Welcome to our “virtual” Ryder Cup Facts & Trivia Quiz!
This could be the ultimate test of even the most seasoned golf Ryder Cup fans knowledge!
As with our popular Open Championship quiz this year our quiz is laid out over an 18-hole course with points being awarded for each correct/par score
Tee off below to discover how you get points on the board for either Team Europe or Team USA then compare yourself agains other golf fans to find out if your a Captains pick or sitting on sidelines for the fourballs!
Each of our 18 question represents a hole at 2025 Ryder Cup venue Bethpage Black and your turn at the quiz is your Ryder Cup “match”.
You play as an individual or as European and USA teams to make it more like real thing!
Just like Ryder Cup matches scoring a correct answer wins the hole and gives you one point. But a wrong answer loses the hole and you a point! So be careful – you can easily end up with a losing negative score!
Each hole is given a par rating depending on difficulty with a par 5 being the hardest questions and a par 3 a little easier.
At the end of your “match” we’ll let you know how you’ve scored against your fellow golf fans and if you’re a clutch Sunday afternoon player or need to be rested in the afternoon foursomes!
So if you’re up to the challenge, grab your lucky pencil, slip on your favorite Team Europe or Team USA caps and maybe a refreshment or two then please step onto the virtual tee-box.
Let’s get started and test your knowledge of Ryder Cup facts and trivia! ⛳️
Ryder Cup Facts & Trivia Quiz 2025: The Questions
Hole #1 – Par 4: In which year was the first official Ryder Cup held?
A: 1926
B: 1927
C: 1921
D: 1929
If you answered B: 1927 – congratualtions you’ve opened your round of our Ryder Cup Facts & Trivia Quiz with a solid 1 point win!
The idea for a match between British and American professional golfers first came in 1926 and an event was held at Wentworth.
However, the first official Ryder Cup matches actually took place in 1927 at the Worcester Country Club in Massachusetts. The US team won 9.5 points to 2.5.
Lose a point for any other answer putting you a hole down early on!
Hole #2 – Par 4: Who is the most decorated Ryder Cup player, holding the record for the most points won for either team in the history of the tournament?
A: Ian Poulter
B: Phil Mickelson
C: Jack Nicklaus
D: Sergio Garcia
Answer: D – Sergio Garcia – 28.5
Garcia played in 10 Ryder Cups from 1999 to 2021 and holds the Ryder Cup record for most points at 28.5, going 3-1 in his last appearance at Whistling Straits two years ago.
At the time Sergio was one of the most popular players on the European teams.
In 2010 Garcia didn’t play Ryder Cup after a slump in form. But so important was he seen for the team he was named as a vice captain by Colin Montgomerie for the 2010 event.
Sergio Garcia’s Ryder Cup career record
- Career Ryder Cup record (Wins, Losses, Halves): 22-12-7
- Years Played: 1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018
- Total Matches: 49
- Singles (W-L-H): 4-4-1
- Foursomes (W-L-H): 10-4-3
- Four-balls (W-L-H): 8-4-3
Add a point to your score if you selected the controversial Spaniard. Lose the point for incorrect answers
Hole #3 – Par 4: Who famously sunk the “Miracle at Medinah” winning putt for Europe in 2012?
A: Rory McIlroy
B: Graeme McDowell
C: Martin Kaymer
D: Ian Poulter
Answer: C – Martin Kaymer
If you answered option C: Add a another winning hole point to your tally!
10 Ryder Cup Facts Every Golf Fan Should Know!
- The figure at the top of the Ryder Cup trophy is modeled to resemble British golfing great Abe Mitchell.
- The largest margin of victory in an 18-hole match is 8&7 which has been achieved twice once when Tom Kite beat Howard Clark in 1987 and the second 10 years later when Fred Couples defeated Ian Woosnam in 1997.
- In 1977, Englishman Peter Dawson was the first left hander to play in the Ryder Cup. There have since been two more “lefties” Phil Mickelson & Bubba Watson.
- Sir Nick Faldo holds the record for most match wins with 23 victories.
