With Bethpage Black already likely to provide an unbelievable atmosphere at the 2025 Ryder Cup, it is hard to imagine what may happen if any of the 24 players across the week manage to hit a hole in one.
It has been nearly two decades since the most recent ace in the Ryder Cup. In total, the competition has seen six hole in ones, with the Europeans having the clear edge over their opponents, with just one American contributing to the list.
Quite remarkably, there have been two occasions where a certain Ryder Cup has seen two hole in ones. With that in mind, here is a look back at the six in the event’s history…
The six Ryder Cup hole in ones
1973 – Peter Butler
The 1973 Ryder Cup was not a good one for Great Britain and Ireland, with USA winning 19-13 at Muirfield. And Peter Butler’s record was one of the worst, with the Englishman losing all three of his matches that week. He did however, write his name in Ryder Cup history, by making an ace on the 16th hole.
1993 – Nick Faldo
Like Butler, Nick Faldo was on the losing side despite making a hole in one at the 1993 Ryder Cup. His ace came on the 14th hole at the Belfry during his singles match with Paul Azinger. The match would end in a tie as USA won 15-13. It remains the most recent US win on European soil, while Azinger would emerge victorious when the pair captained their respective teams in 2008.
1995 – Constantino Rocca
Constantino Rocca has written his name in Ryder Cup folklore on a couple of occasions. Until 2018, he was the only man to beat Tiger Woods in the Sunday singles. And in 1995, he hit a hole in one on the sixth at Oak Hill. It would not be the final time the crowds could celebrate an ace that week.
1995 – Howard Clark
Howard Clark showed plenty of guts to win his crucial singles match with Peter Jacobsen. What made it all the more remarkable was that he needed to calm down after making a hole in one on the 11th. Clark appeared to be in disbelief when the ball went in. Europe meanwhile, would produce a stunning fightback to win 14.5-13.5.
2006 – Paul Casey
Just one Ryder Cup match has ever ended after a hole in one – and that came from Paul Casey in 2006. Alongside David Howell, Casey sealed a 5&4 victory against Stewart Cink and Zach Johnson as Europe went on to put one hand on the trophy ahead of the Sunday singles.
2006 – Scott Verplank
Scott Verplank did not necessarily have the most decorated Ryder Cup career, and his anchor match with Padraig Harrington did not mean a great deal in 2006, but he did win both of his matches at The K Club and made a hole in one on the 14th on his way to a 4&3 victory against Harrington. He remains the only American to make an ace in the event’s history.
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