The 13th Ryder Cup Matches, held on November 6–7, 1959, at the Eldorado Country Club in Indian Wells, California, marked a significant moment in the history of this prestigious golf competition. This event was not only a showcase of top golfing talent but also represented the final time the Ryder Cup would be played under its original format. The United States team emerged victorious, securing the Cup with a score of 8½ to 3½ points against Great
Britain.
The Traditional Format: A Farewell in 1959
From its inception in 1927, the Ryder Cup followed a specific match play format that remained consistent until 1959. This traditional structure involved a total of 12 points up for grabs. The first day of competition featured four foursome matches, also known as alternate shot, where two players from each team partnered together, taking turns hitting the same ball. The second day was dedicated to eight singles matches, where individual players from each team competed head-to-head. All matches were played to a maximum of 36 holes, meaning they could extend over a considerable number of holes before a winner was decided or the match was halved. To win the Cup, a team needed to accumulate at least 6½ points.
This 1959 event was the last occasion this particular format was utilized. The subsequent Ryder Cup in 1961 saw a substantial change, doubling the number of available points and altering the structure of the matches. The shift meant that the 1959 Ryder Cup holds a unique place in the tournament's history as the closing chapter of its foundational era.
Team Selection and Preparation for Great Britain
For the Great Britain team, the selection process for the 1959 Ryder Cup involved a points system based on player performances throughout the 1959 season. This system helped identify seven key players for the team. The qualifying events began with the PGA Close Championship in April and concluded with the Irish Hospitals Tournament in July. The golfers who qualified through this points system were Hunt, Rees, Weetman, Mills, Alliss, Drew, and O'Connor.
To complete the ten-member squad, the P.G.A. tournament committee made three additional selections. These final choices, Bousfield, Brown, and Thomas, were announced in late September, following the Dunlop Masters tournament. This blend of performance-based qualification and committee selection aimed to assemble the strongest possible team to challenge the United States on their home soil.
Key Matches and Notable Moments
The matches themselves provided moments of intense competition. On Friday, during the foursome matches, two contests were particularly close, extending all the way to the final hole. In one such match, Boros and Finsterwald of the U.S. were 1 up against Great Britain's Rees and Bousfield as they approached the last hole. The match concluded when the British pair hit their second shot into the water, requiring four strokes to reach the green, ultimately securing the win for the American duo.
Another dramatic foursome saw Weetman and Thomas of Great Britain holding a 1 up lead against American legends Snead and Middlecoff at the last hole. Snead's second shot found the water, but in a surprising turn, Weetman also put his second shot into the water. Middlecoff then chipped to within eight feet, and Snead successfully holed the putt, winning the hole and halving the match. This decision by Weetman not to lay up, despite Snead's error, drew some criticism, highlighting the high stakes and pressure of Ryder Cup competition.
