The Ryder Cup is over a year away, but news just came out that Keegan Bradley will be the next US captain. Is there any bigger honor than captaining one of the two sides? Whether you lead Team U.S.A. or Team Europe onto the course, it’s a privilege like no other.
The Ryder Cup and how captaincy works
With the first edition of the Ryder Cup having been staged in 1927, it’s been almost a century since the best players on either side of the international divide have taken on each other for the title in this biennial tournament. Indeed, every other year, the best male, professional golfers from Europe and the United States face off in this match-play contest, with each team led by its captain.
Regarding how captains for either side are selected, the DP World Tour also known as the European Tour selects the captain for Team Europe, while the PGA Tour of America chooses Team USA’s captain. Each captain is then allowed to pick his own assistants, as well as several members of the team. It’s worth noting that the large majority of Ryder Cup players are selected automatically based on the points they’ve accumulated in the official world ranking list. In the 96-year history of the tournament, Walter Hagen was the man who has been captain the most times having led Team U.S.A. in six different editions.
Ryder Cup Captains: The full list
*Please note that a “w” next to a captain’s name indicates that he was the victor, however, if no “w” follows either name it indicates that the tournament ended in a draw.*
| Year | Team Europe | Team U.S.A. |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Luke Donald | Keegan Bradley |
| 2023 | Luke Donald (w) | Zach Johnson |
| 2021 | Padraig Harrington | Steve Stricker (w) |
| 2018 | Thomas Bjorn (w) | Jim Furyk |
| 2016 | Darren Clarke | Davis Love III (w) |
| 2014 | Paul McGinley (w) | Tom Watson |
| 2012 | Jose Maria Olazabal (w) | Davis Love III |
| 2010 | Colin Montgomerie (w) | Corey Pavin |
| 2008 | Nick Faldo | Paul Azinger (w) |
| 2006 | Ian Woosnam (w) | Tom Lehman |
| 2004 | Bernhard Langer (w) | Hal Sutton |
| 2002 | Sam Torrance (w) | Curtis Strange |
| 1999 | Mark James | Ben Crenshaw (w) |
| 1997 | Steve Ballesteros (w) | Tom Kite |
| 1995 | Bernard Gallacher (w) | Lanny Wadkins |
| 1993 | Bernard Gallacher | Tom Watson (w) |
| 1991 | Bernard Gallacher | Dave Stockton (w) |
| 1989 | Tony Jacklin | Raymond Floyd |
| 1987 | Tony Jacklin (w) | Jack Nicklaus |
| 1985 | Tony Jacklin (w) | Lee Trevino |
| 1983 | Tony Jacklin | Jack Nicklaus (w) |
| 1981 | John Jacobs | Dave Marr (w) |
| 1979 | John Jacobs | Billy Casper (w) |
*Please note that prior to 1979, the teams were the United States and, from 1973-77, Great Britain and Ireland; or, prior to 1973, Great Britain.*
| Year | Team Great Britain & Ireland | Team U.S.A. |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Ryan Huggett | Dow Finsterwald (w) |
| 1975 | Bernard Hunt | Arnold Palmer (w) |
| 1973 | Bernard Hunt | Jack Burke Jr. (w) |
| 1971 | Eric Brown | Jay Hebert (w) |
| 1969 | Eric Brown | Sam Snead |
| 1967 | Dai Rees | Ben Hogan (w) |
| 1965 | Harry Weetman | Byron Nelson (w) |
| 1963 | John Fallon | Arnold Palmer (w) |
| 1961 | Dai Rees | Jerry Barber (w) |
| 1959 | Dai Rees | Sam Snead (w) |
| 1957 | Dai Rees (w) | Jack Burke Jr. |
| 1955 | Dai Rees | Chick Harbert |
| 1953 | Henry Cotton | Lloyd Mangrum (w) |
| 1951 | Arthur Lacey | Sam Snead (w) |
| 1949 | Charles Whitcomb | Ben Hogan (w) |
| 1947 | Henry Cotton | Ben Hogan (w) |
| 1937 | Charles Whitcomb | Walter Hagen (w) |
| 1935 | Charles Whitcomb | Walter Hagen (w) |
| 1933 | J.H. Taylor (w) | Walter Hagen |
| 1931 | Charles Whitcomb | Walter Hagen (w) |
| 1929 | George Duncan (w) | Walter Hagen |
| 1927 | Ted Ray | Walter Hagen (w) |