U.S. team's best Ryder Cup pairings

With the 2018 American Ryder Cup team now set, Ryder Cup USA Captain Jim Furyk now faces the tough challenge of pairing his golfers to face a formidable European side.

But no matter who is matched with whom, every partnership will have a high bar to reach.

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That bar was set by Arnold Palmer and Gardner Dickinson, who won both of their foursomes matches at the 1967 Ryder Cup, and then both foursomes and a four-ball match in the 1971 Ryder Cup, making them the only pair to go 5-for-5 in their Ryder Cup history.

But the best single Ryder Cup pair came in 1979, when Larry Nelson and Lanny Wadkins played together for two four-ball and two foursome matches and won them all. No other pair has ever won four points in a single Ryder Cup.

But there are still two pairings who performed better over their careers. Here are the four most successful career Ryder Cup pairings:

The 1971 Ryder Cup team, with Gardner Dickinson (front row, farthest right) and Arnold Palmer (front row, third from right).

Arnold Palmer and Gardner Dickinson

1967 Ryder Cup: 2 out of 2 points

1971 Ryder Cup: 3 out of 3 points

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Patrick Reed and Jordan Spieth

2014 Ryder Cup: 2 ½ out of 3 points

2016 Ryder Cup: 2 ½ out of 4 points

Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson

1977 Ryder Cup: 1 out of 1 point

1981 Ryder Cup: 3 out of 3 points

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Larry Nelson and Lanny Wadkins

1979 Ryder Cup: 4 out of 4 points

1987 Ryder Cup: 0 out of 2 points

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