Ryder Cup 1987 At Muirfield

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By Golf Histories

The 27th Ryder Cup Matches were held September 25–27, 1987 at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio, a suburb north of Columbus.

The European team won their second consecutive competition by a score of 15 to 13 points in probably the most historic Ryder Cup.

After an unbeaten record of 13–0 spanning sixty years, the U.S. team lost for the first time on home soil.

Europe’s Christy O’Connor Jr., a Captain’s selection, upset Fred Couples, 1-up, and rookie Ronan Rafferty

Following the opening ceremonies, European Captain Tony Jacklin invited PGA European Tour Executive Director Ken Schofield and the Tour’s chief administrators into a bungalow for cocktails.

The officials were greeted by the European Team, which spent the next two hours outlining a variety of issues on Tour.

This “clearing of the air” meeting, European officials believed, helped relieve the tension of the team and opened the door for a memorable Ryder Cup performance.

Europe went out and posted its most impressive victory, 15 to 13, and its first triumph on U.S. soil.

Europe built a 10.5 to 5.5 lead after two days, sparked by three victories by the Spanish duo of Seve Ballesteros and José María Olazábal.

Europe won all four afternoon four-balls on the second day of competition, with its players 29-under par through the 65 holes compared to America’s 22-under par.

During the singles, Ireland’s Eamonn Darcy defeated Ben Crenshaw, 1-up, after a roller coaster match. Darcy went 2-up after six holes and Crenshaw snapped his putter in disgust, putting the remainder of the match with a 1-iron and the edge of his sand wedge.