Ryder Cup Odds

United States Ryder Cup player Stewart Cink plays his 3rd shot on the 18th hole during the foursomes sessions of the first day of the 2006 Ryder Cup at the K Club in Straffan, Co Kildare, in the Republic of Ireland, 22 September 2006. Cink and David Toms halved the session with European team David Howell and Henrik Stenson

In Ryder Cup history, Team USA has won the Ryder Cup a total of 24 times and held the trophy once as a result of a tie in 1969. In comparison, Team Europe - previously the Great Britain team - has won the Ryder Cup only ten times. Europe retained the Ryder Cup in 1989 after a tie at the Belfry course in Warwickshire, England.

So Team USA has clocked up well over twice the number of wins secured by Team Europe and its predecessor, the Great Britain Team.

However, the outcome of the 2008 Ryder Cup Matches is far from a given! In fact, current Ryder Cup odds favour a win by Team Europe.

After a long stretch in which the American team almost completely dominated the Ryder Cup Matches, the European team has entered a winning streak. A total of seven of its 10 wins over the course of Ryder Cup history - beginning in 1927 - have occurred from 1985 on. Team USA has won only three of the last ten matches. And if Team Europe wins the Ryder Cup in 2008, it will be the team's first ever fourth consecutive victory in the Ryder Cup Matches.

Irrespective of Ryder Cup odds, it's certain that both the US and European teams will be boasting some exceptionally strong players. We can expect stiff competition and plenty of excitement at the 37th edition of the Ryder Cup Matches.

Live Ryder Cup Odds