The Economics of Sport
  • Sports Economics
  • About
  • Workshop
  • Selected Publications
  • Book Reviews
  • A Primer on Gaelic Games
  • Upcoming Events
  • Media
  • Education
  • Resources & Links
  • Data

The Ryder Cup and Competitive Balance

20/9/2021

 
By Robbie Butler

There is probably no better place to start this week than the Ryder Cup. The 43rd match will commence this Friday at Whistling Straits, Wisconsin. The competition is easily the most anticipated team event in golf and probably matches, if not surpasses, the drama of the four Majors. The event also provides a unique atmosphere not normally witnessed in PGA or European Tour events, and is probably closer to a football match than a normal golfing occasion.

The history of the tournament is interesting and demonstrates how administrators and golf federations have altered the rules in order to keep the event interesting. The original match was not Europe versus the United States (US), but rather Great Britain vs the US. Prior to the Great Depression, both countries met for the inaugural Ryder Cup at the Worcester Country Club, Massachusetts in 1927, with the home team winning easily by 9½–2½. Britain would gain revenge two years later at Moortown Golf Club, Yorkshire winning by 7 points to 5. Seventeen more matches would be held between 1931 and 1971 but Great Britain would win just two, and never in the US.

In order to break a US winning streak of six Ryder Cup matches, starting in 1959, Ireland joined with Great Britain from 1973 (1969 was drawn). However, USA versus Great Britain and Ireland did little to improve balance, with the latter losing all three Ryder Cups in 1973, 1975 and 1977. 

With the US on a 9-match winning streak, Team Europe was formed for the 1979 Cup. While the US would win the next three matches, the winning streak did come to an end at the Belfrey in 1985 thanks to Tony Jacklin's team (unlucky 13 maybe). The tables below present the wins and home wins by team for all 42 Ryder Cups to date.
Picture
The change in competition design certainly appears to be working.

​Uncertainty of outcome, which was effectively eroded between 1959 and 1985 (1983 was a close run match), has been restored. If anything, Europe have dominated in recent years winning 9 of the last 14 matches. 3 of these European wins came on American soil.

The US on the other hand, have not won in Europe since 1993 at the Belfrey. With the next match not in Europe until 2023, it will be at least 30 years since an American win in Europe. It will be Italy's first time hosting the event and I am sure they will be trying to keep the European home win streak running.

Comments are closed.

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013

    About

    This website was founded in July 2013.

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    American Football
    Athletics
    Baseball
    Basketball
    Behavioural Economics
    Boxing
    Broadcasting
    Competitive Balance
    Cricket
    Cycling
    Darts
    David Butler
    Declan Jordan
    Drugs
    Ed Valentine
    Epl
    Esports
    Expenditure
    F1
    Fifa World Cup
    Finances
    Funding
    Gaa
    Gaelic Games
    Gambling
    Game Theory
    Gary Burns
    Geography
    Golf
    Greyhound Racing
    Guest Posts
    Horse Racing
    Impact Studies
    John Considine
    John Eakins
    League Of Ireland
    Location
    Media
    Mls
    Mma
    Olympics
    Participation
    Paul O'Sullivan
    Premier League
    Regulation
    Research
    Robbie Butler
    Rugby
    Simpsonomics
    Snooker
    Soccer
    Spatial Analysis
    Sporting Bodies
    Stephen Brosnan
    Swimming
    Taxation
    Teaching
    Technology
    Tennis
    Transfers
    Uefa
    Ufc
    World Cup
    Wwe

Related

The website is not formally affiliated to any institution and all of the entries represent the personal views and opinions of an individual contributor. The website operates on a not-for-profit basis. For this reason we decline all advertisement opportunities. 

Contact

To contact us email sportseconomics2013@gmail.com or find us on Twitter @SportEcon.