1937 Ryder Cup Winner, Match Scores and Player Records
The 1937 Ryder Cup was the sixth time this tournament, between teams representing Great Britain and the United States, was played. Following Team USA's victory, the overall standings were four wins for the USA, two wins for Team GB.
Final Score: United States 8, Great Britain 4
Dates Played: June 29-30, 1937
Golf Course: Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club in Southport, England
Team Captains: Walter Hagen for the United States, Charles Whitcombe for Great Britain
Team Rosters:
- USA — Ed Dudley, Ralph Guldahl, Tony Manero, Byron Nelson, Henry Picard, Johnny Revolta, Gene Sarazen, Denny Shute, Horton Smith, Sam Snead
- Great Britain — Percy Alliss, Dick Burton, Henry Cotton, Bill Cox, Sam King, Arthur Lacey, Alf Padgham, Alf Perry, Dai Rees, Charles Whitcombe (playing captain)
The Americans' win was the first victory by the visiting team in a Ryder Cup, which means this was the occasion of the first loss by the home team. This was the last Ryder Cup played until 1947 due to World War II.
The USA led 2.5 to 1.5 after Day 1's foursomes. The Day 2 singles matches were played almost entirely in pouring rain. When Henry Cotton beat Tony Manero, it tied the score at 4- 4.
But Team USA won the final four matches. A a key moment happened in the Percy Alliss-Gene Sarazen game, which Alliss had led most of the match until Sarazen squared it on the 32nd hole. On the 33rd, Sarazen played a poor approach shot that headed into the spectators — but it bounced off a fan and onto the green. He then sank the birdie putt to win the hole and take the lead.
This year marked the Ryder Cup debuts for Byron Nelson, Sam Snead and Dai Rees. Nelson played in only two Ryder Cups, while Snead played in seven and Rees played in nine. Rees' final appearance wasn't until the 1961 Ryder Cup, a gap of 24 years. That's the outright record for Great Britain/GB&I/Europe for longest gap between first and last playing appearances, and Rees shares that overall record with Raymond Floyd.
1937 Ryder Cup Results
Day 1
Foursomes- Ed Dudley/Byron Nelson, USA, def. Alf Padgham/Henry Cotton, Great Britain, 4 and 2
- Ralph Guldahl/Tony Manero, USA, def. Arthur Lacey/Bill Cox, Great Britain, 2 and 1
- Charles Whitcombe/Dai Rees, Great Britain, halved with Gene Sarazen/Denny Shute, USA
- Percy Alliss/Dick Burton, Great Britain, def. Henry Picard/Johnny Revolta, USA, 2 and 1
Day 2
Singles- Ralph Guldahl, USA, def. Alf Padgham, Great Britain, 8 and 7
- Sam King, Great Britain, halved with Denny Shute, USA
- Dai Rees, Great Britain, def. Byron Nelson, USA, 3 and 1
- Henry Cotton, Great Britain, def. Tony Manero, USA, 5 and 3
- Gene Sarazen, USA, def. Percy Alliss, Great Britain, 1-up
- Sam Snead, USA, def. Dick Burton, Great Britain, 5 and 4
- Ed Dudley, USA, def. Alf Perry, Great Britain, 2 and 1
- Henry Picard, USA, def. Arthur Lacey, Great Britain, 2 and 1
Overall and final score: USA 8, Great Britain 4
1937 Ryder Cup Player Records
(Records are listed as wins-losses-halves.)
United States
Ed Dudley, 2-0-0
Ralph Guldahl, 2-0-0
Tony Manero, 1-1-0
Byron Nelson, 1-1-0
Henry Picard, 1-1-0
Johnny Revolta, 0-1-0
Gene Sarazen, 1-0-1
Denny Shute, 0-0-2
Horton Smith, did not play
Sam Snead, 1-0-0
Great Britain
Percy Alliss, 1-1-0
Dick Burton, 1-1-0
Henry Cotton, 1-1-0
Bill Cox, 0-1-0
Sam King, 0-0-1
Arthur Lacey, 0-2-0
Alf Padgham, 0-2-0
Alf Perry, 0-1-0
Dai Rees, 1-0-1
Charles Whitcombe, 0-0-1
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1935 Ryder Cup | 1947 Ryder Cup
