What History Tells us About Sunday's Singles

LOUISVILLE--With a 9-7 lead entering the final day of the Ryder Cup, the United States needs 5 1/2 points in Sunday's 12 singles matches to win the Ryder Cup for the first time since 1999. (As the defending champion, Europe would retain the cup in the event of a 14-14 tie.) Though the U.S. team historically has been considered stronger in singles, the Europeans have dominated on Sunday in the past three matches. The results in singles since the Great Britain & Ireland team added the rest of Europe in 1979:

__Year/Singles results/Overall winner

__2006: Europe, 8 1/2-3 1/2 (Europe wins cup)

2004: Europe, 7 1/2-4 1/2 (Europe wins cup)

2002: Europe, 7 1/2-4 1/2 (Europe wins cup)

1999: U.S., 8 1/2-3 1/2 (U.S. wins cup)

1997: U.S., 8-4 (Europe wins cup)

1995: Europe, 7 1/2-4 1/2 (Europe wins cup)

1993: U.S., 7 1/2-4 1/2 (U.S. wins cup)

1991: U.S., 6 1/2-5 1/2 (U.S. wins cup)

1989: U.S., 7-5 (Europe retains cup)

1987: U.S., 7 1/2-4 1/2 (Europe wins cup)

1985: Europe, 7 1/2-4 1/2 (Europe wins cup)

1983: U.S., 6 1/2-5 1/2 (U.S. wins cup)

1981: U.S., 8-4 (U.S. wins cup)

1979: U.S., 8 1/2-3 1/2 (U.S. wins cup)

*--Mike O'Malley