This golf quiz looks over the 44 Ryder Cups that have been played. The first one was held in 1927 at Worcester Country Club, Worcester, Massachusetts.
A sub-committee of the Professional Golfers' Association comprising of Harry Vardon, J.H. Taylor and James Braid had picked the British team for that contest, with Abe Mitchell later made captain. But Mitchell fell ill – and was eventually operated on for appendicitis – and so Ted Ray took over as captain. Both captains, unlike nowadays, played in the contest.
There were nine players on each side, but one player on each side sat out each session as the format was four 36-hole foursomes matches on the Friday and eight 36-hole singles on the Saturday. For Britain, George Gadd missed out both times. He was never picked for another Ryder Cup side. For the USA, Al Espinosa did not play on either day, but he, however, did play in the next two Ryder Cups.
George Gadd appears in the official lists of Ryder Cup player for his, um ‘appearance’ in 1927. He was the first of a handful of unfortunate players who only got picked for only one Ryder Cup but did not actually play any matches.
For the next Ryder Cup, in 1929, 10 players were chosen on either side. In 1969 the size of each team was increased to 12, by which time it well-established that the captain did not play in any of the matches. The last playing captain had been Arnold Palmer in 1963. The first non-playing captain had had been in 1933, for Great Britain. The USA had had its first non-playing captain in 1937.
Up until 1979 only British and Irish players had been eligible to play for USA’s opponent, and this team was known as either Great Britain or Great Britain and Ireland. But in 1979 European golfers would also become eligible, and the name of the team was therefore changed to Europe.
More golf quizzes:
- Europe's Leading Points Scorers In The Ryder Cup
- Leading Points Scorers For USA
- Rory McIlroy's Life And Career
- Quiz Of The Year 2024
- Every Player In The 2024 Solheim Cup
-
'I Think We All Hoped It Would Have Been A Little Further Long, And That's No Secret' - Brooks Koepka's Echoes Recent Tough Love Towards LIV GolfThe five-time Major champion said progress is being made with the PIF-backed circuit after stating it was "quite far behind" its rivals on The Joe Pomp Show
-
How You Can Play St Andrews Old Course In ReverseYou can win a tee time on the 'reversed' Old Course at St Andrews next year by shooting the lowest gross score over the virtual links this April
-
Quiz! 10 Questions Every Golfer Should Know The Answer ToThere are some things every self-respecting golfer might be expected to know. Do you know the answers to all these questions?
-
Quiz! How Well Do You Know Arnold Palmer?He was the first golfing superstar of the television age, but how well do you know his career?
-
Quiz! Can You Guess Which European Countries Have The Most Golfers?Golf is increasing in popularity across this continent, but do you know which countries in Europe have the most golfers?
-
Quiz! How Well Do You Know Old Tom Morris, The 'Father Of Golf'?He was one of the most influential men in defining golf as we now play it, but how well do you know his career?
-
Quiz! Can You Name Which European Countries Have The Most Golf Courses?Do you know which 10 countries in Europe have the most golf courses?
-
Quiz! Can You Name Every Golfer To Break 60 On the PGA Tour?A sub-60 round was first made on the PGA Tour in 1977, and there have been 13 more instances since – can you name them all?
-
Quiz! How Well Do You Know Rory McIlroy?The man from Northern Ireland has had lots written about him, but how well do you know his career?
-
Quiz! Name All Tiger Woods' 15 Major WinsHe has won 15 Majors. Can you name them all?
