The Ryder Cup History Ahead for Rose and Rory

As I started rolling through some Ryder Cup content, I realized that (mostly) Rory and (also kind of) Justin Rose are currently on pace to become two of the great European Ryder Cuppers of all time.

Some proof.

Most Matches by a European

• Westy: 47

• Faldo: 46

• Sergio: 45

• Langer: 42

• Coles: 40

Rory is currently at 33 matches played. He’ll go five again this year to get to 38, which would be sixth all time on the European side. Five more in Ireland at age 38, and he’ll be at 43 matches played. Phil and Westy are tied for the most ever on either side with 47.

That checks out for me given that Rory’s longevity, much like Phil’s, has become one of the most impressive parts of his career (if not the most impressive). Westy’s longevity — because he was arguably never an all time great — has become incredibly underrated. Westy played in eleven Ryder Cups.

Most Overall European Points

• Sergio: 28.5

• Faldo: 25

• Langer: 24

• Westy: 24

• Monty: 23.5

Rory is currently at 18, and Rose is at 15.5. It’s very unlikely that Rose catches Monty, but Rory should. Let’s say he goes 3-2-0 this year and 2-2-1 in 2027. That would put him at 23.5. Can he get another five points in his 40s to tie Sergio?

It’s definitely on the table.

I only bring up Rose because nobody else is even in this ballpark.

The next closest, in terms of points, who is even associated with this year’s Ryder Cup is Luke Donald (!!) at 10.5 (same number as Spieth btw). Then you have to go down to JT and Tommy at 8 to find anyone else. Rahm is also at 7.5.

Most Singles Wins

• Oosterhuis: 6

• Faldo: 6

• Monty: 6

• Poulter: 6

Rory is 4-2-1 in his singles career. Rose is 2-3-1. It’s not that crazy to suggest that Rory could be the all-time leader in singles wins in European history once his career is over.

Or at least tied for it.

The crazy part about this stat to me is Poulter going 6-0-1 in his career.

Here’s a look at his wins by year.

Ian Poulter was a terrific European Tour golfer. Underrated, certainly, but not an all-time great. Then you suddenly turn the calendar to late September and he became Ian Hogan.

As noted above, longevity in golf is underrated and impressive. Rory has played all but one available European session since 2010. That’s unheard of! This will be his eighth Ryder Cup and Rose’s seventh. The record for Ryder Cup appearances by a Euro is 11 by Faldo and Westy. On the American side, it’s 12 (!!!) by Phil. Furyk is next closest with nine.

What is partly true of Rose is fully true of Rory. That each win, each appearance, each team he makes adds incrementally to a legacy that is probably one of the 10-15 best of all time already. It’s not really a stretch to say that Rory — who is already a two-time Players champion, grand slam winner and has taken the Race to Dubai six times — is going to be the most decorated Ryder Cupper of all time.

Let’s say we get the following.

2025 Ryder Cup (age 36): Rory goes 3-2-0
2027 Ryder Cup (age 38): Rory goes 2-2-1
2029 Ryder Cup (age 40): Rory goes 2-3-0
2031 Ryder Cup (age 42): Rory goes 1-1-2
2033 Ryder Cup (age 44): Rory goes 1-0-1

That’s the most Euro appearances ever (12), the most matches played in history (54), the most points scored by anyone (29) and potentially the most singles wins on either side.

Compound interest is a hell of a thing.