Footnotes

Provenance
From information provided by the vendor, two third scale trophies made by Garrard's were traditionally given to the European team members participating in the Ryder Cup and Open Championship. These two examples, (lots 366 and 367) were purchased some 30 years ago directly from a director of the company prior to them being awarded.

History

The biennial Ryder Cup competition involves twenty-four of the top professional golfers from Europe and the United States going head-to-head in a series of match play competitions.

The competition is named after Samuel Ryder, a successful English seed merchant who had made his fortune selling penny seed packets. Ryder was a passionate golfer and employed the services of professional golfer Abe Mitchell to be his personal coach.

In 1923 Ryder began sponsoring events, to not only support the professional golfers who were badly paid at the time, but also to promote his business, The Heath and Heather Seed Company.

In 1921 the first unofficial match between professionals from Great Britain and the United States was played at Gleneagles in Scotland. Considered a warm up tournament before the Open Championship at St Andrews, it was the first time twelve golfers from either side of the Atlantic had gone head-to-head. The British team claimed a 9-3 victory.

In 1926, the second unofficial game was played at Wentworth, Surrey. Enthralled by what he saw, Ryder wished to make the event a regular 'official' occurrence. He formalised a deed of trust with the British PGA and donated a £250 small 17" high gold cup designed by Mappin & Webb and adorned with a golfing figure on top. That figure is believed to be a portrait of Abe Mitchell.

The first official Ryder Cup was played one year later on June 3-4, 1927, at the Worcester Country Club in Massachusetts, USA. Due to health reasons neither Ryder nor Mitchell were able to attend. Legendary golfer Walter Hagen led his American side to a 9.5-2.5 victory.

The cup was suspended during WW2 (1939-45) but resumed again in 1947. The United States then went on a winning spree, claiming victory in 16 of the next 17 cups, with a tie occurring in 1969 when Jack Nicklaus famously conceded a 4-foot putt to Tony Jacklin.

Ryder eventually gave the original trophy to the Professional Golfers Association of Great Britain. The captain of the winning team now receives a full-size replica.