The 8th Ryder Cup Matches were held 16–17 September 1949, at Ganton Golf Club in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England. The United States team won the competition by a score of seven to five.
Still recovering from his near-fatal automobile accident in February, Ben Hogan was the non-playing captain of the U.S. team. He returned as a competitor for a final time in 1951.
The U.S. team's decision to bring a half ton of meat to England made headlines.
Hogan objected to the depth of the grooves on some British players' irons, and they were modified before being allowed into the competition. Britain led three to one after the first day, but the U.S. won six of eight matches in singles on Saturday to keep the Cup.
The Ganton course measured for this Ryder Cup.
Format The Ryder Cup is a match play event, with each match worth one point. From 1927 through 1959, the format consisted of four foursome (alternate shot) matches on the first day and eight singles matches on the second day, for a total of 12 points. Therefore, 6 points were required to win the Cup. All matches were played to a maximum of 36 holes.
Teams Source:
In April 1949 the British P.G.A. appointed a selection committee of five."Ryder Cup Selectors". The Times, Wednesday, 13 April 1949; pg. 2; Issue 51355. The committee consisted of four ex-Ryder Cup players: Dick Burton, Arthur Havers, Alf Padgham and Charles Whitcombe to which would be added the chairman of the P.G.A. to be elected in July. In mid-July a list of 20 possible players was announced, although other players could be added to this list. Charles Whitcombe was announced as the non-playing captain."Ryder Cup Possibles". The Times, Friday, 15 July 1949; pg. 8; Issue 51434. The list included Henry Cotton who later withdrew because he was returning to his golf school in Monte Carlo and would "have no opportunity to sharpen up his game.""Cotton withdraws from Ryder Cup". The Times, Thursday, 28 July 1949; pg. 6; Issue 51445. The team was selected immediately after the News Chronicle Tournament, a tournament won by Dick Burton, one of the selectors, by 12 strokes."Burton's Great Golf". The Times, Friday, 19 August 1949; pg. 6; Issue 51464. The team was chosen from the 19 remaining possible players announced in July."The Ryder Cup - British Team for Ganton". The Times, Saturday, 20 August 1949; pg. 2; Issue 51465.
Team Great BritainNameAgePreviousRyder CupsMatchesW–L–HWinningpercentage Charles Whitcombe 53 Non-playing captain Jimmy Adams 38 1 2 0–2–0 0.00 Laurie Ayton, Jnr 35 0 Rookie Ken Bousfield 29 0 Rookie Dick Burton 41 2 3 1–2–0 33.33 Fred Daly 37 1 2 0–2–0 0.00 Max Faulkner 33 1 2 0–2–0 0.00 Sam King 38 2 3 1–1–1 50.00 Arthur Lees 41 1 2 0–2–0 0.00 Dai Rees 36 2 4 1–2–1 37.50 Charlie Ward 38 1 2 0–2–0 0.00
Team USANameAgePreviousRyder CupsMatchesW–L–HWinningpercentageBen Hogan 37 Non-playing captainSkip Alexander 31 0 RookieJimmy Demaret 39 1 2 2–0–0 100.00Bob Hamilton 33 0 RookieChick Harbert 34 0 RookieDutch Harrison 39 1 1 1–0–0 100.00Clayton Heafner 35 0 RookieLloyd Mangrum 35 1 2 2–0–0 100.00Johnny Palmer 31 0 RookieSam Snead 37 2 3 3–0–0 100.00
Friday's foursome matches Results Faulkner/Adams 2 & 1Harrison/PalmerDaly/Bousfield 4 & 2Hamilton/AlexanderWard/King 4 & 3Demaret/HeafnerBurton/Lees 1 upSnead/Mangrum 3 Session 1 3 Overall 1
18 hole scores: Faulkner/Adams: 3 up, Daly/Bousfield: 2 up, Demaret/Heafner: 1 up, Burton/Lees v Snead/Mangrum: all square."British Lead in Ryder Cup - Three to One in Foursomes". The Times, Saturday, 17 September 1949; pg. 4; Issue 51489.
Saturday's singles matches Results Max Faulkner 8 & 7Dutch HarrisonJimmy Adams 2 & 1Johnny PalmerCharlie Ward 6 & 5Sam SneadDai Rees 6 & 4Bob HamiltonDick Burton 3 & 2Clayton HeafnerSam King 4 & 3Chick HarbertArthur Lees 7 & 6Jimmy DemaretFred Daly 4 & 3Lloyd Mangrum 2 Session 6 5 Overall 7
18 hole scores: Harrison: 7 up, Adams: 1 up, Snead: 1 up, Rees: 4 up, Burton: 1 up, Harbert: 5 up, Demaret: 5 up, Mangrum: 1 up."U.S. Retain the Ryder Cup - Magnificent Play at Ganton". The Times, Monday, 19 September 1949; pg. 6; Issue 51490.
Individual player records Each entry refers to the win–loss–half record of the player.
Source:
Great Britain Player Points Overall Singles FoursomesJimmy Adams 2 2–0–0 1–0–0 1–0–0Ken Bousfield 1 1–0–0 0–0–0 1–0–0Dick Burton 1 1–1–0 0–1–0 1–0–0Fred Daly 1 1–1–0 0–1–0 1–0–0Max Faulkner 1 1–1–0 0–1–0 1–0–0Sam King 0 0–2–0 0–1–0 0–1–0Arthur Lees 1 1–1–0 0–1–0 1–0–0Dai Rees 1 1–0–0 1–0–0 0–0–0Charlie Ward 0 0–2–0 0–1–0 0–1–0
Laurie Ayton, Jnr did not play in any matches.
United States Player Points Overall Singles FoursomesSkip Alexander 0 0–1–0 0–0–0 0–1–0Jimmy Demaret 2 2–0–0 1–0–0 1–0–0Bob Hamilton 0 0–2–0 0–1–0 0–1–0Chick Harbert 1 1–0–0 1–0–0 0–0–0Dutch Harrison 1 1–1–0 1–0–0 0–1–0Clayton Heafner 2 2–0–0 1–0–0 1–0–0Lloyd Mangrum 1 1–1–0 1–0–0 0–1–0Johnny Palmer 0 0–2–0 0–1–0 0–1–0Sam Snead 1 1–1–0 1–0–0 0–1–0
References
External links PGA of America: 1949 Ryder Cup About.com: 1949 Ryder Cup