- Seve Ballesteros & Jose Maria Olazabal are the most successful pairing in Ryder Cup history with 11 wins & just 2 losses
- The youngest player to play in the Ryder Cup was Sergio Garcia in 1999; he made his debut at the age of just 19.
- There have been a total of six holes-in-one in the Ryder Cup history. The last one was Scott Verplank at the K Club in 2006.
- Since the European golfers joined the competition in 1979, Team Europe have won 12Ryder Cups to the Team USA’s 9, with one tie.
- There have been only four partnerships in Ryder Cup history who have never lost or tied a match together Arnold Palmer & Gardner Dickinson, Jack Nicklaus & Tom Watson, Arnold Palmer & Billy Casper and Francesco Molinari & Tommy Fleetwood.
- Five final captain’s picks across the two teams have won all of their matches played in the Ryder Cup: Darren Clarke (2006) Scott Verplank (2006), Ian Poulter (2012),Dustin Johnson (2012) & Henrik Stenson (2018)
Hole #4 – Par 3: Where was the 2021 Ryder Cup held?
A: Hazeltine National Golf Club
B: Medinah Country Club
C: Whistling Straits
D: Kiawah Island
Answer: C – Whistling Straits
If you went Strait for the right answer you’ve got another point on your Ryder Cup Facts Quiz scorecard!
Hole #5 – Par 4: Which of the following European courses is only one of four to have hosted the Ryder Cup twice?
A: Gleneagles
B: Royal Birkdale
C: Wentworth
D: Moortown
Answer: B – Royal Birkdale
In the history of the event, only four golf courses so far held multiple Ryder Cups. All of those are British courses. No American course has yet hosted more than one Ryder Cup. These are the golf courses that have been used multiple times:
- 4 times — The Belfry’s Brabazon Course (1985, 1989, 1993, 2002)
- 2 times — Royal Lytham & St. Annes (1961, 1977)
- 2 times — Royal Birkdale (1965, 1969)
- 2 times — Southport and Ainsdale (1933, 1937)
Add one point to your score if you chose one of Greencard’s favourite UK courses
Hole #6 – Par 4: Across both teams who holds the record for the most Ryder Cup appearances as a player?
A: Jim Furyk
B: Lee Westwood
C: Sir Nick Faldo
D: Phil Mickelson
Answer: D – Phil Mickelson
Phil Mickelson has made 12 Ryder Cup appearances 1 ahead of both Westwood (would’ve been our answer!) and Faldo. The players to have played in more than 10 Ryder Cups is as follows:
12 – Mickelson
11 – Westwood & Faldo
10 – Christy O’Connor Snr, Bernhard Langer & Sergio Garcia
A hole win 1 point for your Ryder Cup Facts & Trivia Quiz scorecard if you answered Phil Mickelson
PS Just for clarification Jim Furyk has made 8 appearances as a player.
Hole #7 – Par 3: Who captained the European team to their first Ryder Cup victory in 1985 after the format change?
A: Seve Ballesteros
B: Bernard Gallacher
C: Tony Jacklin
D: Peter Allis
Answer: C – Tony Jacklin
Jacklin captained the European team four times 1983, 1985, 1987 & 1989.
When he took over, the U.S. had lost only three times in 24 competitions, and there had even been talk of canceling the matches.
But with the inclusion of Europe, Jacklin had access to whole a new group of young stars including Seve Ballesteros, Bernhard Langer and Nick Faldo.
Although he lost the 1983 event to Jack Nicklaus’s team he then famously won the 1985 Cup at the Belfry before backing it up on American soil at Muirfield Village – where he got revenge on the Golden Bear who was his opposing captain. His 1987 team also retained the Cup back at the Belfry.
Pencil in a 1 point win for a correct Jacklin answer!
Moments in Ryder Cup History
Slip back in time and watch highlights of Seve Ballestros at the Ryder Cup – what a golf swing!
Hole #8 – Par 5: It was a close call as to whether US captain Keegan Bradley would pick himself as a playing skipper for 2025, but who was the last golfer to be a playing captain in a Ryder Cup match?
