The competition format changed in 1963, with the addition of four-ball (better ball) matches on a third day of play.

Despite having won his third major title as a professional at the PGA Championship in July, 23-year-old Jack Nicklaus was not a member of the U.S. team.

Winners of the 1963 Open Championship and News of the World Match Play received automatic places.

[8] The first qualifying event was the Schweppes PGA Close Championship in early April with the Senior Service Tournament in September being the final one.

Dave Thomas won the News of the World Match Play but, since he finished 9th in the points list, the team was filled with the leading 10 players in the points list: Coles, Bernard Hunt, Huggett, Alliss, Haliburton, O'Connor, Weetman, Will, Thomas and Geoff Hunt.