In football, it's home-field advantage, and in basketball, it's called home-court advantage. While it's not often a concept in golf, the format of the Ryder Cup comes with the potential of home-course advantage.
The biennial competition pits a team representing the United States against a team of European golfers. As such, the event alternates between the U.S. and Europe every two years, and history often favors the host country.
Winning a road Ryder Cup is tough, and it's even tougher to do so in comeback fashion. But there was one team that stunned the other on the road.
Here's a look back at the biggest road comeback in Ryder Cup history.
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Last time Europe won Ryder Cup in USA
"The Miracle at Medinah" remains the biggest road comeback in Ryder Cup history.
The 2012 Ryder Cup was held at Medinah Country Club in Medinah, Ill. Led by Ian Poulter, Rory McIlroy, and Justin Rose, Europe emerged victorious with a 14.5-13.5 win over the United States.
An unlikely comeback on the final day fueled Europe's victory. Europe entered the day trailing 10-6 but won eight of 12 singles matches, halved one, and lost three.
That gave Europe the day, 8.5-3.5, bringing the overall tally to 14.5-13.5 — a thrilling win for Europe and a disappointing collapse for a U.S. team that featured Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, and Bubba Watson.
After 2012, the host team won the next five Ryder Cup events before Europe won in New York in 2025.
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2012 Ryder Cup rosters
Europe Ryder Cup team 2012
| Golfer | Position |
| Jose Maria Olazabal | Captain |
| Rory McIlroy | Automatic qualifier |
| Justin Rose | Automatic qualifier |
| Paul Lawrie | Automatic qualifier |
| Graeme McDowell | Automatic qualifier |
| Francesco Molinari | Automatic qualifier |
| Luke Donald | Automatic qualifier |
| Lee Westwood | Automatic qualifier |
| Sergio Garcia | Automatic qualifier |
| Peter Hanson | Automatic qualifier |
| Martin Kaymer | Automatic qualifier |
| Nicolas Colsaerts | Captain's pick |
| Ian Poulter | Captain's pick |
USA Ryder Cup team 2012
| Golfer | Position |
| Davis Love III | Captain |
| Tiger Woods | Automatic qualifier |
| Bubba Watson | Automatic qualifier |
| Jason Dufner | Automatic qualifier |
| Keegan Bradley | Automatic qualifier |
| Webb Simpson | Automatic qualifier |
| Zach Johnson | Automatic qualifier |
| Matt Kuchar | Automatic qualifier |
| Phil Mickelson | Automatic qualifier |
| Steve Stricker | Captain's pick |
| Jim Furyk | Captain's pick |
| Brandt Snedeker | Captain's pick |
| Dustin Johnson | Captain's pick |
Ryder Cup winners by year
Here is the list of Ryder Cup winners since the format changed to USA vs. Europe in 1979.
Since the format change, the host nation has lost six times — the USA has won twice in Europe, while Europe has won four times in the United States.
| YEAR | WINNER | SCORE | LOCATION |
| 1979 | United States | 17-11 | West Virginia, United States |
| 1981 | United States | 18.5-9.5 | England, Europe |
| 1983 | United States | 14.5-13.5 | Florida, United States |
| 1985 | Europe | 16.5-11.5 | England, Europe |
| 1987 | Europe | 15-13 | Ohio, United States |
| 1989 | Tied | 14-14 | England, Europe |
| 1991 | United States | 14.5-13.5 | South Carolina, United States |
| 1993 | United States | 15-13 | England, Europe |
| 1995 | Europe | 14.5-13.5 | New York, United States |
| 1997 | Europe | 14.5-13.5 | Spain, Europe |
| 1999 | United States | 14.5-13.5 | Massachusetts, United States |
| 2002 | Europe | 15.5-12.5 | England, Europe |
| 2004 | Europe | 18.5-9.5 | Michigan, United States |
| 2006 | Europe | 18.5-9.5 | Ireland, Europe |
| 2008 | United States | 16.5-11.5 | Kentucky, United States |
| 2010 | Europe | 14.5-13.5 | Wales, Europe |
| 2012 | Europe | 14.5-13.5 | Illinois, United States |
| 2014 | Europe | 16.5-11.5 | Scotland, Europe |
| 2016 | United States | 17-11 | Minnesota, United States |
| 2018 | Europe | 17.5-10.5 | France, Europe |
| 2021 | United States | 19-9 | Wisconsin, United States |
| 2023 | Europe | 16.5-11.5 | Italy, Europe |
| 2025 | Europe | 15-13 | New York, United States |