The teams were set up, the golf course was finally preparing, and the calendar was turned into September. That means there will only be a few weeks left before the 2025 Ryder Cup starts at Beth Page Black. The biennial event between the US and Europe, scheduled for September 26-28, is expected to be a highly competitive contest as each team brings their own strengths (and weaknesses) to Long Island, New York.
Luke Donald became the official European team on Monday with the announcement of the six captain’s picks. Former World No. 1, who led the blue and yellow sides for the second time, relies on his thoroughbred experience and the nostalgic memories of Marco Simone, hoping to return the 11 members of the 2023 team and be defeated in a convincing way.
He certainly plays different hair from his twin brothers, as Rasmus Højgaard wins an automatic qualifying spot on the roster and replaces Nicolai from the 2023 team, but one new player may not look different either.
Meanwhile, the US brings fresh players into the competition as the four rookies make their debut for American Captain Keegan Bradley. Choosing not to become the first US player captain since Arnold Palmer, Bradley chose a pair of rookies, including New York native Cameron Young and stubborn guys like Justin Thomas and Patrick Cantley.
I experience experiences with Europeans, but not all experiences are good experiences. Only four years need to return to the 2021 Ryder Cup in the Moore Shistring Strait, where the US won by a record 10-point margin. As well as the current form, the advantages of the home course, the play format itself, foursome, fourball and singles, it certainly plays a role.
Let’s take a closer look at how the 2025 Ryder Cup teams are structured and how each team could thrive or struggle at the end of the month.
2025 Rider Cup Team Breakdown
US
Justin Thomas (5) | 4 | 2-3-0 | 2-1-2 | 3-0-0 |
Scotty Schaeffler (1) | 3 | 0-2-0 | 1-0-2 | 1-0-1 |
Xander Schauffele (3) | 3 | 2-2-0 | 1-1-0 | 1-1-0 |
Patrick Cantrey (21) | 3 | 2-2-0 | 1-0-1 | 2-0-0 |
Bryson Deccanbeau (18) | 3 | 0-2-0 | 1-0-1 | 1-1-0 |
Collin Morikawa (8) | 3 | 2-1-0 | 2-1-0 | 0-1-1 |
Harris English (10) | 2 | 0-0-0 | 1-1-0 | 0-1-0 |
Sam Burns (22) | 2 | 0-1-0 | 1-0-0 | 0-1-0 |
JJ Spaun (7) | 1 | 0-0-0 | 0-0-0 | 0-0-0 |
Russell Henry (4) | 1 | 0-0-0 | 0-0-0 | 0-0-0 |
Ben Griffin (17) | 1 | 0-0-0 | 0-0-0 | 0-0-0 |
Cameron Young (20) | 1 | 0-0-0 | 0-0-0 | 0-0-0 |
Paris’s 2018 Ryder Cup may seem like yesterday, but flying just as time goes by, it’s Thomas who somehow feel like he’s the most experienced member of this US team. The four participants will perform his first Ryder Cup without a close friend and regular partner Jordans piece. The two collaborated on nine of Thomas’ 10 sessions (single not included).
Thomas’ playing partners at Bethpage Black can tilt the scale in favor of red, white and blue. There are many options, including DeChambeau. This is the modern day, his third appearance. The two-time US Open champion has struggled to find a partner for the Fourthoms in his previous appearance, but he paired well with Schaeffler in the Whistle Strait.
It’s unlikely that Americans will run the duo as Schaeffler swings to the pinnacle of the golf world and becomes the cornerstone of the US team. He is a known amount and can probably play with someone who gets burned with Henry and Four Ball in Four Sam.
Meanwhile, Cantrey and Schaufele’s Foursome record was a hit with Marco Simone after a fast start between the President’s Cup and the 2021 Ryder Cup teammates. Morikawa made his debut there, and was often seen as veteran Dustin Johnson. With Johnson no longer folding, choosing a partner for Morikawa is an important decision that needs to be made as Bradley represents the team’s second best iron player and Tee-2 Green Force.
Given the consistency of his roster, there are plenty of options for his US headquarters (some more than in Europe). The way Bradley ultimately decided to partner with his players would have a significant impact on the competition.
Europe
Rory McIlroy (2) | 8 | 7-5-1 | 5-6-2 | 4-2-1 |
Justin Rose (12) | 7 | 7-2-1 | 5-4-1 | 2-3-1 |
Tommy Fleetwood (6) | 4 | 4-0-0 | 2-2-1 | 1-1-1 |
John Rahm (80) | 4 | 4-0-0 | 1-2-2 | 1-1-1 |
Tyrrell Hutton (25) | 4 | 2-1-0 | 2-1-2 | 1-2-0 |
Matt Fitzpatrick (29) | 4 | 0-3-0 | 1-1-0 | 0-3-0 |
Viktor Hovland (15) | 3 | 2-2-0 | 0-2-2 | 1-0-1 |
Shane Laurie (23) | 3 | 1-1-0 | 1-1-0 | 0-1-1 |
ludvigÅberg (14) | 2 | 2-0-0 | 0-1-0 | 0-1-0 |
Robert McIntyre (9) | 2 | 0-0-0 | 1-0-1 | 1-0-0 |
Sep Smelt (13) | 2 | 1-1-0 | 0-0-0 | 0-1-0 |
rasmushøjgaard (52) | 1 | 0-0-0 | 0-0-0 | 0-0-0 |
The experience is a quick look at this group and viewed it from the page. Thomas leads the puck with his fourth appearance in the US, but McIlroy doubles the rider cup under his belt as day one begins. Rose is another veteran in a much better shape than 2023. Fleetwood, Larm, Hatton and Fitzpatrick are all heading for their fourth performance of the Ryder Cup.
Europe sends one rookie on paper, but there are four players who have not yet competed in the Ryder Cup, hosted across the US. This is a completely different animal. Consider that Hovland played in all five sessions with Histling Straits, but when he was the best player in the world along with Rookie Aberg of the time, he scored a 0-3-2 record in his play debut just to find his footing in Rome. The duo went 2-0-0 with foursome together.
That’s a question that Europeans don’t need to worry about answering, unlike Americans. Visitors have a general idea of who will pair together and which sessions will pair. McIlroy and Fleetwood were perfect in the Rome foursome along with their Scandanavian teammates. Hatton and Rahm were teammates at LIV Golf, paired up in Marco Simone, undefeated playstyle.
It is even mentioned recording all this before Rose and his 7-2-1 career in format. The British did not play single foursome matches in 2023. Instead, he was tasked with shepherding McIntyre. The Scots will not lose a match in rookie appearances, and this time both players may be called out with greater abilities.
Good things can be bad. This stands out most of Fitzpatrick’s 1-7-0 record in the three Ryder Cups. He finally got on the board in 2023 with McIlroy playing four balls, but he has a 0-5-0 record in the US alone. Fitzpatrick and Laurie plays are the X-factor of Europeans.
