This Day in Golf--Sept. 16

This is an off-year for the Ryder Cup, but it's always fun to look at some past history. On this date in 1979 at The Greenbrier, the Ryder Cup ended after the Americans faced a team of Europeans for the first time. Up through 1977, the U.S. had an 18-3-1 record, and to make the event more competitive, continental Europe was added to what had been just a Great Britain & Ireland team. The U.S. still won in 1979, 1981 and 1983, but the European side broke through for its first victory in 1985 and the Ryder Cup has been a dogfight ever since.