If you’re looking for a great atmosphere, incredible skill and captivating drama, there’s no better sporting event in the world than the Ryder Cup.
But how often is the Ryder Cup played? Let’s take a look.
How Often Is Ryder Cup?
How Often Is The Ryder Cup?
The Ryder Cup is played every two years, with the host venue alternating between a golf course in Europe and a course in the United States.
After the first official Ryder Cup was held in 1927 at Worcester Country Club between a United States team and a team from Great Britain and Ireland, it was decided by the Ryder Cup organisers that an annual contest would not be practical, hence the next event was held in 1929 and then every two years thereafter.
The Ryder Cup was then held every two years from that point, excluding the World War II years, up until the 1999 Ryder Cup at The Country Club, Massachusetts.
The 2001 Ryder Cup was postponed due to the 9/11 terror attacks and played the following year. The decision was later made to play the next event in 2004 rather than 2003, so it moved from odd-numbered years to even-numbered years.
This remained the case up until the 2020 Ryder Cup which was supposed to take place at Whistling Straits. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event was postponed again to 2021 and thus reinstated the event taking place in odd years.
The great thing about the match play competition taking place every couple of years is it helps to build up the drama and anticipation. Seeing which players have played well over the past two seasons, in the hope of getting a spot in Team Europe or Team USA.
I was lucky enough to go to the 2018 Ryder Cup in Paris and experience the truly amazing spectacle of the European team collecting the Ryder Cup trophy. Having it every two years gives the golfing world something to really look forward to.
Is The Ryder Cup Every Year?
The Ryder Cup doesn’t take place every year, instead, it is held every two years between the USA and European Ryder Cup team.
The decision was made after the first Ryder Cup in 1927 to host the event every couple of years because it wasn’t practical to host it every year. Global travel in 1927 wasn’t quite as we know it today, so staging the event was just too challenging for it to be played in consecutive years.
Of course, these days, it’s much more accessible for everyone, but the tradition still stands and the Ryder Cup remains every two years.
Final Thoughts
Throughout a long Ryder Cup history, the event has seen many changes over the years. From format changes to the days when just a British Team was competing.
But what hasn’t changed is the tradition of playing Ryder Cups every two years. This year, the Ryder Cup will head to Marco Simone Golf & Country Club, where Luke Donald and his European team will hope to redeem themselves after the heavy defeat two years ago at Whistling Straits.
FAQs
Is the Ryder Cup played every two years?
Yes, the Ryder Cup is played every two years and sees the best golfers from the USA and continental Europe compete to win the trophy Samuel Ryder created in 1926.
Why is the Ryder Cup not every year?
When the Ryder Cup was first played in 1927, it was decided that it would be played every other year after that. This was because it was too impractical to stage the event at the time.
How often is the Ryder Cup held?
The Ryder Cup takes place every two years and alternates where it held, between Europe and the USA. This has been the case since it was first played in 1927.
Founder, Editor
Ed is the founder and editor at EEE Golf. He’s been playing golf for over 20 years, competing in many top amateur events. He’s played courses all over the world and played with some of the best players in the game. His aim is to help educate people about the game of golf and give insights into the sport he loves most.
