(Featured image credit – David Cannon /Allsport via Getty)
While Tom Watson being named as US captain for the 2014 Ryder Cup seemed an incredibly strange choice with the benefit of hindsight, the PGA of America had a couple of very good reasons to turn to the eight-time major champion for Gleneagles off the back of what happened at Medinah.
Firstly, few Americans have ever had more success playing in the British Isles than five-time Open Championship winner Watson. Perhaps the PGA of America felt that the love towards Watson from the Brits would also make the environment slightly easier for their team to play in.
But it was also Watson who oversaw the US’ most recent victory on European soil.
In fact, that win remains the last time the US team returned across the Atlantic Ocean with the Ryder Cup in their possession.
How USA secured their most recent Ryder Cup victory in Europe in 1993
The 1993 Ryder Cup was always going to be a fascinating occasion. Just two years earlier, the two teams had engaged in a battle at Kiawah Island so intense that it became known as the War on the Shore.
Watson’s team included seven of those who were victorious in 1991. Meanwhile, Davis Love III was one of four rookies involved at The Belfry.
The Europeans included world number one Nick Faldo, and reigning Masters champion Bernhard Langer. Seve Ballesteros was relying on a captain’s pick after finding himself 38th in the qualification standings.
Europe edged Friday. Langer and Ian Woosnam thrashed Payne Stewart and Paul Azinger 7&5, while Faldo and Colin Montgomerie beat Raymond Floyd and Fred Couples 4&3 as the spoils were shared in the morning.
Ballesteros and Jose Maria Olazabal avenged their defeat to Tom Kite and Love III in the first session by beating the same pairing 4&3 in the final match of the day.
Bernard Gallacher stuck with many of the same pairings for Saturday morning. Faldo and Montgomerie won in the top match, while Langer and Woosnam, and Ballesteros and Olazabal also won points in the foursomes to give Europe a 7.5-4.5 lead.
But the Americans turned the tide in the afternoon as they won three matches of their own. Perhaps the most impressive result came from John Cook and Chip Beck, who had not played until that stage of the week. The pair beat Montgomerie and Faldo 2 up.
That meant that there was just one point between the two sides going into the singles.
USA’s middle order gets Tom Watson’s men over the line at The Belfry
Interestingly, Gallacher put most of his strength towards the bottom of the order. Faldo was in the bottom match – and made a hole in one during his tussle with Azinger – while Langer and Olazabal were in the matches ahead of the Englishman.
Europe’s only full points of the day came in matches three, four and five, with Montgomerie, Peter Baker and Joakim Haeggman all needing to head down the 18th hole to secure their victories.
USA were dominant from there, winning five matches in a row. And when Love III came from 1 down with two to play to beat Constantino Rocca on the last, it meant that the visitors would be leaving with the cup. When all was said and done, USA had won 15-13.
Watson had yet another victory on British shores to add to his incredible career. It is just a shame that what happened in Scotland more than two decades later has probably taken a little of the shine off his Ryder Cup accomplishments.