BBC SPORT | Golf | Ryder Cup history: 1949 (original) (raw)

GREAT BRITAIN & IRELAND 5-7 USA, Ganton, Yorkshire

The US were on top at Ganton

The Americans proved their 1937 victory at Southport and Ainsdale was no fluke by registering a second Ryder Cup win in Britain.

However, it was far from plain sailing for the all-stars from overseas, with Great Britain carving out a 3-1 lead in the opening foursomes.

That meant the Brits needed just three-and-a-half points from a possible eight in the singles to regain the Ryder Cup, but the Americans were not to be outdone in the head-to-head clashes.

Only Dai Rees and Jimmy Adams got the better of their opponents in the singles as the visitors finished with a flourish.

The first tangible signs of tension between the teams surfaced in 1949 when US skipper Ben Hogan complained about the clubs being used by the Brits.

Two years earlier, Henry Cotton had made a similar remark about Hogan's clubs and this was seen as a retaliatory gesture.

Hogan may well have had a point because the British players were indeed instructed to file down prohibited club-face grooves before the match.

A sign of things to come?

Foursomes:
M Faulkner & J Adams beat E J Harrison & J Palmer (2&1)
F Daly & K Bousfield beat R Hamilton & S Alexander (4&2)
C H Ward & S L King lost to J Demaret & C Heafner (4&3)
R Burton & A Lees beat S Snead & L Mangrum (1 hole)