Scotland played host to the Ryder Cup for the first time in 1973, but the surroundings at Muirfield failed to inspire Great Britain and Ireland to end America's winning streak.
The format changed yet again, with 18-hole foursomes and fourballs on the first two days and two series of singles matches on the third day.
But it had all looked so promising on the opening day, with the Brits establishing a three-point lead. Bernard Gallacher and Brian Barnes impressed together, winning maximum points, but then disaster struck.
Gallacher contracted food poisoning, with Peter Butler having to step in at the 11th hour.
The replacement did make his mark by becoming the first player to strike a hole-in-one in the Ryder Cup.
However, the Americans fought back strongly and Butler and Barnes were unable to repeat the team's heroics of day one, with Jack Nicklaus and Tom Weiskopf in dominant form.