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The Ryder Cup Trivia Quiz

The Ryder Cup is an international golf competition held every other year between US and European professional golfers. How much do you know about this dramatic sporting event?

A multiple-choice quiz by golfer46. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
golfer46

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
376,015

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
177

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. The Ryder cup is named after British businessman Samuel Ryder. What kind of business did he run? Hint

Seed merchant

Golf ball manufacturer

Whiskey Salesman

Director of the PGA

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Question 2 of 10

2. What event in 1926 caused the first attempt at an international golfing competition between professional players from the USA and Great Britain to be declared unofficial? Hint

Flu epidemic

Train Strike

Bad Weather

Dispute of the rules of competiton

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Question 3 of 10

3. How much did the Ryder Cup cost to create? Hint

200 pounds

50 pounds

250 Pounds

100 pounds

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Question 4 of 10

4. Whose figure adorns the Ryder Cup? Hint

Ross Biddiscombe

Old Tom Morris

Abe Mitchell

Samuel Ryder

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Question 5 of 10

5. What is the leader of each golf team in Ryder Cup competition called? Hint

Steward

PGA President

Master

Captain

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Question 6 of 10

6. Who was the last playing US captain in 1963? Hint

Jack Nicklaus

Ben Hogan

Arnold Palmer

Sam Snead

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Question 7 of 10

7. What happened in 1979 that dramatically enhanced the public and media interest in the Ryder cup? Hint

The addition of continental European players

Start of international television exposure

Prize money increased

Jack Nicklaus played for the first time

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Question 8 of 10

8. Between 1979 and 2014 which country has NOT had a player included on the European team? Hint

Denmark

Sweden

Norway

Belgium

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Question 9 of 10

9. What event caused the postponement of the Ryder Cup from 2001 to 2002? Hint

Flight 103 bombing in Lockerbie Scotland

September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks

Sars virus breakout

Earthquake in Spain

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Question 10 of 10

10. What is unique about the compensation for the professional golfers who play in Ryder Cup? Hint

Their winnings are tax free

They are paid in gold

They are not paid

They must spend all their winnings in the country where the event is held

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The Ryder cup is named after British businessman Samuel Ryder. What kind of business did he run?

Answer: Seed merchant

Ryder initially went to college to become a teacher but never finished his studies due to an illness. He joined his father's gardening supply business as a shipping clerk. His idea of seed catalogs and moving the company closer to railway junctions allowed the low and middle class to afford gardening.

2. What event in 1926 caused the first attempt at an international golfing competition between professional players from the USA and Great Britain to be declared unofficial?

Answer: Train Strike

A train strike prevented all of the U.S. team from showing up. Walter Hagen, team captain, only had half of his team available to play and he had to add four foreign players. The decision to declare the match unofficial was made after a 13-1 rout by the Brits.

3. How much did the Ryder Cup cost to create?

Answer: 250 Pounds

Mappin and Webb ,Sheffield silversmiths, were commissioned to fashion the Ryder Cup. The cup is 17 inches high and weighs 4 pounds.

4. Whose figure adorns the Ryder Cup?

Answer: Abe Mitchell

Abe Mitchell was the captain of the 1927 inaugural Ryder Cup for Great Britain. He, unfortunately, was unable to compete due to an attack of appendicitis. He also was Samuel Ryder's private golf coach. Ross Biddiscombe was the author of Ryder Cup Revealed.

5. What is the leader of each golf team in Ryder Cup competition called?

Answer: Captain

The duties of the captain include selecting who plays in each group of matches and the playing order. The captain usually was a player until the early 1960s when the format changed to three days of golfing.

6. Who was the last playing US captain in 1963?

Answer: Arnold Palmer

The change of the format to three days and the change to 18 hole matches made the responsibilities of being a player-captain more difficult to handle.

7. What happened in 1979 that dramatically enhanced the public and media interest in the Ryder cup?

Answer: The addition of continental European players

The U.S. teams had been dominating the Great Britain and Ireland teams for years with many lopsided results. In 1977, Jack Nicklaus suggested to the PGA that allowing continental European players to participate would make the event more competitive. He was right and changing the format has made this event into one of the most anticipated sporting events in the world.

8. Between 1979 and 2014 which country has NOT had a player included on the European team?

Answer: Norway

Sweden, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain have all been represented at the Ryder Cup. Players are chosen by their performance on the European PGA tour, World Golf ranking and a few captain's picks.

9. What event caused the postponement of the Ryder Cup from 2001 to 2002?

Answer: September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks

The event was postponed until 2002 and then all subsequent matches have been held in even years.

10. What is unique about the compensation for the professional golfers who play in Ryder Cup?

Answer: They are not paid

Inspite of all the revenue generated by TV, sponsors and ticket sales, the pros are not paid. They have negotiated the right to direct a certain amount of the proceeds to the charity of their choosing.

Source: Author golfer46

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor gtho4 before going online.
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