Europeans own all four biennial match titles

• By Ryan Ballengee
• Jun 10, 2012 3:09 PM ET

For the first time, the trophies of all four biennial matches between the United States and a European opponent reside with the American adversary.

Great Britain and Ireland defeated the United States, 10.5-9.5, on Sunday in Nairn, Scotland, to win the Curtis Cup for the first time since 1996. The Americans had won the prior seven matches in the series putting teams of the best female amateur players against each other.

Last September, the amateur male standouts of GB&I defeated the American side, 14-12, in the Walker Cup at Royal Aberdeen GC, also in Scotland. The Americans had won the prior three matches. 

Two weeks later, on Irish soil, the European women clinched the Solheim Cup at Killeen Castle against the American side. Winning 15-13, the Europeans ended a three-match slide against the United States. Dating back to the first match in 1990, the Europeans have only won four times against their American pro counterparts.

At Celtic Manor in the fall of 2010, the Europeans squeaked by the Americans with a 14.5-13.5 victory to regain the Ryder Cup. The European side has taken four of the last five matches in the series. 

The American Ryder Cup team, led by Davis Love III, will be the first team to have a chance to bring one of the four trophies back to home soil. The Ryder Cup matches will be contested at Course No. 3 at Medinah CC, just outside of Chicago, from Sept. 28-30.