A: Jack Nicklaus
B: Lee Trevino
C: Walter Hagen
D: Arnold Palmer
Answer: D – Arnold Palmer
In the early years of the Ryder Cup it was normal for there to be playing captains on both teams. However, with a change in format and extension to a 3 day tournament it became more diffcult to combine the roles.
Arnold Palmer was the last playing captain in the 1963 event.
A good point win as you approach the turn if got Arnie as your answer!
Hole #9 – Par 5: Which of these players have been Luke Donald’s Captain’s picks for both the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome and the 2025 trophy in New York?
A: Nicolai Højgaard
B: Jon Rahm
C: Matt Fitzpatrick
D: Shane Lowry
Answer: D – Shane Lowry
From the list of options Shane Lowry is the only one to have been picked by Donald on both occassions but two other players on the 2025 roster also fall into that category.
Along with Lowry, Sepp Straka and Ludvig Auberg were both chosen by Luke Donald for the 2023 and 2025 Ryder Cups.
The six 2025 captain’s picks are:
Ludvig Auberg
Matt Fitzpatrick
Viktor Hovland
Shane Lowry
Jon Rahm
Sepp Straka
In 2023 Luke Donald selected:
Tommy Fleetwood
Nicolai Højgaard
Shane Lowry
Justin Rose
Sepp Straka
Ludvig Auberg
The 2023 picks didn’t turn out too bad so from a European point of view let’s hope Luke and his team have got it right again!
Close the outward 9 holes with another win point your scorecard if you answered D on what was a trick question!
You’ve Reached the Turn – Take a Break!
Time to take a break grab a snack and an energy drink from our halfway house and reflect on your outward 9 holes!
How’s your scorecard looking for our Ryder Cup Facts & Trivia Quiz?
From our early entries we reckon a 9 hole score of about 3 up (3 points) is about par for the course!
Europe seem to be doing slightly better than USA teams too!
If you have 5 to 6 points you’re looking good at the turn, 1 point and you may need to sharpen your putter for the back 9!
Good luck for the homeward 9 you’ll need to be on your game for some of holes to come!
Remember if you drop below 0 you’ll need to have more points than there are holes left to complete the round!
Hole #10 – Par 4: Which course hosted the Ryder Cup that became known as the “War on the Shore”?
A: Kaiwah Island
B: Medinah
C: Muirfield
D: Shinnecock Hills
Answer: A – Kaiwah Island
The 1991 Ryder Cup matches were fiercely fought over the Ocean Course at Kaiwah Island and became known as the “War on the Shore” following the gamesmanship and general over-exuberance of the U.S. Team and their fans.
The US team came out winners by a single point.
It was the first win for the U.S. since 1983, after consecutive losses to Europe in 1985 and 1987 and a tie in 1989 – all under Tony Jacklin’s captaincy.
It was also Colin Montgomerie’s first Ryder Cup experience and the start of an amazing series of performances by the Scotsman that would see him never lose a singles match across his eight appearances and for many he is still one of the greatest Ryder Cup players of all time.
If you answered option A – mark your scorecard with a winning 1 point.
Watch as Colin Montgomerie relives the “War on the Shore” & his Ryder Cup Memories
Hole #11 – Par 4: Who is the only golfer to have captained a Ryder Cup team but never participated in matches as a player?
A: Walter Hagen
B: John Jacobs
C: J. H. Taylor
D: Dave Marr
Answer: C – J.H. Taylor
Taylor captained the 1933 Great Britain Ryder Cup team to a win over the United States, and remains the only captain on either side never to have played in any of the matches.
However, he is still known as one of the pioneers of the game and won 5 major championships between 1894 & 1913.
Give yourself a hole winning point if you correctly answered C!
Hole #12 – Par 5: No prizes for knowing that the Ryder Cup is named after businessman Samuel Ryder – but what type of business did he run?
A: Whiskey distilleries
B: Grass seed distribution
C: Golf club manufactoring
D: Newspaper publications
Answer: B – Grass Seed Distribution
Although he trained as a teacher and worked at a shipping firm Ryder made is name and money as a grass seed distributor.
