The 5 Best European Ryder Cup Captains in History
The Greatest European Ryder Cup Captains in History
Many incredible captains have led Europe to Ryder Cup victory throughout the years.
But who are the best European Ryder Cup captains in history? Read on to find out!
One of the greatest European Ryder Cup captains in history, Jose Maria Olazabal
The 2023 Ryder Cup is nearly upon us and Europe will be hoping to avenge their record-breaking 19-9 defeat to the USA at Whistling Straits two years ago.
Marco Simone Golf and Country Club will host the event – the first time the Ryder Cup will take place in Italy – and with a 30-year unbeaten record at home, Europe will be hoping this wonderful streak will continue onto 2027.
Luke Donald is the man in charge of the 12-strong European side. With Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm and Viktor Hovland all in excellent form, alongside a supporting cast that includes Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose and new sensation Ludvig Aberg, Donald will be expecting success.
The Englishman will be aiming to follow in the footsteps of European captains of the past by joining an elite group of golfers who have captained the continent to Ryder Cup glory.
With this in mind, let’s take a look at the 5 best European captains of all-time!
1. Tony Jacklin
Two-time major winner
In 1985, Jacklin led his side to their first Ryder Cup victory since 1957
In 1987, Europe won the Ryder Cup 15-13
Team Europe wouldn’t have enjoyed such great success across the previous 30 years had it not been for Jacklin. The two-time major winner played in the event seven times, yet aside from a tie in 1969, he was part of the losing side each time.
Taking up the captaincy in 1983, he proved that Europe could compete with the USA as they suffered an agonising 14.5-13.5 defeat, yet the good times were just around the corner.
In 1985, Jacklin led his side to their first Ryder Cup victory since 1957 as they defeated the Americans 16.5 to 11.5, strolling through the Sunday singles as Sam Torrance sank the winning putt to claim a momentous win.
But Jacklin wasn’t finished there!
Victory on home soil was great, but his legacy would be defined by winning on the other side of the pond for the first time.
1987 saw the curse broken as Europe won 15-13, with Seve Ballesteros - one of the best short game golfers ever - securing a vital win over Curtis Strange to move Europe to a magical total of 14.5 points.
Although Jacklin couldn’t end his captaincy with a win on home soil in 1989 at the Belfry, his record of two wins, a tie and a loss is extraordinary - and it formed the bedrock that has seen Europe lose just six times in 34 years.
2. Seve Ballesteros
He played in all but one Ryder Cup since his debut in 1979
Five-time major winner
He led Europe to a first home victory since 1985
The majestic Spaniard had been a stalwart of the event as a player, featuring in all but one Ryder Cup since his debut in 1979.
Following Bernard Gallacher’s final time captaining the side at Oak Hill in 1995, Ballesteros was given the chance to lead Europe to a first home victory since 1985.
Valderrama hosted the event – the first time the Ryder Cup was staged in continental Europe – and all the signs pointed towards a home Ryder Cup victory for Europe to give the five-time major winner a perfect send-off in the biennial competition.
The opening two days saw Europe surge into a seemingly insurmountable 10.5-5.5 lead heading into the Sunday singles.
Europe won just three of the first eight matches on the final day as the USA did their best to seal an impossible victory.
With the final tie between Colin Montgomerie and Scott Hoch key to deciding whether it would be a tie or outright win for Europe, the American conceded a par putt at the last to ensure Seve reigned in his homeland.
3. Bernhard Langer
He missed only one Ryder Cup event between 1981 and 2002
He played in the winning side five times
He led the highest-ever winning margin for Europe (18.5-9.5)
Sam Torrance got Europe back to winning ways in 2002 following a chastising defeat at Brookline three years prior, and it was the catalyst for Europe to kickstart their own era of dominance akin to the one the USA had forged in the 1960s and 70s.
Langer was the man to lead the charge, and the quiet German had plenty of Ryder Cup pedigree to call upon, playing in the winning side five times and missing just one event between 1981 and 2002.
Although the USA had Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson to call upon, captain Hal Sutton decided to pair them together during the first day. This was a terrible decision, as they suffered defeats in both of their matches on Friday and were never again seen as a pairing.
Europe took full control of the event by winning 6.5 of the opening eight points on day one.
Heading into the final day, Langer’s men were 11-5 ahead and just a third-ever away victory looked certain. The winning putt was holed by veteran Montgomerie, who defeated David Toms on the final green.
The 18.5-9.5 win was the highest-ever winning margin for Europe and the biggest margin in the event since the USA won the 1981 edition by the same scoreline.
The two-time Masters champion goes down as one of the finest captains in recent memory.
4. Jose Maria Olazabal
He led the first Ryder Cup since the passing of Seve Ballesteros
Europe’s 2012 Ryder Cup victory became known as the ‘Miracle of Medinah’
Europe enjoyed a great comeback victory at Medinah in 2012
Ian Woosnam and to an extent, Montgomeria, won in far more comfortable scenarios, but Olazabal masterminded the incredible ‘Miracle of Medinah’ in 2012.
This was the first Ryder Cup following the passing of Ballesteros in 2011 and the whole European team, especially Olazabal, who was a close friend, sought to embody the spirit of Seve in order to help them prevail during a stunning singles comeback.
They trailed 10-6 before the start of play on Sunday, but game after game went Europe’s way and they soon found themselves on the cusp of glory.
Martin Kaymer held his nerve to roll in a six-foot putt to fend off one of the best USA Ryder Cup captains in history, Steve Stricker, and ensure Europe retained the trophy.
With Tiger Woods and Francesco Molinari halving their match, it gave the away side the half point they required to claim an outright win and in turn, recover from a record four-point deficit.
Olazabal paid tribute to his dear friend amid emotional scenes following the victory and it remains a Ryder Cup that will go down in the annals of history.
5. Thomas Bjorn
He played in three Ryder Cup events
He chose Fleetwood, Tyrell, Hatton and Rahm as a new generation of European stars
This Ryder Cup ended in a final score of 17.5-10.5
The Dane played in three Ryder Cups, winning in 1997, 2002 and 2014, and he was chosen as captain for the 2018 edition, held in France.
Europe were still smarting after suffering their first defeat in eight years in 2016 as Darren Clarke’s side were humbled at Hazeltine, yet there were a few new names looking to make their mark in 2018.
Alongside stalwarts such as Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia, Bjorn could now call upon Fleetwood, Tyrrell Hatton and Rahm as the next generation of European stars.
Despite losing the opening session 3-1, Bjorn rallied his troops and they inflicted a 4-0 whitewash on the Americans in the afternoon foursomes. This bred confidence heading into the next two days.
Indeed, Europe raced into a 10-6 lead before Sunday and, although this deficit had been clawed back on two previous occasions, most notably in Medinah six years previously, this team didn’t look in any danger of relinquishing such a lead.
Only four Americans won their singles matches and Molinari became the first ever European to win five out of five points by claiming a victory against Mickelson, who saw his tee shot head into the water on the 16th.
A final score of 17.5-10.5 represented an excellent triumph and a new breed of European superstars were forged during Bjorn’s leadership.
Have we missed anyone off our list? Tell us in the comments!
