The contentious “War by the Shore” Ryder Cup ended on this date in 1991 at Kiawah Island with the U.S. edging Europe 14½-13½ after Bernhard Langer missed a 6-foot par putt that would have clinched a 14-14 tie. Europe would have kept the cup as the previous winner.
On this date in 1997, the Ryder Cup ended on continental Europe for the first time at Valderrama Golf Club in Spain with Europe edging the U.S., 14½-13½.
Contrasting yesterday’s record victory by the U.S. in the Ryder Cup, on this date in 1987, Europe beat the U.S., 15-13, at Muirfield Village in Ohio for the first U.S. lost on its home soil in the series.
The American team will try to win the Ryder Cup today in Wisconsin for a rare victory in the series. On this date in 1993, the U.S. beat the Euros, 15-13, at The Belfry in England. Davis Love III won the securing point in a 1-up Singles win over Costantino Rocca of Italy, making a winner of Captain Tom Watson.
It’s not the happiest of milestones but on this date in 2016, the most loved golfer in history, Arnold Palmer, died at age 87 of heart failure in a Pittsburgh hospital.
The 1995 Ryder Cup ended on this date at Oak Hill Country Club with Europe winning 14½-13½; the winning point came from Philip Walton’s 1-up victory over Jay Haas.
A pair of Open Championships ended on this date. In 1868, at Prestwick, Young Tom Morris edged his father, Old Tom, by three shots to win. And in 1892, Harold Hilton also won by three shots, at Muirfield, over John Ball, Sandy Herd and Hugh Kirkaldy.
The 1973 Ryder Cup ended on this date at Muirfield, Scotland, with the U.S. beating Great Britain & Ireland, 19-13. It was the first year to have Ireland in the team title.
Captain Paul Azinger’s infamous pod system helped the American team stop a three-match losing streak on this date in 2008 to win the Ryder Cup at Valhalla Golf Club, 16½-11½, against Europe.
Among the major results on this date, two big ones were Francis Ouimet’s playoff victory over Harry Vardon and Ted Ray in the U.S. Open at The Country Club, and the 1969 Ryder Cup at Royal Birkdale in England, which ended in a 16-16 draw when Jack Nicklaus famously conceded Tony Jacklin’s three-foot putt in their singles match on the final hole to ensure a tie in the overall score and their contest.
The 2004 Ryder Cup ended on this date at Oakland Hills Country Club with Europe retaining the trophy with a whomping over the United States, 18½-9½, the largest margin of victory by the American opponent in the series.
The 1971 Ryder Cup ended on this date with the American team beating Great Britain, 18½-13½, at Old Warson Country Club.
The 1949 Ryder Cup ended on this date at Ganton Golf Club with the United States defeating Great Britain, 7-5, aided by a U.S. blitz of winning six of eight singles games.
With the next Ryder Cup next week at Whistling Straits, we note on this date in 1979 that the U.S. won 17-11, at The Greenbrier. It was the first time Europe played the U.S., replacing the Great Britain & Ireland opposing side.
The next Ryder Cup is just a week away at Kohler, Wisconsin. The 1985 Ryder Cup ended on this date at The Belfry in England with Europe winning a pivotal battle, 16½-11½ over the U.S.
Tradition says on this date in 1868 that Young Tom Morris made the first hole in one in golf on the 8th hole at Prestwick in Scotland.
A pair of Open Championships ended on this date. In 1866, at Prestwick Golf Club, Willie Park Sr. won for the third time, and in 1872, also at Prestwick, Tom Morris, Jr. won a fourth straight time (no championship was held in 1871).
Argentinian golfer Angel Cabrera was born on this day in 1969 in Córdoba. Cabrera won the 2007 U.S. Open and 2009 Masters but has recently been in legal trouble for domestic violence.
Golf history goes silent today in tribute to the 9-11 victims in the terrorist attack on American land in New York City, Washington, D.C., and land near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Appropriate on a day like today that the last name would be a reminder of a sad golf stroke: the shank.
The most loved golfer in history, Arnold Palmer, a seven-time major champion, was born on this date in 1929 in Latrobe, Pennsylvania.