He dodnt become interested in golf until he was about 50 years old when he and his brother started sponsoring local tournaments.
His involvement with the Ryder Cup came when he sponsored the first unofficial event in 1926 and then he donated the famous Gold Trophy for the first official matches in 1927.
Good knowledge if you got your well earned winning point for answer B
Hole #13 – Par 3: What was special about the 1977 Ryder Cup matches?
A: It was the first time players from Europe were eligible to play.
B: It was the first time the “captain’s picks” system was introduced.
C: It was the first time the US had lost on home soil.
D: It was the first time the Ryder Cup matches were hosted outside the US or GB & Ireland.
Answer: B – The last time players from Europe were excluded
A slight trick question and you needed to be alert to spot the twist! The 1977 matches were the last time only players from GB & Ireland were eligible for the team.
Having not won the Cup since 1957 the decision was made to open up the pool of players to include the new wave of European talent for the 1979 matches.
Despite the changes only two non-GB & Ireland players were selected for the new Team Europe and both were Spanish players – a certain Severiano Ballesteros Sota (not sure what became of him!) and Antonio Garrido.
It still took the European team three more Cups before they finally got their hands back on the trophy! But the matches were changed forever and the Ryder Cup became one of the most watched sporting events in the World.
A winning point for answer B and well done for not falling into the Answer A trap!
Hole #14 – Par 4: In 1985 who holed the putt on the 18th green at the Belfry ensuring Europe finally got to lift the trophy for the first time since 1957?
A: Sir Nick Faldo
B: Ian Woosnam
C: Seve Ballesteros
D: Sam Torrence
Answer D: Sam Torrence
Torrence approached the 18th green knowing he had could afford to take three putts to beat reigning US Open champion Andy North and win the Ryder Cup at the fourth attempt for Team Europe.
The popular Scot finished in style, landing his first putt for a birdie then famous stood with arms aloft as frantic celebrations erupted around him!
A special moment in European golfing history!
Take the point win for correctly identifying friend of Greencard Sam Torrence as the 1985 hero!
Hole #15 – Par 4: What did Ben Crenshaw do on the 6th green of his singles match with Eamonn Darcy in the 1987 Ryder Cup that gave Darcy the opportunity to record his first victory at the 10th attempt.
A: He drove two consecutive tee shots into a water hazard
B: He hit the wrong ball out of the rough incurring a penalty
C: He lost his temper and snapped his putter
D: He fell in a bunker twisted his ankle and had to finish the round on one foot
Answer C: Ben Crenshaw snapped his putter in two!
Eamonn Darcy was a Ryder Cup veteran who was making his fourth appearance at the Ryder Cup.
He’d become something of a draw specialist over his previous appearances and had recorded no wins from his previous nine matches!
Uncharacteristically, the normally cool and collected Ben Crenshaw started to feel the pressure early on the round and on the 6th green of their singles clash, Crenshaw’s temper snapped – quickly followed by his putter. The American was forced to use a three-iron on the greens for the rest of the round.
In fairness to Crenshaw he regathered his composure and took Darcy all the way to the 18th green but the Irishman holed out for his first full Ryder Cup point!
A hole win and point for answer C – a lesson for us all when the red mist rises after a 2 footer miss!
Hole #16 – Par 4: Which US captain introduced his team at the pre-event Gala Dinner as “The 12 greatest players in the world.”
A: Tom Kite
B: Hal Sutton
C: Lanny Wadkins
D: Raymond Floyd
Answer D – Raymond Floyd
Take a win point on your Ryder Cup Facts and Trivia Quiz scorecard if you identified Ray Floyd as the owner of the bold statement!
Hole #17 – Par 3: Who did Jack Nicklaus famously conceed to on the final hole of their singles match to ensure a tie in the 1969 Ryder Cup?
A: Neil Coles
B: Tony Jacklin
C: Peter Alliss
D: Bernard Gallacher
Answer B: Tony Jacklin
The 1969 Ryder Cup matches took place under considerable acrimony and unsportsmanlike behavior by players on both sides.
