Winning an overseas Ryder Cup stands as a truly monumental accomplishments in professional golf, as noted professional golfer Rory McIlroy. Neither squad has a impressive record on foreign soil. After Europe joined the event in 1979, the American team has secured just twice overseas, with their most recent win on foreign soil coming back in 1993. The European team’s only triumph on US territory in the recent decades came at Medinah, a win that depended on nothing short of a miracle.
Prelude to the Event: Gallacher’s Side Facing Adversity
Of Europe’s 4 road triumphs – secured in 1995, 1987, 2012 and 2004 – their surprise win at Oak Hill 30 years ago is a personal favourite for fans. Conditions were hardly ideal for skipper Bernard Gallacher’s squad as they travelled to Oak Hill in 1995: Gallacher was stung after previous failures; some expressed gripes about his squad choices; a key golfer was unavailable due to injury; and a few others were struggling.
Tight losses in 1991 and 1993 had hurt Gallacher, who quit from the role of captain and was only convinced to reconsider after a written appeal from veteran Bernhard Langer, a talk with Seve Ballesteros and a open request from Nick Faldo. My mind was changed for the best motives,” he commented. “The bottom line, the team is confident that we can win.”
Leadership Choices: Tough Picks
Gallacher first had to select his team and, with only two discretionary choices, he faced the challenging duty of excluding two from Nick Faldo, José María Olazábal, Ian Woosnam and Jesper Parnevik. “He’s stuck,” Woosnam remarked. “But he’ll get no support from me. He wanted this approach and we could end up without all our best players.”
The captain noted that the team members were responsible. “All participants was aware from 1993 exactly how to earn a spot on the team,” he commented before selecting Faldo and Olazábal. But Ian Woosnam qualified eventually, stepping in for Olazábal after he withdrew with a foot issue. Without the Spanish golfer was a major setback, but Ian Woosnam had earned several points at the previous Ryder Cup and had been a finalist at Oak Hill in the 1989 US Open.
Team USA was talented but had an area of concern. A squad featuring five first-timers – Mickelson, Lehman, Faxon, Roberts and Maggert – was worrisome, influencing captain Lanny Wadkins to select the veteran pair of Strange and Couples. There would be no place for Open winner John Daly as the layout was not considered ideal for his approach. Wadkins’ selection to pick Strange over the Players champ Lee Janzen was a unexpected move at the time and proved regrettable by the final day of the competition.
Day One Play: The Americans Take a Early Advantage
Reports that Ballesteros would be rested for the alternate shot round made headlines, but there was no possibility Gallacher could use the Spanish star in the foursomes format due to his struggles. The task of taking the pressure-filled first tee shot would fall on Colin Montgomerie’s shoulders, but his normally steady duo with Faldo did not perform. Trailing by four after the opening stretch, the duo tried to drag themselves back into their contest against Lehman and Pavin, but two poor shots from Faldo on the 18th gave the point to the Americans.
Clark and James were off form in a one-sided match to Maggert and Love, but the unexpected partnership of Torrance and Rocca put Team Europe’s first point on the board. Attention shifted to the final foursomes match. Johansson and Langer were coasting at three ahead with six to play. But Ben Crenshaw and Curtis Strange rallied, leaving Bernhard Langer with a short putt on the last to win the match. Luckily for the visitors, there would be no repeat of the 1991 disappointment; Langer’s key stroke brought Europe even: 2-2 after the first session.
Day Two Drama: The Visitors Mount a Comeback
Trailing 5-3 overnight, Europe had to deliver a strong performance in the morning foursomes and they successfully performed. Faldo and Montgomerie secured their initial victory; Langer teamed up with Gilford to defeat Pavin and Lehman; and Torrance and Rocca routed Love and Maggert by a large margin. “He’s the rock of Italy,” Torrance said of his teammate, whose ace at the 6th hole was part of a ideal session for Europe. The lone setback came when Woosnam and Philip Walton lost to Roberts alongside Jacobsen. But, with the team tally at 6-6, European fans were overjoyed.
However, the afternoon fourballs did not go according to plan, with Europe dropping down by one before the decisive last match. As they came to the 18th hole, Langer and Faldo were tied with Pavin and Roberts. Loren Roberts made a par, ensuring the US would at least halve the hole. They could go one better if Pavin sank the shot from just off the green. Inevitably he pulled it off, his ball overcoming all expectations to reach the hole. The pressure shifted to {Faldo|Nick
