What Is The Ryder Cup Record Scoreline?

What Is The Ryder Cup Record Scoreline?

Ryder Cup Record Scoreline
(Image credit: Getty Images)

What is the Ryder Cup's record scoreline? Find out here.

What Is The Ryder Cup Record Scoreline?

The Ryder Cup is the biggest event in golf's calendar. Featuring every two years, the tournament has seen some unbelievable moments.

Whether it's the largest comeback, or the most successful player, there are records to be broken.

Related: Top 10 Ryder Cup Records

But what is the record scoreline? What is the biggest margin of victory at the Ryder Cup?

What Is The Ryder Cup Record Scoreline?

In 1981, the USA cruised to an emphatic 18.5-9.5 victory at Walton Heath, with the squad regarded as the strongest side in the history of the competition.

Ryder Cup Record Scoreline

The European Team in 1981. (Photo by Peter Dazeley/Getty Images)

Featuring the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino, reigning Masters champion Tom Watson, Open champion Bill Rogers and PGA champion Larry Nelson. It was only Bruce Lietzke who had never won a Major in that team!

What's more, the first session of the event was a 2-2 tie, with Europe actually leading after the first day of action.

However, Team USA dominated the second day, claiming 7 points out of a possible 8 to lead 10.5 - 5.5 going into the singles.

Ryder Cup Record Scoreline

Dave Marr, captain of the United States team receives the Ryder Cup trophy from HRH Duke of Kent. (Photo by Bob Martin/Allsport/Getty Images)

Related: What Is The Ryder Cup Format?

And the domination would continue, with 7 wins and 2 halves securing an 18.5 - 9.5 victory and the largest defeat for a European side since 1979.

The win isn't the biggest victory in the event's history, with the largest margin coming in 1967 when USA defeated Great Britain & Ireland 23½ - 8½ at Champions Golf Club in Houston, Texas.

In the 2021 Ryder Cup, Team USA are leading Europe 11-5 going into the singles, with the Americans needing eight points to beat the record set in 1981.

Matt Cradock
Staff Writer

Matt joined Golf Monthly in February 2021 covering weekend news, before also transitioning to equipment and testing. After freelancing for Golf Monthly and The PGA for 18 months, he was offered a full-time position at the company in October 2022 and continues to cover weekend news and social media, as well as help look after Golf Monthly’s many buyers’ guides and equipment reviews.


Taking up the game when he was just seven years of age, Matt made it into his county squad just a year later and continues to play the game at a high standard, with a handicap of around 2-4. To date, his best round came in 2016, where he shot a six-under-par 66 having been seven-under through nine holes. He currently plays at Witney Lakes in Oxfordshire and his favourite player is Rory McIlroy, despite nearly being struck by his second shot at the 17th during the 2015 BMW PGA Championship.


Matt’s current What’s In The Bag?

Driver: Honma TW747, 8.75°

Fairway Wood: TaylorMade Rocketballz Stage 2, 15°, 19°

Hybrid: Adams Super Hybrid, 22°

Irons: Mizuno MP54, 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland 588 RTX 2.0 Tour Satin, 50°, 56°, 60°

Putter: Cleveland TFI 2135 Satin Cero

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x