Because the format of the Ryder Cup had varied over the years, the number of points available to be won by any one player at a Ryder Cup has also varied correspondingly:
1927–1959: 2pts
1961: 4pts
1963–1975: 6pts
1977: 3pts
1979–present: 5pts
The earliest Ryder Cups were played over two days and as 36-hole matches. Therefore players played a maximum of two games. They could play none. The format was four foursomes matches on the Friday and eight singles on the Saturday. The latter seems particularly mean as there were nine players on either side in the first Ryder Cup. In the first Ryder Cup George Gadd missed out for Britain both times. Moreover, he was never picked for another Ryder Cup. For the USA, Al Espinosa did not get selected on either the Friday or Saturday, but he at least did get to play in two more Ryder Cups – and actually play in these.
From 1963 to 1975 the format was was for two sessions each of four foursomes matches, two sessions each of four fourballs, and two sessions each of eight singles. In 1979 the current format was introduced: two sessions held on the first two days, of four foursomes and four fourballs each day, and then, on the third day, 12 singles matches.
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