The Ryder Cup has predominantly followed a similar pattern in the last two decades – Europe turn up as the defending champions and then return home afterwards with the trophy in tow again.
Overall, the USA still convincingly hold the upper hand with 25 victories, but the team from this side of the pond have triumphed in eight of the last ten showdowns, starting when they edged to glory in New York in 1995.
This streak includes victories in each of the last three editions heading into the 2016 competition at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Minnesota. Despite this recent record, Europe’s odds to win a fourth successive Ryder Cup take on underdog status at 7/4.
However, who have been the biggest contributors to this current Europe sequence of dominance?
Has it been the British legion of 10 players to have participated in at least one of the last three tournaments or the squad of 11 players that represent other parts of Europe?
The following graphic suggests that if Europe are to repeat their 2012 success at Medinah Country Cup in Illinois on US soil, captain Darren Clarke will need his fellow Brits to be on top form:
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
Interestingly then from Clarke, he opted for two continental Europeans among his three wildcards – selecting twice major-winning German Martin Kaymer and Belgian rookie Thomas Pieters over the likes of Luke Donald (winner in all four previous Ryder Cup starts), fellow veteran Graeme McDowell or Scotland’s Russell Knox.
Yet, Clarke’s team does still retain an English core, with debutants Danny Willett, Chris Wood, Andy Sullivan and Matthew Fitzpatrick joining the more experienced Lee Westwood and Justin Rose. Rory McIlroy completes the British line-up.
Meanwhile, the other five spots are occupied by Kaymer, Pieters, 2016 Open winner Henrik Stenson and Spanish duo Sergio Garcia and Rafael Cabrera-Bello.
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