The Ryder Cup Matches have had a long and proud history, stretching back to the very first Matches staged in the USA in 1927. The Ryder Cup Matches, one of the last great sporting events founded on prestige rather than prize money, span 34 competitions over 77 years.

Teams from Europe and the United States compete every two years for the Cup which was inaugurated in 1927. Ireland, North and South, has had a long and close involvement with the Ryder Cup from the days of Fred Daly, Harry Bradshaw, Christy O'Connor Senior, Eamonn Darcy, Ronan Rafferty, David Feherty, Christy O'Connor Junior, Philip Walton and Des Smyth through to today's top players, Darren Clarke, Pádraig Harrington, and Paul McGinley.

Since 1998 when Ireland was chosen to host the Ryder Cup matches for the first time, The European Tour, as the managing partner, and Fáilte Ireland have been working closely with public and private sector bodies in Ireland to ensure its success.