On 28th September 2025, the European team, captained by Luke Donald, completed a famous Ryder Cup victory over the United States at the Bethpage Black Course in New York. Since the biennial competition was changed to Europe vs the United States in 1979, there have been only seven victories away from home. In this article, we’ll first summarise those away wins, then we’ll delve a little deeper into the best of them.
Ryder Cup Away Victories – 1979 to 2025
- 2025, Bethpage Black Course, New York – Europe 15-13 United States
- 2012, Medinah Country Club, Illinois – Europe 14½-13½ United States
- 2004, Oakland Hills, Michigan – Europe 18½-9½ United States
- 1995, Oak Hill Country Club, New York – Europe 14½-13½ United States
- 1993, The Belfry, England – United States 15-13 Europe
- 1987, Muirfield Village, Ohio – Europe 15-13 United States
- 1981, Walton Heath, England – United States 18½-9½ Europe
Europe has five away wins to the USA’s two, since 1979, although there was also one tie in that time, at the Belfry in 1989 (when Europe retained the Ryder Cup, having won in Ohio two years before). Of those triumphs on foreign soil, two have been by mammoth nine-point margins (the USA’s win in 1981 at Walton Heath, and Europe’s Oakland Hills blitz in 2004). The closest away win came in the “Miracle at Medinah” in 2012, when Europe clinched victory despite being 10-6 down at the start of the final day.
1981: Dominant United States Extend Unbeaten Run
Going into the 1981 Ryder Cup, the United States had won five on the bounce, although four of those had been against a GB and Ireland team. The first time it was Europe versus the USA, in 1979, the Americans continued their dominance with a 17-11 triumph at The Greenbrier in West Virginia. So could the Europeans, captained by John Jacobs, get their first Ryder Cup win on the board? Well, no. And they lost by quite a margin.
Europe had some very good players, although the likes of Sandy Lyle, Nick Faldo and Bernhard Langer were still a few years away from becoming true greats. The USA team, meanwhile, had contained some of the greatest ever among their ranks. Jack Nicklaus was perhaps slightly past his peak by 1981, but he still had plenty to offer. Meanwhile, the likes of Tom Watson, Lee Trevino and Raymond Floyd brought plenty of experience and quality to Dave Marr’s team.
Things went well for Europe on the opening day as they matched the Americans in the morning foursomes and edged the afternoon four-balls to take a 4½-3½ lead into the second day. But that’s when the visitors turned on the style, winning the morning four-balls 3-1 and whitewashing the Europeans in the afternoon foursomes, the Nicklaus/Watson partnership proving unbeatable as they won their third from three matches.
Going into the final day with a handsome lead, the Americans didn’t mess about as they won four and halved two of the first six singles matches. In the end, they won the session 8-4, with Nicklaus closing things out with a fine 5 & 3 victory over Eamonn Darcy.
2004: Langer Masterminds Masterful Victory for Europe
Bernhard Langer was just a fresh-faced 24-year-old when Europe were hammered in the 1981 Ryder Cup. But by 2004, he had a fantastic playing career behind him and was Europe’s team captain for this renewal. On paper, the Europeans looked up against it with just one player ranked inside the world’s top 10 (Pádraig Harrington), compared to four for the USA (Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Davis Love III, and Stewart Cink). But what Europe lacked in out-and-out quality, they made up for in teamwork and dogged determination.
Four players truly excelled for Europe, with Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood each earning 4.5 points from their matches, and Darren Clarke (3.5 points) and Colin Montgomerie (3 points) also doing more than enough. A certain Luke Donald, who would captain the Europeans to victory in 2023 and 2025, didn’t do badly either with 2.5 points. Indeed, every European player contributed at least 1 point from their matches.
The USA team, in contrast, were far from united as they stuttered along in disappointing fashion. They were five points down by the end of the opening day and 11-5 behind going into the Sunday singles. In the end, only two players from the USA team earned two or more points, Tiger Woods (2) and top-scorer Chris MiMarco (2.5). Neither Fred Funk nor Kenny Perry even managed half a point.
2012: The Miracle at Medinah – Tiger Fails to Roar as Europe Turn the Screw
This wasn’t the biggest margin of victory in a recent Ryder Cup, but it was perhaps the most dramatic given the nature of Europe’s comeback. Spanish golfing legend José María Olazábal was the European captain and he was up against Davis Love III, who clearly loves a good sequel as he named his son… wait for it… Davis Love IV.
Once again, the United States team looked marginally stronger going into the competition, with Tiger Woods, Bubba Watson, Jason Dufner, Webb Simpson, and Brandt Snedeker all in the top 10 in the world (while simultaneously competing with one another in the ‘who can have the silliest name’ competition!). Europe were well stacked with quality, however, with Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Lee Westwood, and Luke Donald also in the top 10, and the likes of Ian Poulter, Sergio Garcia, Martin Kaymer, and Paul Lawrie having performed well at previous Ryder Cups.
Things started off in the balance as the teams shared the opening foursomes 2-2 before the USA took the afternoon four-balls 3-1 to open up a 5-3 lead. The home side took the following morning’s foursomes 3-1 too, and a 2-2 afternoon four-ball session left the USA with a handsome 10-6 lead going into the Sunday singles.
However, the Miracle at Medinah fightback had already begun, with Europe pinching the last two matches on Saturday on the 18th hole. Poulter’s incredible run of five straight birdies sparked everything that would follow and kept Europe in touch as he and McIlroy saw off their opponents despite the US having been two up with six to play.
With a little bit of momentum on their side, Europe, probably feeling their had little to lose, took the game to the Americans and rattled off win after win as Donald beat Watson, Poulter got the better of Simpson and McIlroy beat Bradley. There was no need for the US team to panic as they were still ahead. But then Justin Rose made things all square at 11-11 when he beat Mickelson. The USA got points on the board through Dustin Johnson, Zach Johnson and Jason Dufner, but Paul Lawrie, Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer all scored to take Europe to 14 points. That meant they retained the Cup at the very least, as they’d won it previously at Celtic Manor.
But the drama wasn’t over, as one match was still playing: Francesco Molinari versus one of the greatest players ever, Tiger Woods. As it turned out, Woods missed a putt on the 18th green that essentially handed that crucial ½ point to the Europeans, and they won 14½-13½ to complete one of the greatest comebacks in any sport.