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| | | | 1961 Royal Lytham & St. Annes, St. Annes, England | | | |
| Captains: Jerry Barber (US), Dai Rees (GB) | USA 14 1/2 GB 9 1/2 | | | 
1961 Great Britain Team | |
This edition of the Ryder Cup Matches was the first to be played in two
sets of 18-hole foursomes and singles, which doubled the number of points
available from 12 to 24. The move was proposed by Lord Brabazon, then
president of the Professional Golfers Association of Great Britain in
March 1960. The PGA of America agreed to the format change, and in
September 1960 a tournament players' sub-committee further recommended the
Matches be extended to three days, with the extra day to include fourball
matches. Fourball competition was introduced in 1963. Meanwhile, the U.S.
Team turned in another consistent and strong performance to retain the
Ryder Cup. It was the debut of Arnold Palmer, who would go on to post 23
career points won in 32 matches. Palmer's presence and the strength of
such teammates as Mike Souchak, who each contributed 3 1/2 points, made up
for the absence of veteran Sam Snead, who was suspended from competition
for 45 days by The PGA for competing in a non-sanctioned Tour event, the
Portland Open. Snead sought approval too late, bowed out of the second
round of the pro-am, and appealed at The PGA Annual Meeting after the
Ryder Cup Matches had been played. Snead's probation was reduced to 45
days, but he would not compete again in the Ryder Cup Matches and was
named non-playing Captain in 1969. Doug Ford replaced Snead on the U.S.
Team. |
| | | | Great Britain | United States | | | Foursomes: Morning | | | | | | | | | C O'Connor & P Alliss (4 & 3) | 1 | D Ford & G Littler | 0 | | J Panton & B J Hunt | 0 | A Wall & J Herbert (4 & 3) | 1 | | D J Rees & K Bousfield | 0 | W Casper & A Palmer (2 & 1) | 1 | | T B Haliburton & N C Coles | 0 | W Collins & M Souchak (1 hole) | 1 | | Foursomes: Afternoon | | | | | | | | | C O'Connor & P Alliss | 0 | A Wall & J Herbert (1 hole) | 1 | | J Panton & B J Hunt | 0 | W Casper & A Palmer (5 & 4) | 1 | | D J Rees & K Bousfield (2 & 1) | 1 | W Collins & M Souchak | 0 | | T B Haliburton & N C Coles | 0 | J Barber & D Finsterwald (1 hole) | 1 | | Singles: Morning | | | | | | | | | H Weetman | 0 | D Ford (1 hole) | 1 | | R L Moffitt | 0 | M Souchak (5 & 4) | 1 | | P Alliss (halved) | ½ | A Palmer (halved) | ½ | | K Bousfield | 0 | W Casper (5 & 3) | 1 | | D J Rees (2 & 1) | 1 | J Herbert | 0 | | N C Coles (halved) | ½ | G Littler (halved) | ½ | | B J Hunt (5 & 4) | 1 | J Barber | 0 | | C O'Connor | 0 | D Finsterwald (2 & 1) | 1 | | Singles: Afternoon | | | | | | | | | H Weetman | 0 | A Wall (1 hole) | 1 | | P Alliss (3 & 2) | 1 | W Collins | 0 | | B J Hunt | 0 | M Souchak (2 & 1) | 1 | | T B Haliburton | 0 | A Palmer (2 & 1) | 1 | | D J Rees (4 & 3) | 1 | D Ford | 0 | | K Bousfield (1 hole) | 1 | J Barber | 0 | | N C Coles (1 hole) | 1 | D Finsterwald | 0 | | C O'Connor (halved) | ½ | G Littler (halved) | ½ | | | USA 14 1/2GB 9 1/2 | | | |
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