Golfers With Most Ryder Cups and Matches Played

Which golfer has played in the most Ryder Cups? And which golfer has played the most matches in his Ryder Cup appearances? Phil Mickelson holds one of those records and shares the other.

Mickelson has qualified for/been selected for more Ryder Cup teams than any other golfer — he played in 12 different Ryder Cups. In those 12 appearances, Mickelson played a total of 47 matches. It is the second record — most matches played — that Mickelson shares. Lee Westwood is the co-recordholder, also playing in 47 matches. (Westwood appeared in 11 Cups, one less than Mickelson.)

Following are the lists of golfers who played in the Ryder Cup most often, and those who played in the most total matches:

Most Ryder Cup Appearances as Player

12 Cups

• Phil Mickelson, USA, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018

11 Cups

• Nick Faldo, GB&I/Europe, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1997
• Lee Westwood, Europe, 1997, 1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2021

10 Cups

• Christy O'Connor Sr., GB&I, 1955, 1957, 1959, 1961, 1963, 1965, 1967, 1969, 1971, 1973
• Bernhard Langer, Europe, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1997, 2002
• Sergio Garcia, Europe, 1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2021

9 Cups

• Dai Rees, GB&I, 1937, 1947, 1949, 1951, 1953, 1955, 1957, 1959, 1961
• Jim Furyk, USA, 1997, 1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014

Mickelson was on the winning side in only three of his 12 playing appearances for Team USA. But that's still ahead of O'Connor who, playing 10 times for Great Britain & Ireland, was on the winning side just once.

Most Matches Played in the Ryder Cup

The maximum number of matches a golfer can play in a given Ryder Cup has fluctuated over the competition's history, from a low of two (which was the standard for many years) to a high of six. Currently, and going back many decades now, golfers can play a maximum of five matches in a given Ryder Cup: There are two sessions of foursomes matches, two of fourball matches, and one session of singles matches.

• 47 total matches — Phil Mickelson, USA, 18-22-7 record in those matches (wins-losses-ties)
• 47 — Lee Westwood, Europe, 21-20-6
• 46 — Nick Faldo, GB&I/Europe, 23-19-4
• 45 — Sergio Garcia, Europe, 25-13-7
• 42 — Bernhard Langer, Europe, 21-15-6
• 40 — Neil Coles, GB&I, 12-21-7

Mickelson is the only American golfer to reach 40 matches played in the Ryder Cup. The next-highest totals of Team USA golfers are the 37 matches played by both Tiger Woods and Billy Casper.

Of the six golfers listed, two of them, including the co-leader, have losing records in Ryder Cup matches, and a third (Westwood) is barely above .500. But Garcia, Langer and Faldo rate among the competition's most successful golfers, with Garcia holding the Ryder Cup records for most matches won and most points earned.

Related articles:

• How many holes-in-one have been made in the Ryder Cup?
• Youngest players ever in the Ryder Cup
• Golfers who lost the most Ryder Cup matches