Quiz – USA Ryder Cup Captains

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last updated 28 January 2022

Can you name all of the 29 USA Ryder Cup captains?

The first of the USA Ryder Cup Captains was in 1927. The Ryder Cup began that year after two unofficial matches had been played in 1921 and 1926. The first match, held at Worcester Country Club in Massachusetts, resulted in victory for the home side by 9 1⁄2–2 1⁄2 points. Both the captains played in the first Ryder Cup match, which was a 36-hole foursomes match won by the USA 2&1. The USA captain also won his 36-holes singles match on the second day, 2&1. The 50-year old British captain lost his singles match 7&5.

It was common for captains to play in the Ryder Cup during the early years. Up until 1959 the format remained as 36-hole foursomes matches on the first day and 36-hole singles matches on the second. But in 1961 this was changed, with two sets of 18-hole matches on each day instead, and the format was further changed for 1963 when a third day was added to allow for a day of fourballs.

The change from one set of matches a day to two made it harder for captains to play, organise and select, and 1963 was the last time an American Ryder Cup captain also played. Previously the American captain had almost always played – only the 1937 and 1949 American teams had had a non-playing captain.

There have been 29 different men who have captained the USA team over the 43 contests. Can you name all of these USA Ryder Cup captains? You have eight minutes to do so. You need only enter the player’s surname to answer.

We have plenty more golf quizzes for you to test your golfing knowledge against such as the one on the World No 1 Golfers or the Race to Dubai Winners quiz. Or if you fancy to test your knowledge of Ryder Cup captains further, how about taking on our quiz on the European Ryder Cup Captains Quiz. Or perhaps you may wish to challenge your friends to see if they can match your score on this quiz?

Contributing Writer Golf courses and travel are Roderick’s particular interests and he was contributing editor for the first few years of the Golf Monthly Travel Supplement. He writes travel articles and general features for the magazine, travel supplement and website. He also compiles the magazine's crossword. He is a member of Trevose Golf & Country Club and has played golf in around two dozen countries. Cricket is his other main sporting love. He is the author of five books, four of which are still in print: The Novel Life of PG Wodehouse; The Don: Beyond Boundaries; Wally Hammond: Gentleman & Player and England’s Greatest Post-War All Rounder.