Worst Ryder Cup records by player: Where Scottie Scheffler, Tiger Woods, other golf legends rank in match play

Gilbert McGregor

Worst Ryder Cup records by player: Where Scottie Scheffler, Tiger Woods, other golf legends rank in match play image

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Few stages in golf are as heralded as the biennial Ryder Cup.

With a USA vs. Europe format, the golf event pits the world's best golfers against one another in a competition unlike most others. And though they are some of the biggest names in the game, Ryder Cup participants are not exempt from turning in frustrating performances at times.

Folded into the team competition are individual matchups that result in golfers accruing records and individual win percentages for the event. Whether it's the result of a poor showing or a formidable opponent, some golfers end up with rough records that they carry with them throughout their careers.

Who has the worst Ryder Cup winning percentage? Here is a list of the worst records and most losses in matchups entering the 2025 event.

MORE: Complete list of USA vs. Europe Ryder Cup results since 1927

Who has the worst Ryder Cup winning percentage?

Entering 2025, Matt Fitzpatrick owns the worst Ryder Cup winning percentage.

Before competing at Bethpage Black in New York, Fitzpatrick participated in eight matches, winning one and losing seven. His 1-7 record equates to a .125 win percentage.

MORE: Explaining the meaning of captain's picks at the Ryder Cup

Who has the most losses in Ryder Cup history?

Phil Mickelson has the most losses in Ryder Cup history with 22.

Mickelson participated in 47 matches, posting a record of 18-22-7, with 18 wins and seven ties to go with his 22 losses. That record equates to a .457 win percentage.

MORE: How the Ryder Cup format compares to other major tournaments in golf

Worst Ryder Cup records by player

Here is a list of players with the worst Ryder Cup records, organized with the worst overall win percentage at the top.

The following list contains golfers who competed in at least seven matches at the Ryder Cup.

PlayerTeamMatchesRecordPercentageActive
Matt FitzpatrickEurope81-7-0.125Yes
Fuzzy ZoellerUSA101-8-1.150No
Peter OosterhuisEurope72-5-0.286No
Des SmythEurope72-5-0.286No
Bubba WatsonUSA144-10-0.286No
Ben CrenshawUSA123-8-1.292No
Gordon Brand Jr.Europe82-5-1.313No
Steve StrickerUSA113-7-1.318No
Mark O'MearaUSA144-9-1.321No
Rickie FowlerUSA173-9-5.324No
Ken BrownEurope124-8-0.333No
Curtis StrangeUSA206-12-2.350No
Jim FurykUSA3410-20-4.353No
Sam TorranceEurope287-15-6.357No
Miguel Angel JiminezEurope154-8-3.367No
Chris DiMarcoUSA82-4-2.375No
Tiger WoodsUSA3713-21-3.392No
Mark JamesEurope218-12-1.405No
Paul AzingerUSA165-8-3.406No
Paul CaseyEurope164-7-5.406No
Gil MorganUSA61-2-3.417No
Kenny PerryUSA62-3-1.417No
Shane LowryEurope62-3-1.417Yes
Bryson DeChambeauUSA62-3-1.417Yes
Jay HaasUSA124-6-2.417No
Justin LeonardUSA122-4-6.417No
David TomsUSA124-6-2.417No
Padraig HarringtonEurope259-13-3.420No
Scott HochUSA72-3-2.429No
David DuvalUSA72-3-2.429No
Robert KarlssonEurope71-2-4.429No
Jimmy WalkerUSA82-3-3.438No
Davis Love IIIUSA269-12-5.442No
Thomas BjornEurope93-4-2.444No
Chad CampbellUSA93-4-2.444No
Sandy LyleEurope187-9-2.444No
Stewart CinkUSA195-7-7.447No
Viktor HovlandEurope103-4-3.450Yes
Fred CouplesUSA207-9-4.450No
Phil MickelsonUSA4718-22-7.457No
Mark CalcavecchiaUSA146-7-1.464No
Martin KaymerEurope145-6-3.464No
Matt KucharUSA156-7-2.467No
Payne StewartUSA198-9-2.474No
Raymond FloydUSA2110-11-0.476No
Jordan SpiethUSA228-9-5.477No
David GilfordEurope73-3-1.500No
Scottie SchefflerUSA72-2-3.500Yes
Xander SchauffeleUSA84-4-0.500Yes
Paul McGinleyEurope92-2-5.500No
Webb SimpsonUSA94-4-1.500No
Bernard GallacherEurope115-5-1.500No
Hunter MahanUSA124-4-4.500No

MORE: Explaining the Ryder Cup scoring system for all three days

Worst American Ryder Cup records by player

Fuzzy Zoeller

Two-time major champion Fuzzy Zoeller has the worst Ryder Cup record for an American. He represented the U.S. in 1979 and 1983, losing seven of his eight matches. Despite his lack of success, the USA won the Ryder Cup in 1979 and 1983.

Bubba Watson

Watson, a two-time Masters champion, has a 4-10 (.286) record in 14 matches at the Ryder Cup. He represented the USA in 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2018, but was not a part of any winning team.

Ben Crenshaw

Crenshaw is also a two-time Masters champion, but he posted a 3-8-1 (.292) record in 12 Ryder Cup matches. He played in four Ryder Cups, winning teams in 1981 and 1983 before the USA lost in 1987 and 1995. Crenshaw was a non-playing captain in 1999.

MORE: How does four-ball work in golf?

Worst European Ryder Cup records by player

Matt Fitzpatrick

Fitzpatrick had a 1-7-0 (.125) record in Ryder Cup play entering the 2025 event. He made his Ryder Cup debut on the losing European team in 2016 and lost again in 2021 before winning with Europe in 2023.

Peter Oosterhuis

Englishman Peter Oosterhuis had a 2-5-0 (.286) record at the Ryder Cup, representing Great Britain & Ireland/Europe in losing efforts in 1971, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1979, and 1981.

Des Smyth

Smyth represented Europe at the 1979 and 1981 Ryder Cups, posting a 2-5-0 (.286) record in seven matches. Europe lost both the events with Smyth on the team.

Gilbert McGregor

Gilbert McGregor first joined The Sporting News in 2018 as a content producer for Global editions of NBA.com. Before covering the game, McGregor played basketball collegiately at Wake Forest, graduating with a Communication degree in 2016. McGregor began covering the NBA during the 2017-18 season and has been on hand for a number of league events.