The United States had their way with Europe in the Ryder Cup for the first 50-60 years of the competition.
However, things started to change in the 1980s, when Seve Ballesteros began a one-man crusade to help tip the scales in Europe’s favour.
In spite of that, Team USA still managed to win the Ryder Cup in the 1991 and 1993 editions, and the 1995 contest at Oak Hill Country Club was expected to be a walk in the park for the hosts.
However, it didn’t quite work out that way for them.
The U.S. team led 9-7 heading into the final day singles, and many expected a dominant win for the home side.
Thankfully for Europe though, Nick Faldo showed everyone why he was one of the best golfers in the world at the time after an unbelievable turnaround during his match against Curtis Strange.
Europe had Nick Faldo to thank after winning the 1995 Ryder Cup
It was team Europe who made the strongest start during the singles matches at Oak Hill.
The team captained by Bernhard Gallagher won four, halved one and lost two of the opening seven matches.
Faldo was the eighth man out for Europe, selected by captain Gallagher in one of the anchor roles in case he was needed when the pressure began to really crank up.
And boy, was he needed.
The Englishman trailed Curtis Strange one down with two holes remaining. It was a pivotal point in the day, when the two players reached the 17th tee.
Faldo missed the fairway on the par four 17th hole and had to lay up, while Strange was sitting pretty but then missed the green.
The Englishman then hit his approach to inside five feet while the American failed to get up and down – all square heading into the final hole.
And the same thing happened again! Faldo missed the fairway and pitched out, leaving himself around 100 yards for his third shot on the par four. Strange hit the fairway but then missed the green, and failed to get up and down for the second time in two holes.
The six-time major champion then stuffed his wedge shot, leaving himself around a five foot putt to win his match.
Faldo duly obliged and rolled in his putt to defeat Strange.
Just moments later Philip Walton won his match against Jay Haas one up, and the rest is history.
Europe won the match-up 14.5-13.5 and took the Ryder Cup back across the Atlantic.
So while Walton holed the winning putt, it was Faldo who Team Europe had to thank for their win at the 1995 Ryder Cup.
What Nick Faldo said about embrace with Seve Ballesteros after Ryder Cup win
Seve and Faldo shared an intense rivalry throughout their playing days.
However, there was always a huge mutual respect between the two golfers as well.
After Faldo won his match against Strange at Oak Hill 30 years ago, he shared an embrace with Seve just behind the 18th green.
With both players in tears, the hug that Seve gave Faldo was one that he will never forget.
Back in 2023, the Englishman said: “The hug I got from Seve behind the 18th green at Oak Hill at the end of the 1995 Ryder Cup is still one of the best moments of my career. Thinking of it still makes me cry.“
Faldo’s win against Strange at the 1995 Ryder Cup was one of the most important singles victories in the history of the competition.
And Seve’s reaction to Faldo winning his match just goes to show how much it meant to everyone involved with the European team at the time.