EUROPE
What is the Junior Ryder Cup?
By Ali Corless On September 19, 2018 6:36 UTC
The 11th Junior Ryder Cup matches will take place from September 24-25, 2018 at Golf Disneyland® in Paris, France. The United States are the defending champions having earned a 15 ½ to 8 ½ win over the European team at Interlachen Country Club two years ago.
Method of play
The competition, which takes place over two days in the French capital, features one day of six foursomes matches (three boys matches and three girls matches) in the morning, followed by six mixed fourballs matches in the afternoon, and one final day of singles matches involving all 12 members of each team.
Eligibility
The European Team comprises 12 amateur players – six boys and six girls – from any European Golf Association member country who were under the age of 18 as of January 1, 2018.
The team was selected by European Captain Maïtena Alsuguren, who was supported by a selection committee made up of representatives from Ryder Cup Europe and the European Golf Association.
Boys’ Amateur Champion Conor Gough and Girls’ British Open Amateur Champion Emma Spitz qualified automatically, while girls Emilie Alba Paltrinieri, Annabell Fuller, Ingrid Lindblad, Amanda Linner, Alessia Nobilio, and boys Nicolai Hojgaard, Rasmus Hojgaard, David Puig, Eduard Rousaud Sabate and Robin Williams all qualified after impressive performances in key amateur events.
History
On September 20, 1995, a series of exhibition matches were conducted matching the Central New York PGA Section area juniors against 12 leading European junior players.
The Europeans, aged 15 and younger, toured three New York courses and dominated all of the matches. No results were published.
The inaugural Junior Ryder Cup was contested prior to the 1997 Ryder Cup in Sotogrande, Spain. The United States won 7-5. In 1999, Europe returned to face the U.S. juniors and dominated in the Boston area by a 10 ½ to 11 ½ margin.
This marked the first of three-straight outright Junior Ryder Cup victories for the Europeans. In 2006, however, the Americans fought back and halved the Junior Ryder Cup, 6-6, when the matches were contested in Newport, Wales.
In 2008, the U.S. won in dominant fashion, 22-2, at The Club at Olde Stone in Bowling Green, Kentucky with a team featuring Jordan Spieth – and have won every edition of the tournament since.
Notable former players
Sergio Garcia (1995), Suzann Pettersen (1997, 1999), Nicolas Colsaerts (1997, 1999), Rafa Cabrera Bello (1999), Hunter Mahan (1999), Rory McIlroy (2004), Tony Finau (2004, 2006), Victor Dubuisson (2006), Jordan Spieth (2008, 2010), Lexi Thompson (2010), Justin Thomas (2010).
Past results
1997 - USA 9, Europe 7
1999 - Europe 11.5, USA 1.5
2002 - Europe 9.5, USA 2.5
2004 - Europe 8.5, USA 3.5
2006 - Europe 6, USA 6
2008 - USA 22, Europe 2