The 1st Ryder Cup Matches were held at the Worcester Country Club in Worcester, Massachusetts. The first competition was dominated by the United States who won by the then landslide score of 912–212 points. USA Captain Walter Hagen became the first winning captain to lift the Ryder Cup. Samuel Ryder, the competition's founder was unable to be present at Worcester Country Club for the inaugural event due to ill health at the time. Ted Ray was the first captain to represent the Great Britain team.

1st Ryder Cup Matches
DatesJune 3–4, 1927
VenueWorcester Country Club
LocationWorcester, Massachusetts
Captains
United States 912 212 United Kingdom
United States wins the Ryder Cup
1929 →
Worcester CC is located in the United States
Worcester CC
Worcester CC
Worcester CC is located in Massachusetts
Worcester CC
Worcester CC

Format

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The Ryder Cup is a match play golf event, with each match worth one point. From this inaugural event through 1959, the format consisted of 4 foursome (alternate shot) matches on the first day and 8 singles matches on the second day, for a total of 12 points. Therefore, 612 points were required to win the Cup. All matches were played to a maximum of 36 holes.

Teams

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Source: [1]

A sub-committee of the Professional Golfers' Association was appointed to choose the Great Britain team for the first official Ryder Cup. This consisted of Harry Vardon, J.H. Taylor and James Braid.[2] In March 1927 an initial group of 9 players was selected to represent Great Britain. These consisted of the above 9 players but with Abe Mitchell instead of Jolly.[3] Later in March it was announced that Abe Mitchell would be the captain of the team.[4] However, in May, his health gave some concern. It was eventually decided that he was unfit to travel.[5] Later he was operated on for appendicitis.

Seven members of the team left on the Aquitania on May 21, Boomer being picked up in Cherbourg. Ray was appointed the new captain.[6] George Philpot, editor of the British Golf Illustrated magazine, was the team manager and travelled with the team. With the team a man short, the PGA Secretary Percy Perrins recruited Jolly who sailed on a later boat, the Majestic, and arrived in New York on May 31, four days after the rest of the team.

Friday's foursome matches

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  Results  
Ray/Robson   2 & 1 Hagen/Golden
Duncan/Compston   8 & 6 Farrell/Turnesa
Havers/Jolly   3 & 2 Sarazen/Watrous
Boomer/Whitcombe   7 & 5 Diegel/Mehlhorn
1 Session 3
1 Overall 3

Saturday's singles matches

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  Results  
Archie Compston   1 up Bill Mehlhorn
Aubrey Boomer   5 & 4 Johnny Farrell
Herbert Jolly   8 & 7 Johnny Golden
Ted Ray   7 & 5 Leo Diegel
Charles Whitcombe halved Gene Sarazen
Arthur Havers   2 & 1 Walter Hagen
Fred Robson   3 & 2 Al Watrous
George Duncan   1 up Joe Turnesa
112 Session 612
212 Overall 912

Individual player records

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Each entry refers to the win–loss–half record of the player.

Source: [1]

United States

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Player Points Overall Singles Foursomes
Leo Diegel 1 1–1–0 1–0–0 0–1–0
Johnny Farrell 2 2–0–0 1–0–0 1–0–0
Johnny Golden 2 2–0–0 1–0–0 1–0–0
Walter Hagen 2 2–0–0 1–0–0 1–0–0
Bill Mehlhorn 1 1–1–0 1–0–0 0–1–0
Gene Sarazen 1.5 1–0–1 0–0–1 1–0–0
Joe Turnesa 1 1–1–0 0–1–0 1–0–0
Al Watrous 2 2–0–0 1–0–0 1–0–0

Al Espinosa did not play in any matches.

Great Britain

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Player Points Overall Singles Foursomes
Aubrey Boomer 1 1–1–0 0–1–0 1–0–0
Archie Compston 0 0–2–0 0–1–0 0–1–0
George Duncan 1 1–1–0 1–0–0 0–1–0
Arthur Havers 0 0–2–0 0–1–0 0–1–0
Herbert Jolly 0 0–2–0 0–1–0 0–1–0
Ted Ray 0 0–2–0 0–1–0 0–1–0
Fred Robson 0 0–2–0 0–1–0 0–1–0
Charles Whitcombe 1.5 1–0–1 0–0–1 1–0–0

George Gadd did not play in any matches.

References

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  1. ^ a b "2016 Ryder Cup Media Guide" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 27, 2015. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  2. ^ "A Professional Selection Committee". The Times, Wednesday, March 2, 1927; pg. 8; Issue 44519; col B.
  3. ^ "British Professional Team". The Times, March 4, 1927; pg. 16; Issue 44521; col E.
  4. ^ "British Professional Team". The Times, March 16, 1927; pg. 6; Issue 44531; col D.
  5. ^ "British Ryder Cup Team". The Times, May 21, 1927; pg. 5; Issue 44587; col G.
  6. ^ "The British Team for America". The Times, May 23, 1927; pg. 7; Issue 44588; col A.
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42°19′23″N 71°46′52″W / 42.323°N 71.781°W / 42.323; -71.781