Written by: Bob Denney, PGA of America Historian
In 1927, English seed merchant Samuel A. Ryder presented the Ryder Cup to The Professional Golfers’ Association of Great Britain to place as a prize for an international competition between American and British professional golfers. The actual trophy, however, has a far more interesting journey to the winner’s circle.
The Ryder Cup was commissioned for £250, and produced by Mappin & Webb of Sheffield, England. It was one of four cups produced between 1924 and 1928. Research has identified the hallmarks on the trophy, which indicate it was produced on April 26, 1926, which would have been ample time to present it to the winning team – Great Britain – when it staged a match against American players, June 3-4 at Wentworth, Surrey, England ahead of the Open Championship.
Because of a General Strike crippling transportation, many American players did not arrive in time, and the Ryder Cup was not presented on site following Great Britain’s overwhelming 13½ to 1½ victory. The first official Ryder Cup was recorded June 4-5, at Worcester (Mass.) Country Club, after a U.S. triumph, 9½ to 2½.
The 9-carat gold trophy stands 17½-inches high, is nine inches from handle to handle and weighs four pounds. The golfing figure depicted on the top of the trophy, contrary to popular legend, is not that of Abe Mitchell, a friend and instructor of Samuel Ryder.
In fact, Mappin & Webb produced similar figurines wearing the golf apparel of the day- jacket and tie; plus fours, long socks and a flat. The figurine also displays the Vardon interlocking grip, not Mitchell’s adopted “baseball-style” grip on the golf club. A silver replica of the Ryder Cup trophy was cast in 1928 for the Johannesburg Stock Exchange’s annual golf tournament.
