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Top European Points scorers in Ryder Cup history
The 2023 Ryder Cup is just days away and with the excitement building we’re taking a trip down memory lane. With young guns the talk of the European team this year, we take a look back at some of the old greats who sit at the top of the list of European Ryder Cup points scorers.
We look back at some of Europe’s greatest below.
Sergio Garcia – 28.5 points
For most people, when you think of the Ryder Cup the first player that comes to mind is Sergio Garcia. The Spaniard is one of the stalwarts of the tournament having represented Europe in the competition across three different decades.
Garcia’s Ryder Cup journey started in 1999 when he was just 19 years old; he did not disappoint in scoring three points for Team Europe in what was ultimately a narrow defeat.
Arguably his best performance came in 2006 in County Kildare, Ireland. Garcia started off the tournament by winning both his foursome and four-ball matches alongside José María Olazábal on day one to score two points for Team Europe. The pair would continue their dominance by winning both their foursome and four-ball matches on day two as well. It was not to be for Garcia in the singles but that wasn’t to matter as Europe would storm to a nine-point victory.
Garcia has amassed many awards over the years, including the Nicklaus-Jacklin Award for the player whose teamwork, sportsmanship, performance and decisions epitomize the spirit of the Ryder Cup, which he picked up in 2020. Overall Garcia has the best record of any player from either side of the Atlantic with 25 wins, 13 losses and seven halves, totalling 28.5 points.
Nick Faldo – 25 points
Nick Faldo is a golfing legend and a household name throughout the generations, even with those who may not have ever watched him play. The six-time major champion was a key player for Europe between 1977 and 1997.
Faldo starred in his maiden Ryder Cup appearance as he earned three points for what was, at the time, Team Great Britain and Ireland before it was expanded to include all of Europe. He managed 11 consecutive appearances, a record which is still yet to be matched, winning 23 matches, losing 19 and halving four.
His stint as a Ryder Cup captain is not one which he will look back on fondly but in sitting second in the table for points scored for Team Europe/Great Britain and Ireland, he goes down as a Ryder Cup legend and one of the best the American’s have ever faced.
Bernhard Langer – 24 points
Despite only winning one Major in his time, Bernhard Langer is still considered to be one of Europe’s greatest ever, and the skilled German certainly made an impact on the Ryder Cup across all 10 editions he appeared in.
Langer competed in the Ryder Cup between 1981 and 2002, helping team Europe to five victories and one title retention across his 10 appearances. In that time he amassed 24 points across 42 matches with a win rate of over 57%. His overall Ryder Cup record reads 21 wins, 15 losses and six halves.
His most notable performance came in 1983 where, despite Team USA winning the tournament by a mere one point, Langer scored four out of the five points available to him, along with his teammate, the aforementioned Nick Faldo.
Lee Westwood – 24 points
Lee Westwood is a player who epitomises the Ryder Cup and has cemented itself in the tournament’s history as one of the European team’s cult heroes.
Competing in 11 Ryder Cups between 1997 and 2021, Westwood has competed in more Ryder Cup matches than any other player, going toe-to-toe with the American’s on 47 occasions. For someone who has played such a great volume of matches his record has not suffered for that, boasting an impressive 21 wins, with 20 losses and six halves.
Westwood cemented his status as one of Europe’s greats in 2004 and 2006 when he and Garcia would score four out of the five points available to them in both tournaments, to see Europe to consecutive victories, both of which were convincing with scores of 18.5 to 9.5.
Westy has never won a Major but his effectiveness in the Ryder Cup is undoubtable, and his record as the European player who has the greatest number of appearances in Ryder Cup winning teams, having won the tournament seven times, means he will forever be one of the greats of Team Europe.
