Which teams have contested the Ryder Cup since the 1979 format change?

The International Team and the United States

Great Britain and Ireland and the United States

Ryder Cup quiz: Europe vs USA

19 questions with answers · Updated 2026-06-02

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How well do you know the Ryder Cup? Here are questions on the team event between Europe and the USA, the captains and the Nordic players who have worn the European colours – with an explained answer and a source for each. Want to broaden out? Try our full golf quiz or dive into the majors.

Since the European team replaced the old Great Britain & Ireland format in 1979, the event has become one of golf's fiercest rivalries. Henrik Stenson holed the decisive putt for Europe in 2006, Joakim Häggman became the first Swede in a Ryder Cup team, and Denmark's Thomas Bjørn captained Europe to victory in 2018.

The questions below move between the team format, the captains and the Nordic Ryder Cup players. Prefer to start broad? Have a look at our golf section or read about Nordic golf.

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Ryder Cup questions

8 questions with answers

The team contest between Europe and the USA – format, captains and the Swedish and Danish players who left a mark on the match.

1. Which teams have contested the Ryder Cup since the 1979 format change?
- A. Europe and the United States
- B. The International Team and the United States
- C. Great Britain and Ireland and the United States
Correct answer: Europe and the United States
The Ryder Cup has been played between Europe and the United States since the 1979 format change. (Source)
2. Which Swede holed the clinching putt for Europe at the 2006 Ryder Cup?
- A. Niclas Fasth
- B. Robert Karlsson
- C. Henrik Stenson
Correct answer: Henrik Stenson
Henrik Stenson secured Europe’s 2006 Ryder Cup victory with his putt in the singles matches. (Source)
3. Which Swede played on Europe's 2012 Ryder Cup team and won the KLM Open that same year?
- A. Peter Hanson
- B. Niclas Fasth
- C. Johan Edfors
Correct answer: Peter Hanson
Peter Hanson was on Europe’s 2012 Ryder Cup team and won the 2012 KLM Open. (Source)
4. Who became the first Swede to play in the Ryder Cup?
- A. Per-Ulrik Johansson
- B. Jesper Parnevik
- C. Joakim Häggman
Correct answer: Joakim Häggman
Joakim Häggman became the first Swede in the Ryder Cup when he played in 1993. (Source)
5. Which Dane became the first player from Denmark to play in the Ryder Cup?
- A. Søren Hansen
- B. Thorbjørn Olesen
- C. Thomas Bjørn
Correct answer: Thomas Bjørn
Thomas Bjørn became the first Dane to play in the Ryder Cup in 1997. (Source)
6. Which Dane was Europe's captain at the 2018 Ryder Cup?
- A. Anders Hansen
- B. Thomas Bjørn
- C. Søren Kjeldsen
Correct answer: Thomas Bjørn
Thomas Bjørn was Europe’s captain when the team won the 2018 Ryder Cup in Paris. (Source)
7. Which Dane played in the 2018 Ryder Cup and won the British Masters in 2022?
- A. Rasmus Højgaard
- B. Thorbjørn Olesen
- C. Nicolai Højgaard
Correct answer: Thorbjørn Olesen
Thorbjørn Olesen played in the 2018 Ryder Cup and won the British Masters in 2022. (Source)
8. Which Danish player was on Europe's 2023 Ryder Cup team?
- A. Thorbjørn Olesen
- B. Nicolai Højgaard
- C. Rasmus Højgaard
Correct answer: Nicolai Højgaard
Nicolai Højgaard played for Europe in the 2023 Ryder Cup. (Source)

More golf for Ryder Cup fans

Medium6 questions with answers

Many Ryder Cup stars also made their names in the majors. Here are mixed golf questions on the players and courses that shaped the tour.

1. Who won the Masters in 2000?
- A. Tiger Woods
- B. Vijay Singh
- C. José María Olazábal
Correct answer: Vijay Singh
Vijay Singh won the Masters in 2000. (Source)
2. Who won the Masters in 2001?
- A. Tiger Woods
- B. Vijay Singh
- C. Mike Weir
Correct answer: Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods won the Masters in 2001. (Source)
3. Who won the Masters in 2002?
- A. Mike Weir
- B. Phil Mickelson
- C. Tiger Woods
Correct answer: Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods won the Masters in 2002. (Source)
4. Who won the Masters in 2003?
- A. Phil Mickelson
- B. Mike Weir
- C. Tiger Woods
Correct answer: Mike Weir
Mike Weir won the Masters in 2003. (Source)
5. Who won the Masters in 2004?
- A. Phil Mickelson
- B. Mike Weir
- C. Tiger Woods
Correct answer: Phil Mickelson
Phil Mickelson won the Masters in 2004. (Source)
6. Who won the Masters in 2005?
- A. Phil Mickelson
- B. Zach Johnson
- C. Tiger Woods
Correct answer: Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods won the Masters in 2005. (Source)

Hard golf questions

Hard5 questions with answers

For those who know their golf inside out – the trickiest questions on records, players and history.

1. Who won the Masters in 1990?
- A. Ian Woosnam
- B. Fred Couples
- C. Nick Faldo
Correct answer: Nick Faldo
Nick Faldo won the Masters in 1990. (Source)
2. Who won the Masters in 1991?
- A. Fred Couples
- B. Ian Woosnam
- C. Nick Faldo
Correct answer: Ian Woosnam
Ian Woosnam won the Masters in 1991. (Source)
3. Who won the Masters in 1992?
- A. Fred Couples
- B. Ian Woosnam
- C. Bernhard Langer
Correct answer: Fred Couples
Fred Couples won the Masters in 1992. (Source)
4. Who won the Masters in 1993?
- A. Fred Couples
- B. José María Olazábal
- C. Bernhard Langer
Correct answer: Bernhard Langer
Bernhard Langer won the Masters in 1993. (Source)
5. Who won the Masters in 1994?
- A. Ben Crenshaw
- B. José María Olazábal
- C. Bernhard Langer
Correct answer: José María Olazábal
José María Olazábal won the Masters in 1994. (Source)

FAQ

Which teams play in the Ryder Cup?

Since 1979 it has been Europe vs the USA. Before that the European side was represented by Great Britain and Ireland only, until the team was widened to the whole continent.

Who was the first Swede in a Ryder Cup team?

Joakim Häggman became the first Swede to play the Ryder Cup, for Europe. Several Swedes have followed him into the European team since.

Which Swede holed the decisive putt in 2006?

Henrik Stenson sank the decisive putt that secured Europe's win in the 2006 Ryder Cup – one of his most famous moments in the team event.

Which Dane has captained Europe?

Thomas Bjørn captained Europe at the 2018 Ryder Cup and led the team to victory. He had earlier become the first Danish player in the event.

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