Top 5 European Ryder Cup Partnerships of all time

Post by Senior Golfshake Writer Adam Smith

When looking back to when Europe first formed a continental team back in 1979 at The Greenbrier I’m sure it would have been hard to believe the Ryder Cup would go on to be what it is today. Thanks to some household names who have produced moments of magic and given us tears of joy every two years, golf fans from two continents divide and go head to head in the spirit of the game.

The names of past and present have formed unbreakable partnerships over the years and I’m here to bring you my top five all-time European partnerships. It was a tough job, there’s no room in my list for Greame McDowell and Rory McIlroy who just haven’t won enough points (yet), Justin Rose and Ian Poulter have won four points from a possible five together and have the potential to join the list but there’s other partnerships ahead of them right now. Also missing out are two other team mates in this year’s event in Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood who could team up at Gleneagles thanks to their record of five points from a possible seven in past pairings,  but even that still doesn’t cut it…..So what partnerships do make the list?

5. Luke Donald and Sergio Garcia – Five points from a possible six

(Ryder Cups - 2004, 2006 & 2012)

Donald was so close to being re-united with his friend on this year’s team, and in the past their close friendship off the course was transferred on to it as these two were unbeaten in their first two Ryder Cups playing together in the more difficult foursomes format. In his cup debut in 2004, Donald was paired with Garcia in the Friday afternoon match at Oakland Hills beating Kenny Perry and Stewart Cink 2&1.

They would stay unbeaten through the 2006 event at the K-Club but it wouldn’t be until Medinah in 2012 that the pair would be re-united, with Donald missing in 2008 due to injury and Garcia not making the team in 2010. Their make-up was short lived as they lost their first ever foursomes match in eight years to Keegan Bradley and Phil Mickelson. They would however make-up for that in their only fourball outing beating Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker 1up.

Their foursomes record speaks for itself which is why they make the list at number five ahead of some of the pairings I’ve mentioned above.

4. Bernhard Langer and Colin Montgomerie – Five and a half points from a possible seven

(Ryder Cups 1991, 1993, 1995, 1997 & 2002)

Two stalwarts of the European game were first partnered at the ‘War on the shore’ at Kiawah Island in 1991 by Bernhard Gallacher. What is one of the most famous and formidable duels between the two sides it was all heating up nicely when Langer and Monty were part of what was nearly a final afternoon fourball whitewash, winning their match 2&1 against Corey Pavin and Steve Pate.

Remarkably they would have to wait six years to be partnered together again this time in Seve’s back garden of Valderamma. In 1993 Langer was partnered mostly with Ian Woosnam while Monty formed a good pairing with Nick Faldo which also failed to make my list despite carrying on in 1995.

However in 1997, two points from a possible three together was worth waiting for (the point they missed out on was Tiger Woods’ first foray into Ryder Cup golf alongside Mark O’Meara). Langer failed to make the 1999 team but their successful pairing once again came to fruition in 2002 at The Belfry as they won two-and-a-half points from three, the highlight being the 4&3 destruction of Scott Hoch and Jim Furyk in the first match of the opening morning.

The cool, calmness of Langer complemented Monty’s animal instinct when he donned the Ryder Cup jersey so well and their longevity and impact on the cup for over a decade is why they make number four.

3. Darren Clarke and Lee Westwood – Six points from a possible eight

(Ryder Cups 1997, 1999, 2002, 2004 & 2006)

The larger than life pair of Clarke and Westwood are firm friends off the course as well as on it, sharing many a joke during the heat and pressure of the battle. Although they both made their debuts in 1997 it would be two years later at the famed ‘Battle of Brookline’ that we would see the sprinklings of something special.

They were paired together for all four sessions that year winning two; the Friday afternoon fourball against Woods and David Duval (1up) and the Saturday morning foursomes against Furyk and O’Meara (3&2).

Like Seve before him 2002 captain Sam Torrance decided against pairing them at The Belfry, it was only when Langer took the reins in 2004 that we saw how destructive this pairing could be together winning both of their foursomes matches including the 5&4 procession of Jay Haas and Chris DiMarco in the opening match of the last session on the Saturday, which lit the blue touch paper on what would be a record 18 ½ - 9 ½ win for Europe come Sunday evening.

