In 1995, a team of six European junior golfers, assembled by Ryder Cup Europe and the European Golf Association, traveled to the United States to compete in an exhibition match against Central New York PGA Section and area juniors. On that team was 15-year-old Sergio Garcia.
In 1997, inspired by the informal exhibition, the first official Junior Ryder Cup was held. In its current format, the event features six boys and six girls under the age of 18 from each team.
This year, four of the 24 golfers in the 2018 Ryder Cup can trace their international competition roots back to a Junior Ryder Cup. Here's a look at each of them, and how their teams performed:
Rory McIlroy — 2004
2004: Europe 8½, USA 3½
Tony Finau — 2004, 2006
2004: Europe 8½, USA 3½
2006: Europe 6, USA 6
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Jordan Spieth — 2008, 2010
2008: USA 22, Europe 2
2010: USA 13½, Europe 10½
Justin Thomas — 2010
2010: USA 13½, Europe 10½
