Snatching victory from the jaws of defeat: What are the biggest comebacks in Ryder Cup history?

The Ryder Cup has been littered with thrilling comebacks over the years. But these will take some beating…

Typically, it pays to be ahead going into the Sunday singles. But, from time to time, the trailing trailing has pulled off the improbable and snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. Let’s dive into the history books and appreciate some of the better Ryder Cup comebacks from down the years.

In the 22 Ryder Cup matches of the USA vs Europe era, just four times has a team been losing going into Sunday’s singles before going on to win

Before we get into it, let’s have a couple of special mentions.

Firstly, in 1989, the US team rocked up at The Belfry to face a European side that was not only celebrating winning two Ryder Cups in a row for the first time, but with it finally getting an away victory in the history books. And it looked like the hosts would make it three when they went into Sunday’s singles leading 9-7, but the Americans rallied and managed to scrape a 14-14 tie. Europe retained the trophy, but it wasn’t a defeat for Raymond Floyd’s men.

And a very brief shoutout to the American side of 1997, who trailed by a whopping five points going into the final day at Valderrama, before winning seven and halving two of the singles matches to lose by just one.

The 30th Ryder Cup in 1993

All the momentum was with Europe after the first three sessions at The Belfry. Bernard Gallagher’s side led 7.5-4.5 and looked in total control.

That was before a poor Saturday afternoon fourball session swung the momentum in the favour of the Americans. From three points behind, Tom Watson’s US team went into the singles trailing by just a point and showed their one-on-one superiority in the final day.

Europe started strong with three wins and a half in the first five games but from there it was an American rout. The visitors eventually won the session 7.5-4.5 to claim the cup with an impressive 15-13 triumph.

It remains, to this day, the Americans’ last victory in Europe.

The 31st Ryder Cup in 1995

Two years later at Oak Hill Country Club, it was Europe who trailed the US 9-7 after the first two days. But the visitors came roaring back on Sunday.

The Europeans won six of the first nine singles matches and halved another to move within a point of glory, the most notable among them Nick Faldo’s unlikely win from 1-down with two to play against Curtis Strange.

That meant it all came down to Philip Walton. In his one and only Ryder Cup appearance, the Englishman cosied his ball up to the hole on the final green to beat Jay Haas and snatch the 14.5-13.5 victory.

The 33rd Ryder Cup in 1999

For golf fans of a certain vintage, this will be the comeback that immediately springs to mind. Ben Crenshaw’s United States team trailed Mark James’ European charges 10-6 on Saturday evening and looked well beaten at The Country Club in Brookline.

Crenshaw, however, thought otherwise. 

“I’m a big believer in fate,” he told the world’s media. “I have a good feeling about this.”

That feeling proved astute.

The Americans came out swinging, winning seven of the first eight singles matches to turn a four-point deficit into a three-point advantage. Victories for Padraig Harrington and Paul Lawrie got the Europeans back within one before Jim Furyk beat Sergio Garcia to make it 14-12 and put the hosts on the brink of glory.

Then came one of the most controversial moments in the history of the Ryder Cup. Having battled back from 4-down to all square against Jose Maria Olazabal, Justin Leonard sunk a 40-footer for birdie on the 17th to spark wild scenes of celebration as US players, wives and even cameramen flooded the green. The problem? Olazabal still had a birdie putt of his own.

The Spaniard had to wait several minutes for the melee to subside but couldn’t get it to fall. At 1-up with one to play, the US had the guaranteed half point they required, but the fallout from the 17th-hole drama lasted for years and still lingers for some.

The 39th Ryder Cup in 2012

Sport has a way of evening itself out, and although it took 13 years, Europe got their revenge. On away soil, too.

The US were rampant at Medinah in 2012. From the word go, it was one-way traffic. Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley were among the chief hype merchants, whipping the crowd into an absolute frenzy.

Ten of the first 14 points went the way of the hosts, putting the Sunday singles at risk of being a total non-event. Enter Ian Poulter.

After Luke Donald and Sergio Garcia edged Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker at the last hole to reduce Europe’s deficit to 10-5, the Postman etched his name into Ryder Cup folklore, birdying the final five holes as he and Rory McIlroy beat Zach Johnson and Jason Dufner 1-up.

At 10-6, there was still a mountain to climb for Jose Maria Olazabal’s men, but there was a hopeful whiff to the air on Saturday night.

After a rousing speech from Olazabal that included a short video of the dearly departed Seve Ballesteros, the visiting team came out all guns blazing. The first five singles matches on Sunday went the way of the Europeans, and suddenly it was game on. When Martin Kaymer in the penultimate game stepped onto the 18th green, he needed two putts to ensure Europe would retain the cup. The first slid six feet by but the German, with his nerves of steel, buried the return to ensure the cup would remain in European hands.

Francesco Molinari halved the final match with Tiger Woods for the outright victory to complete what would later be coined ‘The Miracle at Medinah’ and spark some of the most emotional scenes ever witnessed in the tournament.

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