Some of the world's most famous golfers have taken part in the Ryder Cup down the years and here we look at the oldest to have played in the biennial team event.
The Ryder Cup is now well and truly established as one of the greatest sporting events in the world.
The biennial team event between Europe and the United States brings golf’s megastars together for a three-day event that is unmatched in the game.
Europe will be defending the trophy they won back from the USA at Marco Simone Golf Club in 2023 when they head to Bethpage Black in New York in September and ahead of the 45th edition of the Ryder Cup, we have delved into the archives to pinpoint the oldest players who have been part of this prestigious event.
The oldest players in Ryder Cup history
9. George Duncan (USA) – Age: 47 years, 9 months, and 10 days
We start at number nine as Raymond Floyd takes up TWO spots in the top 10! George Duncan played and captained the GB&I teams in two Ryder Cup in 1929 and 1931. His team won at Moortown Golf Club, Yorkshire in the first home match, but were defeated at Scioto Country Club in Ohio two years later.
8. Fred Funk (USA) – Age: 48 years, 3 months, and 3 days
Fred Funk made his one and only Ryder Cup appearance at Oakland Hills in 2004 as the Hal Sutton-led USA were humbled 18½ to 9½ by Bernhard Langer’s Europe. Funk, sixth in The Open that summer, failed to register in three attempts, including his singles loss against Thomas Levet on the 18th green.
7. Phil Mickelson (USA) – Age: 48 years, 3 months, and 12 days
Phil Mickelson’s most recent Ryder Cup appearance was in 2018 in Paris as captain Jim Furyk handed both he and Tiger Woods wildcards. Between them, they went 0-6 that week, Woods beaten in the singles by Jon Rahm and Mickelson, famously, hitting his tee shot on the par-three 16th into water to confirm defeat to Francesco Molinari as Europe romped to a 17½ to 10½ win.
6. Lee Westwood (Europe) – Age: 48 years, 5 months 0 days
A mainstay for Europe for many years, Lee Westwood was part of the 2021 Padraig Harrington-led side that were thrashed 19-9 at Whistling Straits. Westwood went 0-2 in doubles but did defeat Tony Finau as one of only three European singles wins.
5. Dai Rees (Europe) – Age: 48 years, 6 months, and 12 days
Welshman Dai Rees was a mainstay for GB&I during a period of American domination at the Ryder Cup. He played nine times over a 24-year period and captained the team on five occasions as a player. His only victory came in 1957 at Lindrick Golf Club in Nottinghamshire.
4. Christy O’Connor Sr. (Europe) – Age: 48 years, 8 months, and 23 days
One of the original Irish trailblazers, Christy O’Connor Sr. played in eight Ryder Cups, spanning two decades from 1953 onwards. His only win came in 1957 alongside Rees. His nephew, Christy O’Connor Jr, would also represent Europe.
3. Ted Ray (Europe) – Age: 50 years and 67 days
Ted Ray was born in Jersey and won the US Open and The Open in the early 1900s. He was gone past his 50th birthday when he played for GB&I in the first ever Ryder Cup at Worcester Country Club in 1927, where he lost 7&5 in singles play to Leo Diegel.
2. Jay Haas (USA) – Age: 50 years, 9 months, and 15 days
Few players have spaced out three Ryder Cups like Jay Haas, who debuted in 1983, played again in 1995 and signed off after his 50th birthday in 2004 after getting a captain’s pick from Hal Sutton. Sutton’s team were thrashed 18½ to 9½ at Oakland Hills. Haas put a point and a half on the board alongside Chris Di Marco but he was beaten in singles by Padraig Harrington despite going all 18 holes.
1. Raymond Floyd (USA) – Age: 51 years, 20 days
Raymond Floyd had recently celebrated his 51st birthday before teeing it up for the USA at The Belfry in 1993 in a team captained by Tom Watson. He incredibly finished as joint leading point-scorer for the US, with three wins in four, including a 2up with against Jose Maria Olazabal in his singles swansong.
