Who are the 12 greatest American Ryder Cup players in history? It’s a tough question to ask considering the legends of the game who have represented the red, white and blue on the course.
The Americans hold a 26-13-2 lead in the 41 completed Ryder Cups stretching back to the inaugural Ryder Cup in 1927 at Worcester Country Club.
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Looking through all those American victories and memorable moments, we came up with the All-Time American Ryder Cup team. To qualify, a player has to have at least three appearances on the U.S. squad.
With a 6-1-2 record through two Ryder Cup appearances, “Captain America” himself, Patrick Reed, could find his name on this list with another impressive showing in Paris.
Here’s a look a the squad:
1. Arnold Palmer
Ryder Cup appearances: 6
Years played: 1961-63-65-67-71-73
Overall record: 22-8-2
Ryder Cup USA Captain: 1963 (won); 1975 (won)
Ryder Cup appearances: 8
Years played: 1961-63-65-67-69-71-73-75
Overall record: 20-10-7
Ryder Cup USA Captain: 1979 (won)
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Ryder Cup appearances: 8
Years played: 1977-79-83-85-87-89-91-93
Overall record: 20-11-3
Ryder Cup USA Captain: 1995 (lost)
Ryder Cup appearances: 6
Years played: 1969-71-73-75-79-81
Overall record: 17-7-6
Ryder Cup USA Captain: 1985 (lost)
Ryder Cup appearances: 6
Years played: 1969-71-73-75-77-81
Overall record: 17-8-3
Ryder Cup USA Captain: 1983 (won); 1987 (lost)
Ryder Cup appearances: 7
Years played: 1979-81-83-85-87-89-93
Overall record: 15-9-4
Ryder Cup USA Captain: 1997 (lost)
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Ryder Cup appearances: 7
Years played: 1961-63-65-67-69-71-75
Overall record: 14-5-8
Ryder Cup USA Captain: N/A
Ryder Cup appearances: 5
Years played: 1975-77-79-81-91
Overall record: 13-5-2
Ryder Cup USA Captain: N/A
Ryder Cup appearances: 7
Years played: 1937-47-49-51-53-55-59
Overall record: 10-2-1
Ryder Cup USA Captain: 1951 (won); 1959 (won); 1969 (draw, U.S. retained Ryder Cup)
Ryder Cup appearances: 4
Years played: 1977-81-83-89
Overall record: 10-4-1
Ryder Cup USA Captain: 1993 (won); 2014 (lost)
Ryder Cup appearances: 3
Years played: 1971-73-75
Overall record: 9-2-0
Ryder Cup USA Captain: N/A
Ryder Cup appearances: 3
Years played: 1947-49-51
Overall record: 6-0-0 (only perfect record of U.S. players with at least three Ryder Cup starts)
Ryder Cup USA Captain: N/A
