| MCM | Year of the first Davis Cup matches |
| ITALY | Country that recently won its first Davis Cup title in 47 years. (5) |
| ONEAD | The first year of the First Millennium |
| MVI | Year of the first observed supernova, in Rome |
| MDXI | Year of the first Spanish |
| PRETORIA | City which was one of the venues for 2010 Football World Cup matches |
| PGA | Group that helps run the Ryder Cup matches: Abbr. |
| DOHA | Host city of many 2022 World Cup matches |
| TIRES | Becomes weary of cup matches involving reserves primarily (5) |
| CHIP | Beck, played for the USA in Ryder Cup matches in 1989, 1991 and 1993 (4) |
| IRAN | AFC nation; thrice winners in 15 FIFA World Cup matches, against the US in 1998, Morocco in 2018 and Wales in 2022 (4) |
| TIES | Restrictions imposed for cup matches (4) |
| NEIL | Coles, English golfer who played in eight Ryder Cup matches (4) |
| HOWARD | Clark, English golfer who played in six Ryder Cup matches (6) |
| SURETIES | Certain cup matches can act as safeguards against loss (8) |
| WESTWOOD | English golfer who represented Europe in 10 Ryder Cup matches (8) |
| TIED | How two Ryder Cup matches have ended (4) |
| TITANESQUE | Jumbo Brown, in cup matches, completely loses it! (10) |
| LUKE | Donald, golfer who has played for Europe in four Ryder Cup matches (4) |
| CHAD | .. Campbell, golfer who has played for USA in three Ryder cup matches (4) |