In fact during one of the fourballs, both captains had to come out and calm down the players.
It is quite ironinc then that an incredible gesture on the final green has made this one of the greatest moments in sport for fair play and sportsmanship!
After a classic Ryder Cup match that ebbed and flowed until the 18th green. After holing his final putt for par, Nicklaus picked up Jacklin’s ball marker and told him, “I don’t think you would have missed it, but I wasn’t going to give you the chance, either.”
Playing in his first Ryder Cup at age 29, Nicklaus’ gesture became known as “the concession” and it started a lasting friendship between the two. It also became the inspiration for The Concession Golf Club in Florida which was co-designed by Nicklaus and Jacklin.
The two were opposing captains in the competition in 1983 and 1987. While the concession is now viewed as a case study in sporting behaviour at the time US captain Sam Snead was furious with Nicklaus for giving away the chance of an outright victory.
Add another 1 point hole win if you answered Ryder Cup legend Tony Jacklin
Hole #18 – Par 5: In 2002 Bethpage Black became the first publicly owned and operated golf course to host the US Open. But how many “major” golf tournaments have been held at Bethpage since it opened in 1936?
A: Four
B: Seven
C: Three
D: Six
Answer C: Three
Despite being open for nearly 90 years Bethpage Black has only hosted three major championships and all since that 2002 event:
2002 US Open – won by Tiger Woods
2009 US Open – won by Lucas Glover
2019 PGA Championship – won by Brooks Koepka
Bethpage has also hosted two FedEx Cup Barclays events in 2012 and 2016.
Add a final winning single point for knowing some “major” Bethpage history!
Hole #19 – Bonus Clubhouse Question: What is the full name of the caddie who was involved in the “capgate” saga with Rory McIlroy on both the 18th green, and in the car valet area at the 2023 Ryder Cup?
A: Jim “Bones” Mackay
B: Joe LaCava
C: Micheal Greller
D: Harry Diamond
Answer B: Joe LeCava
No extra points for the correct answer but we couldn’t let it pass!
Previously Tiger Woods caddie and known as one of the nicest men in golf LeCava, Patrick Cantlay’s caddie in Rome, wound up Rory by confronting him and waving his cap in the air as he lined up a crucial putt on the 18th green of their Saturday Fourball match.
Still fuming McIlroy then had another go at LeCava as he waited to get in a car to leave the course – that is where Jim “Bones” MacKay intervened to calm the situation down before Rory was bundled into the car by Shane Lowry.
LeCava has apparently since apologised but it will surely go down as one of the “all-time” Ryder Cup moments.
Ryder Cup Facts & Trivia Quiz – How Did You Score?
Congratulations on making it back to our virtual Clubhouse and completing your match!
Let’s see how you scored…
Win 8&7: Straight to the top of the Captain’s picks! An Ian Poulter-esque performance – great score!
Win 4&3 – 7&6: Grab a snack and get ready to be back out there for the afternoon matches!
Win 2&1 -3&4: Great job – a prime spot on the Sunday Singles awaits
Tie: Congratulations you made to the end of the round in a tight match but could’ve secured the vital half point that retains the Cup!
Loss 1&2 -3&4: Unlucky tight match but you might need to rest up for the next couple of matches!
Loss 4&5 or more: Time to head to the range and don’t expect to get a nod from the Captain til the Sunday singles!
Top up your Ryder Cup Facts Knowledge
We hope you had some fun on our virtual Bethpage Black Ryder Cup quiz. You can top up your Ryder Cup knowledge here, or get into the mood while we wait for the 2025 matches to begin by watching the videos below!
If you’re a team golf fan you might also like our 10 Solheim Cup facts every golf fan should know
Top Ryder Cup Moments!
Top 10 Ryder Cup matches of all time.
Watch highlights from the top 10 Ryder Cup matches of all time!
The best of the 2023 Ryder Cup
Relive the amazing highlights from the 2023 Ryder Cup.
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