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| | | | 1937 Southport & Ainsdale Country Club, Southport, England | | | |
| Captains: Ben Hogan (US), Henry Cotton (GB) | USA 8 GB 4 | | | 
1937 Great Britain Team | |
The first victory by a U.S. Ryder Cup Team on British soil was achieved by
a balanced unit featuring rookies Sam Snead, runner-up in that year's U.S.
Open, Byron Nelson and Ed Dudley. Walter Hagen served an non-playing
captain for the first time while his team faced the most unpleasant
weather yet in the series. The U.S. built a 2-1-1 lead after the first-day
foursomes and headed into the second day that featured eight singles
matches contested in pouring rain through most of the competition. Midway
through the final day, Henry Cotton managed a 5 and 3 victory over Tony
Manero. That produced a 4-4 tie that gave the British momentary hope. The
singles matches, contested over 36 holes, however, featured an
"intermission." By lunch, the Americans had the advantage in three of the
last four singles and Percy Alliss retained the final bid for the British
with a 1-up lead over Gene Sarazen after 18 holes. Alliss gradually built
his lead to three holes before Sarazen rallied and squared the match after
14 holes. At the par-3 15th, Alliss' tee shot found the green. Sarazen hit
an errant tee shot that bounced back off a spectator and on to the green.
Sarazen didn't miss a cue and holed his putt for a birdie and held on for
a 1-up victory. The Americans went on to win the final three matches,
highlighted by Sam Snead's 5 and 4 victory over Richard Burton. The Ryder
Cup Matches were to be resumed in November 1939 at Ponte Vedra (Fla.)
Country Club, but the dark clouds of war were breaking rapidly across
Europe. The competition wouldn't be renewed for another decade. |
| | | | Great Britain | United States | | | Foursomes | | | | | | | | | A H Padgham & T H Cotton (4 & 2) | 0 | E Dudley & B Nelson | 1 | | A J Lacey & W J Cox | 0 | R Guldahl & T Manero (2 & 1) | 1 | | C A Whitcombe & D J Rees (halved) | ½ | G Sarazen & D Shute (halved) | ½ | | P Alliss & R Burton (2 & 1) | 1 | H Picard & J Revolta | 0 | | Singles | | | | | | | | | A H Padgham | 0 | R Guldahl (8 & 7) | 1 | | S L King (halved) | ½ | D Shute (halved) | ½ | | D J Rees (3 & 1) | 1 | B Nelson | 0 | | T H Cotton (5 & 3) | 1 | T Manero | 0 | | P Alliss | 0 | G Sarazen (1 hole) | 1 | | R Burton | 0 | S Snead (5 & 4) | 1 | | A Perry | 0 | E Dudley (2 & 1) | 1 | | A J Lacey | 0 | H Picard (2 & 1) | 1 | | | USA 8GB 4 | | | |
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