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Securing an road Ryder Cup stands as one of the biggest accomplishments in golf, according to Rory McIlroy. No team has a strong performance abroad. From the time Europe joined the tournament in 1979, the US squad has secured just two wins overseas, with their last away victory occurring during 1993. The European team’s sole win on US territory in the past twenty years was achieved at Medinah, a win that required nothing short of a stunning turnaround.

Prelude to the Event: A Team Confronting Obstacles

Of Europe’s four total victories on US soil – earned in 2004, 1987, 2012 and 1995 – their stunning win at Oak Hill back in 1995 stands as a highlight for fans. The situation was not positive for captain Bernard Gallacher’s team as they travelled to Oak Hill in 1995: the captain was hurt after back-to-back losses; some expressed complaints about his squad choices; a top performer was unavailable due to a foot problem; and several members were out of form.

Close losses in 1991 and 1993 had demoralized Gallacher, who stepped down from the position of skipper and was persuaded to reconsider because of a written appeal from veteran Bernhard Langer, a talk with the great Seve Ballesteros and a public plea from Nick Faldo. I was convinced for good cause,” he stated. “The bottom line, the team is confident that we can win.”

Leadership Choices: Critical Choices

The captain initially had to select his line-up and, with only two discretionary choices, he faced the challenging duty of omitting several among Faldo, Olazábal, Woosnam and Parnevik. “He’s stuck,” Woosnam remarked. “But he’ll get no support from me. He wanted this system and it might result in missing all our best players.”

The captain noted that the golfers needed to perform better. “Everyone has known since 1993 exactly how to qualify for the squad,” he commented before selecting Faldo and Olazábal. But Ian Woosnam made it in the end, taking the spot of Olazábal after he withdrew with a foot issue. Losing the Spanish golfer was a major setback, but Ian Woosnam had earned several points at the previous Ryder Cup and had been second place at Oak Hill in the 1989 US Open.

Team USA was talented but had a potential flaw. A line-up featuring five first-timers – Mickelson, Lehman, Faxon, Roberts and Maggert – was a concern, influencing captain Wadkins to choose the experienced duo of Fred Couples and Curtis Strange. There would be no place for major winner John Daly as the course was not thought to suit his style of play. Wadkins’ selection to pick Curtis Strange over the TPC winner Lee Janzen was a shock at the time and proved questionable come the Sunday night of the event.

Day One Play: USA Build a 5-3 Lead

Reports that Seve Ballesteros would be rested for the early session was notable, but there was simply no way the captain could use the Ballesteros in the team format due to his recent performances. The task of taking the pressure-filled opening drive would fall on Colin Montgomerie’s hands, but his usually solid partnership with Faldo was off form. Trailing by four after the first five, the duo tried to recover into their match against Tom Lehman and Corey Pavin, but errors from Faldo on the 18th handed the win to the Americans.

James and Clark struggled in a 4&3 defeat to Jeff Maggert and Davis Love III, but the unexpected partnership of Torrance and Rocca put Europe’s opening win on the board. All eyes turned to the last morning game. Langer and Johansson were in control at three ahead with six holes remaining. But Ben Crenshaw and Curtis Strange mounted a comeback, leaving Langer with a six-foot putt on the 18th to secure the point. Fortunately for Europe, there would be no repeat of past heartbreak; Langer’s crucial shot pulled Europe tied: 2-2 after the opening round.

Mid-Tournament Action: The Visitors Fight Back

Behind 5-3 following Friday, Europe needed a big response in the second day’s early session and they promptly performed. Montgomerie and Faldo secured their maiden point; Langer teamed up with Gilford to defeat Lehman alongside Pavin; and Torrance and Rocca crushed Maggert and Love 6 and 5. “He’s the rock of Italian golf,” Torrance said of his playing companion, whose perfect shot at the sixth was part of a flawless start for Europe. The sole loss came when Walton and Woosnam lost to Roberts alongside Jacobsen. But, with the team tally at 6-6, European fans were overjoyed.

But, the afternoon fourballs did not go according to plan, with Europe dropping 8-7 behind before the pivotal last match. As they reached the final green, Langer and Faldo were all square with Pavin alongside Roberts. Roberts made a bogey-free finish, ensuring the US would at least split the point. They could go one better if Pavin sank the shot from just off the green. As fate would have it he pulled it off, his ball overcoming all expectations to find the cup. All eyes turned to {Faldo|Nick