Who Won the Most Ryder Cup Singles Matches?

Which golfer holds the record for most wins in singles matches at the Ryder Cup? The all-time Ryder Cup record for most wins in singles matches is six, and that record is shared by the seven golfers listed below.

The players who share the record are listed in order of their winning percentages. On that basis, Colin Montomerie goes first. Had we listed the players in chronological order, Sam Snead would have gone first — he was the first Ryder Cup golfer to reach six singles wins.

The Golfers Who Share the Record: Most Ryder Cup Singles Wins

The numbers next to each golfer's name represent his overall singles record (wins-losses-halves). Also noted for each are the opponents he didn't beat.

Colin Montgomerie, 6-0-2

In eight Ryder Cup appearances from 1991 through 2006, Montgomerie went undefeated in singles. His victories:

1993: def. Lee Janzen, 1-up
1995: def. Ben Crenshaw, 3 and 1
1999: def. Payne Stewart, 1-up
2002: def. Scott Hoch, 5 and 4
2004: def. David Toms, 1-up
2006: def. David Toms, 1-up

The only times Monty failed to win his singles matches were halves vs. Mark Calcavecchia in 1991 and vs. Scott Hoch in 1997. (In the Hoch match, Montgomerie conceded a 15-foot putt to Hoch, resulting in the draw, after Europe had already clinched the victory.)

Sam Snead, 6-1-0

Snead won six of the seven singles matches he played in Ryder Cups from 1937 through 1959:

1937: def. Dick Burton, 5 and 4
1947: def. Henry Cotton, 5 and 4
1949: def. Charlie Ward, 6 and 5
1951: def. Max Faulkner, 4 and 3
1955: def. Dai Rees, 3 and 1
1959: def. Dave Thomas, 6 and 5

Snead's only singles loss was to Harry Weetman in 1953.

Peter Oosterhuis, 6-2-1

Peter Oosterhuis played nine singles matches from 1971 through 1981 (in some of those years the Ryder Cup included two singles sessions).

1971: def. Gene Littler, 4 and 3
1971: def. Arnold Palmer, 3 and 2
1973: def. Arnold Palmer, 4 and 2
1975: def. Johnny Miller, 2-up
1975: def. J.C. Snead, 3 and 2
1977: def. Jerry McGee, 2-up

Oosterhuis' two losses were to Hubert Green and Raymond Floyd.

Billy Casper, 6-2-2

Casper's six singles wins came in 10 matches played, from 1961 through 1975:

1961: def. Ken Bousfield, 5 and 3
1967: def. Peter Alliss, 2 and 1
1969: def. Brian Barnes, 1-up
1973: def. Brian Barnes, 2 and 1
1973: def. Tony Jacklin, 2 and 1
1975: def. Eamonn Darcy, 3 and 2

His losses were to Alliss and Neil Coles.

Lee Trevino, 6-2-2

Trevino played 10 singles matches in Ryder Cups from 1969 through 1981. His victories:

1969: def. Peter Alliss, 2 and 1
1971: def. Tony Jacklin, 1-up
1971: def. Brian Huggett, 7 and 6
1973: def. Neil Coles, 6 and 5
1979: def. Sandy Lyle, 2 and 1
1981: def. def. Sam Torrance, 5 and 3

His losses were to Bernard Gallacher and Norman Wood.

Arnold Palmer, 6-3-2

Arnie played 11 singles matches from 1961 through 1973:

1961: Tom Haliburton, 2 and 1
1963: George Will, 3 and 2
1965: Jimmy Hitchcock, 3 and 2
1965: Peter Butler, 2-up
1967: Tony Jacklin, 3 and 2
1967: Brian Huggett, 5 and 3

Palmer's singles losses were to Peter Alliss and, twice, to Peter Oosterhuis.

Nick Faldo, 6-4-1

Faldo played 11 singles matches from 1977 through 1997, winning the first four but only two of the remaining seven:

1977: def. Tom Watson, 1-up
1979: def. Lee Elder, 3 and 2
1981: def. Johnny Miller, 2 and 1
1983: def. Jay Haas, 2 and 1
1991: def. Raymond Floyd, 2-up
1995: def. Curtis Strange, 1-up

He lost to Hubert Green, Mark Calcavecchia, Lanny Wadkins and Jim Furyk.

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