It’s annoying when people tell you something you already know.
For instance, you already know this: the USA dominates the Presidents Cup but meets its match with Europe at the Ryder Cup.
But when you go into the numbers, the difference in competitiveness is more staggering than you first thought, to the point where Team USA must see the Presidents Cup as a safe haven, a happy place.
Since the event’s inception in 1994, America has lost once and failed to win twice against the International team. They have won the Presidents Cup 10 times in a row. The US players assert their dominance on the rest of the world and, for most players, they have pretty nice win records.
There’s no nasty Ian Poulter with his bulging eyes, no Rory McIlroy roaring another drive 350 down the fairway and no Sergio Garcia fighting tooth and nail for every half-point.
America aren’t completely dominated at the Ryder Cup, but they’re down on Europe since the turn of the century and have lost eight of the last 11 renewals. Some of the great US players have been humbled by the continent, and their records prove it – as shown by the incredible bank of stats at Match Play World.
Take Jim Furyk. He was one of the best and most consistent players in the world for many years, winning the 2003 US Open and 17 PGA Tour trophies. His quality was clear at the Presidents Cup too, winning 21.5 points from 33 matches in seven appearances.
But comparative to his ability, there is arguably no greater disappointment at the Ryder Cup than Furyk. He earned 12 points in 34 matches against Europe, winning a little over a third of the time. His happy place was definitely against the Internationals and not against the blue and gold.
The same could be said for three-time major champion Jordan Spieth. His display at the 2023 Ryder Cup was poor for a player of his stature, and it left his record with 10.5 points in 22 matches. That’s winning less than half the time, which hugely contrasts his Presidents Cup form – an event where he has earned 13.5 points in 19 matches (over 70%!).
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Two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson had a good time of it at the Presidents Cup. He earned six points in 10 matches, but at the Ryder Cup, he won four points having played in 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2018. 15-time major champion Tiger Woods scored over 60% of the points available to him in 43 Presidents Cup matches, but less than 40% in 37 Ryder Cup matches.
The biennial dust-up with Europe reveals who can get down and dirty in pressurised conditions and win points. What these statistics show is who can’t, but who did find their A-game against the Internationals.
It’s clear Europe provide stiffer opposition. Your record will inevitably be better in the long term against a weaker team than a stronger one. But in these cases, the chasm is vast, and there are other cases where it’s been made possible to excel at both – as you’ll find out below.
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Ryder Cup vs Presidents Cup: The biggest differentials
(Matches played/Points earned – Points Per Match)
Jim Furyk
Ryder Cup: 34/12 – 0.353
Presidents Cup: 33/21.5 – 0.652
Jordan Spieth
Ryder Cup: 22/10.5 – 0.477
Presidents Cup: 19/13.5 – 0.711
Tiger Woods
Ryder Cup: 37/14.5 – 0.392
Presidents Cup: 43/27.5 – 0.64
Phil Mickelson
Ryder Cup: 47/21.5 – 0.457
Presidents Cup: 55/32.5 – 0.591
Bubba Watson
Ryder Cup: 14/4 – 0.286
Presidents Cup: 10/6 – 0.6
Davis Love III
Ryder Cup: 26/11.5 – 0.442
Presidents Cup: 28/18 – 0.643
Rickie Fowler
Ryder Cup: 17/5.5 – 0.324
Presidents Cup: 12/7 – 0.583
Steve Stricker
Ryder Cup: 11/3.5 – 0.318
Presidents Cup: 24/14 – 0.583
Fred Couples
Ryder Cup: 13/5.5 – 0.423
Presidents Cup: 16/10 – 0.625
The four players below have respectable records in both the Ryder Cup and the Presidents Cup, making them good all-around match players. Justin Thomas made his debut for America in 2018 and has been a key member of the US team since, galvanising his side with passion in moments of difficulty.
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He won four points away from him in Paris seven years ago, which is a fierce effort given that the away team in the Ryder Cup often struggles. Dustin Johnson became the first US player in 42 years to earn maximum points at a Ryder Cup, banking five out of five in 2021 at Whistling Straits.
DJ has a solid record in the Ryder Cup. His Presidents Cup record is still better, but he is well above the level of the aforementioned Ryder Cup underperformers. Patrick Cantlay and Collin Morikawa have only played in two Ryder Cups each, but they have made great starts to their careers against Europe.
Morikawa took 3.5 points from four matches in 2021, and Cantlay was America’s hatless cheerleader in 2023 in Rome, winning two important points in cauldron-like conditions
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Ryder Cup vs Presidents Cup: Solid match players
Justin Thomas
Ryder Cup: 13/8 – 0.615
Presidents Cup: 15/11 – 0.733
Dustin Johnson
Ryder Cup: 21/12 – 0.571
Presidents Cup: 18/11 – 0.611
Patrick Cantlay
Ryder Cup: 8/5.5 – 0.688
Presidents Cup: 14/10 – 0.714
Collin Morikawa
Ryder Cup: 8/4.5 – 0.563
Presidents Cup: 8/6 – 0.75
There is a handful of players that have somehow reversed their records and have a better points earned per match rate in the Ryder Cup than the Presidents Cup. Patrick Reed burst on to the Ryder Cup scene in 2014, winning 3.5 points out of four matches on away soil. He has won eight points in 12 matches in total, but won less than half the points available to him at the Presidents Cup.
Fellow major champions Corey Pavin and Tom Lehman have similar records. Pavin got seven points in 10 matches against Europe, but four points in 10 matches against the Internationals. Lehman also won less than half of the points available to him at the Presidents Cup.
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How do you explain that?
Ryder Cup vs Presidents Cup: Anomalies
Patrick Reed
Ryder Cup: 12/8 – 0.667
Presidents Cup: 13/6 – 0.462
Corey Pavin
Ryder Cup: 10/7 – 0.7
Presidents Cup: 10/4 – 0.4
Tom Lehman
Ryder Cup: 10/6 – 0.6
Presidents Cup: 15/6.5 – 0.433
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What do you make of these statistics? Tell us on X!
Match Play World originated from the desire to form a better solution to a common problem with match play events in golf. The Match Play Matrix format means every player plays every round, but the winner is still the last player undefeated.
While creating this unique format, Match Play World developed the Match Play World Golf Rankings for players dating back to 1927 when the first Ryder Cup was held. From the Ryder Cup, Presidents Cup, Solheim Cup and WGC Match Play to the old EurAsia Cup and the new LIV Golf Team Championship, every match play event is covered. View the Match Play World Golf Rankings here.
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