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Full list of Ryder Cup captains for Team USA and Europe: Past, present and future

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Full list of Ryder Cup captains for Team USA and Europe: Past, present and future

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)
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