
2010 - Europe 10½ USA 13½
2012 - USA 14½ Europe 9½
2014 - Europe 8 USA 16
2016 - USA 15 ½ Europe 8 ½
GOLF DISNEYLAND
Located east of the French capital on the grounds of Disneyland Paris®, Golf Disneyland will host the Junior Ryder Cup for the first time this year.
The site offers a prestigious Championship golf course, which has already proven its pedigree by hosting significant events, including a European Challenge Tour tournament back in 1993, which was won by five-time Major champion Phil Mickelson. In 2011 Golf Disneyland also hosted another Challenge Tour event, the Challenge de France.
The resort has outstanding support facilities and is situated 60 kilometres from Le Golf National, the host venue of the 2018 Ryder Cup.