The undefeated run would continue two years later when Westwood would accompany an emotional Clarke to two wins in two fourball matches after both being captains picks by Ian Woosnam, they would also both go on to win their singles matches with Westwood providing four points from a possible five during the event and Clarke three from three to a score that would equal that of two years previous.

Winning six points from a possible eight is an incredible achievement and you wonder how many more they would have won if they had played together in 97’ and 02’. That being said they make number three on my list.

2. Nick Faldo and Ian Woosnam – Six points from a possible eight

(Ryder Cups – 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993 & 1995)

The most successful Ryder Cup player ever, Faldo makes the list at number two alongside Woosnam in what could be seen as an odd pairing. However in the late 1980’s when both men were at the peak of their powers they were unbeatable together and that’s just not metaphoric speak, they went seven matches unbeaten from first being paired together in 1987 at Muirfield Village to the final session at the Belfry two years later when at the eighth attempt an American pairing took a point off them thanks to Paul Azinger and Chip Beck’s 2&1 victory. Back in 87’ they were unbeaten paired together winning three-and-a half points from a possible four including a 5&4 victory in the final fourball against Curtis Strange and Tom Kite.
Another two-and-a-half points were delivered in 1989 before that first loss and they were once again favoured together in 1991 but lost both matches on the opening day thus ending their partnership. They would go on to be on the same team in 1993 and 1995 but not paired together. Woosnam would be unbeaten again in 1993 alongside Langer winning two points from two with the German.

They’re in at number two on my list down to their impact in 1987 remaining unbeaten together helping Europe win the cup for the first time on American soil and setting the bench mark for years to come.

1. Seve Ballesteros and José Maria Olazábal – 12 points from a possible 15

(Ryder Cups 1987, 1989, 1991 & 1993)

At no surprise, at the top of mine and probably everybody’s list is the dynamic duo from Spain. Seve and Ollie’s partnership was a match made in heaven. Seve; a heart as big as a lion would look anybody in the eye and say ‘I’m going to beat you’, along with producing moments of magic back in his day he was without doubt the most exciting player in the world capable of doing the unthinkable.

Put that alongside his young fierce compatriot and Europe had a partnership that would reign over the USA for years. Olazábal was one of the finest ball strikers anyone had ever seen and during their foursomes matches his laser like iron shots were more often than not put away by Seve by waving his magic wand that us mere mortals call a putter.

The famous Olazábal dance on the 18th green at Murifield Village in 87’ was his debut and Seve had taken him under his wing winning three points from a possible four, losing only to Hal Sutton and Larry Mize. It would not be until 1993 that they would taste defeat again, this time to Kite and Davis Love III.

Defending the trophy for the first time in Europe in 89’, Tony Jacklin needed his Matadors to stand tall and they certainly did winning three-and-a-half points together including a 6&5 fourball win over Tom Watson and O’Meara.

For all of Seve’s artistry it was often said that Olazábal’s calming influence helped them during the heat of the battle at Kiawah Island. The feud that Seve had with Azinger that week did not stop them recording two wins in one day against the American. They remained unbeaten together for the second successive Ryder Cup as they swept aside Fred Couples and Raymond Floyd in the morning foursomes only to be denied a clean sweep by Couples during the afternoon fourballs as he seemed to hole out from everywhere, Olazábal eventual holing out for a half on the 18th.

Their last playing Ryder Cup together was back at The Belfry in 1993. After avenging the morning defeat to Kite and Love III with a 4&3 victory over the same pair in the afternoon fourballs, Seve and Ollie’s last ever match together was fittingly a 2&1 foursomes victory over the same pair. Ballesteros was controversially left out of the afternoon fourballs with Olazabal partnered by Swede Joakim Haeggman, they lost 2&1.

They lined up numbers eight and nine for the Sunday singles with Ollie following and backing up his partner and friend like always, both unfortunately lost and USA would go on to deny a fitting send off for Europe’s most successful partnership.
Of course both would go to be victorious Ryder Cup captains, Ollie would provide Seve with two-and-a-half points to win the cup for the first time on European soil in 1997 and as we know in 2012 the ‘Miracle at Medinah’ was complete with Seve being right where he always was, wearing his heart of his sleeve next to his friend when he needed him the most.
Unmistakably and undoubtedly Europe’s best ever partnership.

Have we missed any? Are these in the right order? Please comment below, we would love to know your opinion.