Classic Ryder Cup moments, No 8: First Blood: 1927

THE first official Ryder Cup was held at Worcester Country Club, Massachussets and required a six-day Atlantic voyage by the Great Britain & Ireland team.

But team captain Abe Mitchell took ill with appendicitis and Ted Ray took over his duties. Mitchell is the figure depicted on top of the Ryder Cup, donated by St Albans seed merchant Samuel Ryder who, a year earlier, had seen Britons and Americans avoiding each other at a pre-Open qualifying event at Wentworth. To encourage friendly rivalry, he set up a contest, with a £5 prize fund and a champagne and chicken sandwich post-match buffet.The Brits won by 13½-1½. Scot George Duncan suggested an annual tournament and in 1927 the Americans took revenge in the inaugural event, winning 9½-2½. Duncan was the visitors’ only winner in the singles. Ray commented: “One of the chief reasons for our failure was the Americans’ superior putting.”