Highlights of Ryder Cup history

LONDON, Sept 9 (Reuters) -- The Ryder Cup, contested every two years between Europe and the United States, is one of the most highly charged occasions in sport.

The U.S. lead the series by 24 victories to eight. Two of the matches -- at Royal Birkdale in 1969 and at The Belfry in 1989 -- were tied.

The contest's beginnings were humble. An eight-man British team journeyed by ocean liner to the United States for the first official match in 1927 without English professional Abe Mitchell, who was to be their captain.

He had appendicitis on the train to the boat. The United States won that first contest at Worcester Country Club in Worcester, Massachusetts, by 9-1/2 points to 2-1/2 but Britain levelled the series at home two years later.

The next two matches were also split before the Americans began a period of dominance that allowed them to build an overall Ryder Cup record of 17 wins, one draw and only three defeats going into the 1977 match at Royal Lytham in England.

Another trouncing at the hands of the U.S. -- by 12-1/2 points to 7-1/2 that year -- triggered a wave of calls for the competition to be scrapped because it had become too one-sided.

FAST-EMERGING PLAYERS

Cooler heads prevailed and the idea took root that the British team should be expanded to include the emerging players from continental Europe. American dominance continued, though, for the next two matches.

At The Greenbrier in West Virginia in 1979, the first European team were soundly beaten 17-11, despite having held the U.S. to a narrow advantage of 8-1/2 points to 7-1/2 going into the last-day singles.

At Walton Heath in England in 1981, Europe suffered even worse, being hammered 18-1/2 points to 9-1/2 by arguably the strongest U.S. side in Ryder Cup history.

The 1981 American line-up included Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino, Tom Watson, Johnny Miller, Larry Nelson, Hale Irwin and Raymond Floyd.

That year's European side did not include the-then double major champion Seve Ballesteros who was not selected following a dispute with European officials over appearance money.

The Spaniard returned in 1983 when Europe hinted at what was to come by chasing the Americans hard at PGA National in Florida before the holders edged home by a single point -- 14-1/2 to 13-1/2.

At The Belfry in 1985, the Europeans won their first Ryder Cup since 1957 by 16-1/2 to 11-1/2.

TURNING POINT

Although the U.S. led 3-1 after the opening series of foursomes, the turning point came on the second morning when American Craig Stadler missed a putt from just 18 inches on the final green of a fourball clash.

The match, between Stadler and Curtis Strange and Europeans Langer and Lyle, was halved and Europe thereafter took control.

Inspired by the partnership between Ballesteros and Spanish rookie Jose Maria Olazabal, Europe edged ahead 9-7 after two days of foursomes and fourball matches before overpowering their rivals 7-1/2 to 4-1/2 in the singles -- where the U.S. traditionally have been stronger.

Two years later at Muirfield Village in Columbus, Ohio, Europe won again -- by 15-13 -- to clinch their first Ryder Cup triumph on American soil.

The Europeans retained the trophy in 1989 with a 14-14 tie at The Belfry in the last of four matches under the captaincy of Englishman Tony Jacklin.

Under Scot Bernard Gallacher, the Europeans narrowly surrendered at Kiawah Island, South Carolina, in 1991 when Langer missed a six-foot putt on the final green against Hale Irwin that would have enabled Europe to retain the trophy with a second successive draw.

Instead, the Americans regained the cup by 14-1/2 points to 13-1/2 and managed to hold on to it when they won again at The Belfry -- by 15-13 -- in 1993.

The next three editions of the Ryder Cup were decided by no more than a point either way.

FIGHTING BACK

At Oak Hill in Rochester, New York in 1995, Europe triumphed by 14-1/2 points to 13-1/2 after fighting back to win seven of the 12 singles matches on the last day.

At Valderrama in Spain in 1997, Europe won by the same overall margin to retain the trophy.

The Europeans had stormed into a 10-1/2 points to 5-1/2 lead with one day to go after an impressive display by rookies Thomas Bjorn of Denmark, Britons Darren Clarke and Lee Westwood, Spaniard Ignacio Garrido and Swede Jesper Parnevik.

At Brookline's Country Club in Massachusetts in 1999, the U.S. produced an astonishing fightback in the last-day singles, winning eight of the 12 matches to regain the Ryder Cup by 14-1/2 points to 13-1/2.

That American win was marred by accusations of unsporting behaviour over the three days, culminating in a charge across the 17th green by U.S. players and their spouses shortly after Justin Leonard had holed an uphill birdie putt from 45 feet.

His opponent Olazabal was yet to complete the hole.

The 34th Ryder Cup was scheduled to be held at The Belfry in central England in 2001 but was postponed 12 months following the September 11 attacks on the United States, with the same 12-man teams and captains set to line up against each other.

Astutely captained by Sam Torrance, Europe clinched victory by 15-1/2 points to 12-1/2 in 2002, the experienced Montgomerie inspiring the home side with a haul of 4-1/2 points out of a possible five.

The teams had been deadlocked at 8-8 going into the final day but the Europeans dominated the singles matches for only the third time in the last 12 Ryder Cups.

Perhaps most significantly, though, rival captains Torrance and Curtis Strange were instrumental in setting an exemplary tone of sportsmanship and camaraderie for the week as the bitter memories of Brookline in 1999 were all but banished.

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